Greenhill School

4141 Spring Valley Road

Addison, TX 75001

15 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK-12
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on August 04, 2023

Greenhill's strengths are unique, but also overleveraged, which is why Greenhill is only a very good school, not a great school. It is a small, diverse, coeducational school with high academic standards and no religious affiliation. For many transplanted professional families, the public schools are either not good or too large, and other private schools may feel too religious, too sports oriented, not diverse, and/or too old money. However, because Greenhill is unique (and there aren't any true alternatives), the Greenhill administrative leadership can act dismissively, focus on the wrong priorities (building new buildings, not improving the learning experience), and fail to hold low performing teachers, coaches or staff accountable. In short, you pay a lot of money for the privilege of attending Greenhill, but the leadership is basically indifferent to your concerns (unless you are a major donor). If you don't want to be at Greenhill, there are hundreds of families willing to take your spot - eventually, you will graduate, but the administrators will still be there.Another strength of Greenhill is that you can make your own adventure (lots of academic choices, many AP classes, ability to concentrate in a specific area or several, play multiple sports, make movies, debate at a championship level, etc.). However, this hands-off approach often leads to very inconsistent experiences that vary tremendously by teacher, coach, or staff member. There is no standardized Greenhill way. Your teacher may inspire your child to embrace a new subject or do no teaching and provide 70% of the homework. Some coaches are great, and some are petty tyrants who don't know how to lead or win. Greenhill should focus more on the students and the learning process, not the buildings. They should adopt a more unified approach in all roles, with common standards, eliminating the low performers and retaining the better ones.Greenhill is unfairly considered to be stronger in liberal arts than STEM, but in practice, it's pretty balanced. There is definitely favoritism towards big donors, but this is likely true at other schools. People leave Greenhill for Hockaday and St. Marks in search of higher standards. They leave Greenhill for Jesuit, ESD, Parish, and others for better sports (and/or lower academic standards). Mostly people leave it due to job transfers as most families are highly educated professionals. Again, very good (but not great), with no substitutes.
Submitted by parent on January 21, 2023

"Greenhill School: A Haven for the Intellectually Gifted"As a parent of a student at Greenhill School, I am beyond impressed with the level of education that my child is receiving. The school is dedicated to providing its students with the tools they need to deepen their understanding of the world, gain knowledge and wisdom, and become ardent seekers of knowledge and wisdom. The faculty members at Greenhill School are dedicated to nurturing the strengths and talents of each student, instilling the confidence to take calculated risks, and the necessary team or go-it-alone perseverance to achieve their most rewarding aspirational goals and continually improve their future lives.I am thrilled to hear that the school is continually evolving to strengthen its academic, arts, and athletics programs. The school is always incorporating the latest research on how students learn, perform, and practice most effectively, ensuring that each of its programs offers the foundational skills that will support its students during their time with the school and in the years to follow.Greenhill School has always valued inclusivity, and its student body is a dynamic blend of cultures, backgrounds, identities, and perspectives. The school appreciates the unique gifts of each member of its community and has integrated the art of civil discourse and diverse perspectives into daily learning, teaching students how to converse with excellence, integrity, compassion, and courage.As a parent of an intellectually gifted child, I am so happy that my child is a part of the Greenhill community. Whether you come to Greenhill for four years or fourteen, you are joining a family that lasts a lifetime. The school invites you to visit its beautiful campus, see its vibrant classrooms, meet its incredible students, and experience all that Greenhill offers, inclusive of all students and community members. A haven for the intellectually gifted, Greenhill School offers an unparalleled educational experience.Parent M Faber
Submitted by student on November 17, 2022

Learning and Teaching:Teachers create engaging courses that make me genuinely excited to learn. Teachers are also very helpful and understanding. I've had a lot going on these past few weeks, and every single teacher I've asked has given me an extension. The only thing I'd say is, these courses are built around engagement in class. If you or your child is planning to attend, they NEED to engage in the classes or they will be lost. Special Education:I do not need any accommodations, so I cannot speak on behalf of those who have them. I do know that many students are given extra time on quizzes, tests, exams, etc based on their accommodations and some (like those with dysgraphia) are permitted to do tasks normally done on paper on a computer. Safety:Greenhill has a security team who's here throughout the day, all the doors lock after school hours and regular fire/tornado/intruder drills are done. There's also a tornado alarm which is tested on the first Wednesday of every month (horrible sounding, make sure to be inside at noon on each first Wednesday) Family Engagement:There are four conferences between advisor/homeroom teacher and the parents/guardians and student each year (I believe every midsemester) and comments are released every midsemester. Comments let the parents and student know how they're doing in that class and what is being taught in that class. My advisor last year was not great on communicating with parents about issues with work. I had many missing assignments last year, and it took my advisor until I had over 10 to email my parents and let them know. Social-emotional support:The school does have multiple counselors for Lower, Middle and Upper school, but many students are very wary of going to them as they have a track record of notifying parents. There's also a new program on the computers which notifies counselors when anything 'concerning' is typed, even if its deleted. I went to the counselor once to get something off my chest, and I personally found it to be very helpful, but many of my friends have had contrasting experiences. Greenhill students are under a lot of pressure from both parents and ourselves, maintaining a good mental state can be extremely difficult. What I recommend is doing sports that give you consistent and difficult exercise. My mental health improved wildly after that. Your English essay is not worth an all nighter! Talk to your teachers, they are very understanding.
Submitted by parent on March 22, 2022

My sons attend Greenhill and have experienced both lower and middle schools. They both love the school very much. The faculty and staff are always friendly and responsive. The education is at the top quality. Excurriculum activities are stellar.
Submitted by other on August 16, 2021

I went here for 5 years and I honestly would not recommend it to anyone. Since I’ve graduated I’ve not been compelled to even return to campus at all because it was so not worth my time. Of the 5 academic departments only 2 are stronger than what you would find at a public school and it’s History and English. The Math, Science, and Spanish departments don’t offer anything that couldn’t be found at a public school. Additionally, only one of the three college counselors is attentive and does what they advertise and you don’t get to pick your counselor. It would be way cheaper to go to public school and higher a private counselor. Similarly, Advisors are hit or miss, some are great but others don’t care at all and again, you don’t get to choose your advisor. Quality of teaching is also inconsistent. Greenhill also provides the least amount of opportunity for college credit which is such a set back in college, especially in big state schools. I took all the APs offered except science APs and I only had 1 semester of credit whereas my peers in college had 1-2 years of credit which allowed them to take classes they were interested in starting freshman year while I was completing gen eds for 2.5 years. The school advertises a diverse and inclusive community which is untrue. The community is incredibly unwelcoming to students who come in at older grades and to those outside of the Dallas area code or those in lower economic class. Though students are very smart and hard working, they lack compassion and quite frankly most Greenhill students are unkind even when they look great on paper. It’s a very elitist environment. Sports and Arts are mediocre. The football team sucks and there’s no culture around other sports. The fine arts are also weak, especially performing arts. There’s a million dollar building built for performing arts but every year the PA’s get worse. To be fair, the point of private school is academics so it’s understandable that these fields lack in quality in comparison to TX public schools. Overall, Greenhill was not so great for me, I know some people loved it, but if you’re not super affluent and aren’t dead set on a specific college, you will probably stand out more in a public school than here if you are someone who is smart enough to get in to Greenhill.
Submitted by parent on July 16, 2018

I agree there is an over emphasis on diversity. Bullying is a major issue in middle school and the school’s response is often to blame the victim. Other schools in the area do a much better job of creating a common culture of respect and kindness. They built a state of the art theater but they don’t use it. There are no lower school or middle school plays. It is mostly rented out to generate income for the school. If you tour, be sure to ask about its use by Greenhill students. Another major concern of mine is the nepotism hiring of faculty. They seem to hire Greenhill graduates and friends/relatives of board members and current faculty instead of conducting thorough searches for faculty openings.
Submitted by parent on April 06, 2018

Amazing experience! I'm shocked to see some of the negative reviews. Especially the one about being Jewish or Legacy. My son is African American and yes he has noticed the "rich kids" - duh...it's a private school, however he hasn't felt slighted at all. He thoroughly enjoys Greenhill and the friends he has made. It's such a diverse staff and such a family environment. There will always be snobs.....private or public school. It's called life.....get over it and adjust to it. Greenhill is preparing him for higher education tremendously. I'll hate the day that he graduates.
Submitted by other on September 22, 2016

The best school for boys in Dallas. After considering ESD, St. Mark's, Parish, Good Shepard and HPISD, we chose Greenhill for our son. Academics have earned the school a national reputation. An inclusive, diverse community. First class arts/theatre/drama (including new performing arts facilities). Campus looks more like a small university, complete with peacocks! Although Greenhill has a rich, 65 year history, it prefers to focus on how it can continuously evolve. The only school in the metroplex which compares, in our opinion, is Hockaday (our daughter attends).
Submitted by parent on September 30, 2014

We are not a wealthy family, but would scrimp and save and do whatever it takes to keep our children at this school. Every time I volunteer and have the chance to see Greenhill's phenomenal teachers in action, I'm simply amazed and delighted. It's pretty incredible to watch your child jump up in down with excitement about going to school. Really. It's the best school in the Metroplex and was our first and only choice for a private school. Worth every penny.
Submitted by other on June 01, 2014

This is a great school. These students are not only intelligent and hardworking but have great character.
Submitted by parent on May 16, 2014

We feel that Greenhill is hands-down the best coeducational school in the Dallas area and comparable to St. Mark's (all boys) and Hockaday (all girls). Our child was accepted to all of the schools we applied to and Greenhill was definitely our first choice. The Early Childhood Development of Greenhill is far superior to its peers and we love the inclusive environment.
Submitted by parent on April 24, 2014

I have two children at Greenhill and it is an amazing school. The faculty and staff truly care about each and every student. The academic program is top notch and the character education is excellent. We are not a wealthy family and receive financial aid funds for our kids, but we have never been treated differently or less than by any student, family, or staff member. Greenhill is truly a family and one that I am proud to be a part of.
Submitted by parent on May 25, 2013

My children attended Greenhill through high school. The education was excellent and, in some cases, provided by teachers who had better training and knowledge than college professors. Some worked as professors part-time. The environment, however, was unpleasant and unethical. Students were not taught a sense of right and wrong but rather that money can buy whatever you want. The coaches were terrible, taking gifts and money to let certain players play. The leadership set a bad example, with many knowing about extramarital affairs. In short, I believe that your child can get an excellent education at Greenhill, but I do not believe that your child will learn the more valuable things -- respect, honesty, justice and hard work.
Submitted by other on April 01, 2013

Worst school ever. Snobby is an understatement. Parents are the worst. Students are a close second. $$$$$$ That is the mission statement of Greenhill.
Submitted by parent on April 06, 2012

GH school is not worth the tuition charged. On top of the tuition, parents are "encouraged" to donate and volunteer. The school seems to be sparsely staffed and relies heavily on parent volunteers. Watch out for the tennis moms who battle for grunt work positions in order to please the school and garner favor. While there are great teachers, many mediocre. A few are down right horrible, and the school does nothing about it. many of the kids need to be tutored and are pulled out from class during the school day by visiting tutors. The school's "creative" curriculum fails to teach basic concepts. Lots of children are put on ADD medication at an early age. There seems to be lots of behavior problems as well. While many are drawn by the diversity sell, it simply means is that there are lots of conflict. The school is made up of predominantly Jewish children, with some Hindu's, Asian's, Africans, and atheist to round out the supposedly diversity. On a positive note, the new website does look spiffy, and the campus is beautiful. The upkeep must be $$.