North Hills School

How on EARTH this school gets a positive rating is quite questionable. Some of the worst teachers -- well, the worst are gone now -- but this place was not what the information here indicates. Hopefully they have changed when they rid themselves of several terrible faculty members over the past three years or so.
--Submitted by a parent

We have been at North Hills for 5 years and this year we have a child in elementary, middle school and High School. We transferred from another school and I am always looking around and learning about other schools. I have to say that to date I have not found another school that compares. Academics and cultural diversity are celebrated. This new leadership tries to be flexible and attempts to show gratitude to parents. The kids themselves are lovely and accepting and curious of other races, cultures and of new kids. And, by the way, we have an incredible new building that houses science and the arts. My kids are happy to go to school and are even sad when summer vacation begins (they get over this pretty quickly) and happy when it resumes. They tell me that they wouldn't dream of going anywhere else. Nothing is perfect, but if ones children are demonstrably happy with their learning environment and doing exciting project work, I guess I should be happy too.
--Submitted by a parent

This school is very disorganized in the way they plan their lessons. In the beginning of the quarter, they relax, but at the end, they just pile work at you, and with all tension, it can fail you and cut you short from an honor roll.

I am very happy about the faculty and staff in North Hills, especially the teachers in 7th grade, I really think my son is so lucky to have a chance to work with those teachers. Parents and teachers have very good relationship. Every time, when I have any issue, I always got a prompt response from the teachers. I believe my son will have another incredible year in North HIlls.
--Submitted by a parent

Our family has been a part of North Hills Prep for 10+ years and we continue to be extremely satisfied with the social and academic environment it provides. North Hills Prep is a small school that attracts students from very diverse backgrounds and cultures - an amazing opportunity for our students. Our oldest graduated this year and was accepted into several elite colleges as were his classmates.
--Submitted by a parent

North Hills Middle and High School offer so many great programs thinking outside the box. The offer the International Bachelorette program (IB) which includes the Middle Years program (MYP). These programs offer so much to the kids in reference to accomplishing goals in more than one way. Thinking beyond what normal schools teach. The Theatre program incorporates all the other classes the kids take. They use algebra when measuring and taping off stages and building props, they use whatever the English teacher is teaching on what plays to do, etc. This school is amazing.

As parents we are disappointed with the direction in which this school is moving. Their primary program is very good, but the middle and upper school programs are becoming worse. Many talented students leave the school before they enter high school. The student population is more than 50% Asians (mostly Indian). The excellent ratings/rankings that this school receives are the result of hyper-involvement of Asian parents in their kids education, not because of anything the school does. Now, they are trying to dumb down the curriculum (discontinuing Accelerated Math program, encouraging teachers to give less homework, etc.). They treat excellent teachers shabbily but recognize mediocre teachers. They are overcrowded, understaffed, and their facilities are horrendous (science labs are just regular class rooms that lack basic safety features like wash sinks and shower facility; many teachers don t have dedicated classrooms; many upper school teachers teach AP and IB curriculum in the same class, etc.). They keep saying they are short of funds, but then they lavish money on unnecessary events like the upcoming college signing day where they have reserved the Moody Coliseum at SMU.
--Submitted by a parent

We've been at the school 10 years now - have a senior and a middle schooler. What a difference strong and effective leadership makes!!! NHP had become a school we were ready to pull our kids out of last year due to very poor leadership, an atmosphere of distrust and broken lines of communication. It never was like this, but a change in senior and MS directors over 3 years ago was disastrous! We're glad we decided to stick it out for another year (didn't have much choice with 1 child graduating!) and have been happy with the change in leadership at the school. the kids are happy, teacher morale is high, the administration listens to parents and takes the time to communicate.... Wonderful involved parents are a blessing at NHP! We particularly like the diversity, the strong history and english programs, creative art program (with limited facilities they do an incredible job!) and some dedicated teachers.
--Submitted by a parent

I am a student at NHP and it is the worst school I have ever attended! It is very rididulous and racist.

I love NHP, my son is a 6th grader and this is his firt year at NHP. He attended private school from K-5th grade. He is a A student in all of his classes, he is challenged academically. I find his teachers to be very nice and friendly. So glad I made the decision to apply to NHP.
--Submitted by a parent