Herndon High School

My son came to HHS after attending private school for a number of years. He has found the teachers to be engaged, the work to be challenging and the students to be friendly. He is extremely happy that he chose Herndon for his high school.
—Submitted by a parent

Herndon High is a wonderful school. Excellent and caring staff. According to Newsweek Herndon High ranked 152. Herndon has a great AP/Honors program. It is such a diverse school. My child really loves this school.
—Submitted by a parent

I love Herndon High School because the teachers make it a fun, friendly enviroment. They always find a fun innovative way to teach their assigned subject. Herndon provides a very safe diverse learning enviroment. They offer a wide varity of clubs and teams. Everything from the expected football team to the amazing but almost never heard or robotics team. I just love Herndon High and all the people who make it such an amazing place.
—Submitted by a student

My daughter transferred from a private school and we have been VERY pleased with the strong sense of community and the enthusiasm of the teachers. There is something at this school for everyone. The kids that we know are very involved. The number of students that they sent to the University of Virginia last year (very competitive) is testament to what a great job they are doing at HHS!
—Submitted by a parent

If you are a minority I would suggest you find another school. Herndon High was the worst school I have ever attended. When I was going to the school, I felt that I was targeted by the staff as a bad apple just because of my skin. Maybe if I was not a student of color I might have had a different experience. I feel as though this school has to fill some kind of quota that is the reason they treat the students as so. Unless you were an AP or honor student, you didn't matter. There was a lack of care from most of the teachers. Had I not gone to schools in other states, I might not have gone to college if my decision was base on my experience of Herndon High.
—Submitted by a parent

Wow. Everyone I know is so pleased with the calibre of the instruction at HHS. The teachers are really wonderful--running interesting discusions, getting students involved, being available if kids need help...they are just great. The kids are really good kids too. It's a diverse school, yet it's clear when you visit that the kids just accept each other. Generally, the students are really decent and respectful to one another. This may be due to the model set by the teachers and administration. The parents involvement is also wonderful. You'll find no 'cliques' keeping you from getting involved. All the parents are just there to help support the school and make it the best it can be. It's a lot of fun.
—Submitted by a parent

Compared to the friends and family living in other states, HHS is a wonderful school. In my time there, I never witnessed a fight or gang incident. I felt quite safe as I walked the hallways. School spirit was demonstrated in the many pep ralies, SGA events, and participation in extracurricular sports. The teachers and staff were on the most part prepared for classes and supportive of learning. Every school has its faults, but I feel prepared for college and am glad I went to HHS.
—Submitted by a student

I am a current junior at Herndon and I can say that in the overall it is not a bad school. Yes, it has its problems, however those problems are outweighed by the benefits it renders. The school in general, but with a particular focus on the class of 2009, has almost no school spirit. Its AP programs are among the best in the country with dedicated teachers who are very willing to help students. (The trick to being sucessful in APs is to take the sophmore block class; the teachers in that particular class are two of the best in the school and really prepare their students for the next level of APs.) As for the gangs: they really aren't that big a problem; the worst they do is occasionally scrawl their names on to the stalls in the bathroom. However, there is minimal open intimidation of students.
—Submitted by a student

HHS is a great school to receive a wonderful education from. Half the parents posting on this website with negative things to say probably do not even have a high school degree of there own. Both of my sisters and I have graduated from there and all go to wonderful universities. I graduated in the top five of my class with a GPA of 4.07 with all honors and AP classes. I now attend Georgetown University and I feel HHS has done a wonderful job at preparing me for my future.
—Submitted by a student

Bad school. Counselor dont do anything to help average kids. all the average kids are thrown in stinky NOVA. School is only good to AP or honor kids, Case point my predicament. I am a layabout. because of the school. I have no prospects. There is nothing in my future.

We have a Junior at Herndon High School and we are extremely pleased with the school. The teachers are excellent and very involved . The environment is diverse and complements the wonderful community of Herndon. There is strong parental involvement and a great feeling of school spirit from the annual parade to the football games, etc.. Very pleased!!
—Submitted by a parent

Coming from a parent of 2 former HHS graduates and one current 9th grader. HHS is a great school. It has an excellent diverse student and teacher population. Teachers who genually care about teaching and not just passing SOLs, excellent administration. My kids ranged from all academic spectrums, AP, general and LD -- each child excelled and continues to excel both academically and socially. Thank you Herndon High School and Mrs. Leslie!
—Submitted by a parent

We are finally out of there. I have had two graduate and have pulled the remaining two students out. My AP honors students are struggling with 'basics' and the workload at another FFX County school in the IB program. We left because the %age of teachers who are passionate are dwindling quickly. Many are not available for extra help.The drug problem is huge. The Principal and AD have turned a cheek. The gangs are prevalent and obvioius. Thank God we got out when we could. Mine are in a better place, with a rigorous curriculum, school spirit and the gangs are not parading around.
—Submitted by a parent

I am the parent of a current HHS student, a HHS graduate, and a future HHS student and am very, very pleased with the school. My college student was very well-prepared for higher education as a result of his HHS experience. For the most part, he had very good, caring teachers. He took a sufficient amount of honors and AP courses (but not too many, and the number of such courses offered by the school is impressive. Parents should be careful not to believe the ridiculous rumors that seem to circulate about HHS. There is a wonderful spirit of community at Herndon that you don't find at many FCPS schools. Of course, HHS has its issues as does every school in the County. However, overall, Herndon is a great place to go to high school.
—Submitted by a parent

Herndon High is a wonderful school full of caring staff. The environment is diverse and provides students with an opportunity to see what the real world is all about. Security is of utmost importance and students do not feel threatened. Students of all levels (AP, LD, and yes, the regular student) can succeed at Herndon. Parents and community members are encouraged and welcomed to become involved in decision making. This is one of those schools who exceeds at all levels - academically, athletically, and beyond. Students at Herndon do not fit in a cookie-cutter mold. They understand diversity, appreciate diversity, and embrace diversity. Herndon HS is a winning school at all levels!
—Submitted by a parent

Herndon is a very diverse school with many differant activites for the children. In terms of academics my child was able to excel in classes. Many AP classes are offered and my daughter has taken may honors classes and 6 of the many AP's. Choices of extracurricular activites are plenty. There are many ' groups' at Herndon for that fact that it is so diverse which helps my child learn appreciate and respect many people from differant walks of life. HHS largely run by parent volunteers, from sproting events to school functions. Herndon is not perfect and does have it's problems but with it's diversity and curriculum I am satisfied to send my daughter to Herndon.
—Submitted by a parent

We are moving out of HHS. I have 2 that have graduated from the school, with 2 left. The school has gone down hill quickly in the last 4 years in terms of school spirit and safety. when an incident occurs, the administration doesn't call the police. Hence the statistics are not indicative on what really goes on. There are many dedicated teachers, coaches and support staff. If your student is in honors or AP, they will be fine. If your student is average, or needs extra help, it is a disruptive learning environment in 9th and 10th grade. At least once a week, security is called to my daughters PE class.
—Submitted by a parent

When I think of the lowest common denominater, I think of HHS. Never have a seen a learning institution so encourage mediocrity, do so little to help and/or stimulate the more gifted student population, and do nothing to promote the idea of attending a top-tier college. HHS is the Detroit of the Fairfax County Public Schools, and action needs to be taken to provide the students with safe hallways and meaningful educations.
—Submitted by a former student

This school is HIGHLY dangerous both to your kids' safety and education. There are fights everyday and teachers just stand and watch. It is much more worse than many people think. If you went there you would know what I am talking about.
—Submitted by a parent

Great School-Teachers really cared about the students
—Submitted by a former student