Hammond School

854 Galway Lane

Columbia, SC 29209

30 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK-12
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on March 23, 2020

Pre-K year was great for my child....loved the teachers.....they were pleasant and as I stated invested into given their all into the children. When my child entered into Kindergarten....all of that changed. The beginning of the year started off great, then every little thing that my child did was being called out. I overlooked as much as I could as parent but when a child starts to question at 5 years old "why doesn't this child get sent to office when we both are doing the same thing" or your child comes home and says that he has to walk around with his hands in his pockets because this is what he was told by the school guidance counselor and lead teacher is a serious problem. Having a child apologize to another student because the student states that she felt intimidated because my child was looking at her (what 5 year old says that....those are the words put into a child's mouth by an adult) she will not be successful as adult when it's time for her to complete interviews nor will she have any public speaking strengths. Having a child write apology letters for his wrist accidently overlapping with another students wrist, writing apology letters for a lunch box accidently grazing against students while they are in a line.....these incidents shows that this school is setting these children up for complete failure when they enter into adulthood. There is no life skills being taught and these children are being programed with the attitude of entitlement.Being told by an administrator "because of your child size we feel the need to protect him". What are you protecting him from again??? (That question was never answered. This school was complete disappointment and I expected so much more for them.
Submitted by parent on December 09, 2019

We couldn’t ask for a better educational and character building experience than we have at Hammond for our sons.
Submitted by parent on December 09, 2019

An amazing experience with all of my kids - challenged in the classroom, on the courts and ball fields and on the musical and theatrical stage. While not an easy curriculum, our kids learned the art of time management, the skills of teamwork, both in and out of the classroom, and have been instilled with the values of honesty, accountability and compassion for others. Has it always been easy? Of course not. However, life in and of itself is not always easy. Having watched my children thrive in college, grad school and beyond, I have witnessed first hand how well Hammond has prepared them for life.
Submitted by parent on December 09, 2019

Hammond has been a fabulous community for my three very different students.
Submitted by parent on December 09, 2019

Hammond is preparing my children well. They are very different learners, yet both are challenged and successful. They have many opportunities to participate in clubs, athletics, the arts, and other activities outside of their academic lives. They are pushed to develop their reading and writing lives, as well as challenged in math, science, and design thinking. Hammond is an outstanding school.
Submitted by other on October 20, 2019

As a former Cardinal Newman student, avoid Hammond School. Hammond fosters a culture of bullying and entitlement.
Submitted by other on December 04, 2018

it was horrible.... don't bother...go public school
Submitted by parent on October 18, 2018

Very good. I was often frustrated with the leadership of the lower school, because I did not think they had the proper training or experience to deal with certain situations. The middle school leader has been much more professional and understanding.
Submitted by parent on August 12, 2018

Simply nightmarish. We got out when we could. We continued to believe they would protect our son, but they never did.
Submitted by parent on July 24, 2018

Overall this is an excellent school for elevated learning!
Submitted by parent on February 05, 2017

As an alumnus and current parent I could not be happier with the educational experience provided at Hammond School. What you realize as you go down the path is that Hammond is not a means to an end, Hammond is the destination. Your child's most formative years are spent here and who they become as an adult is dependent upon their experiences now, not in the future. It's a given that the students here get top notch academics, but the same student is also playing 3 sports, acting in the play, singing for the Pope in St.Peters Basilica, earning their Eagle Scout Ranking, winning the State math competition, and interning with local doctors, attorneys, and business executives during the summer. College counseling is superb, Ivy's every year, but most impressive is that we have kids in the bottom 25% of the graduating class going to UVA, Sewanee, Wofford, Clemson, and USC. The school compares nationally with the best schools in the country and is right here in our own back yard.
Submitted by other on October 06, 2016

Summer Programs at Hammond are incredible! My daughters have attended Hammond's Hawk Ridge full day camp for the past 3 years and had the time of their lives! The Camp Counselors are very engaging with the campers and their parents. Since Kevin White took over Hammond's auxiliary programs, we decided to send our daughters for the summer because we heard so many wonderful things that were implemented under Kevin's direction and leadership. He has created an exceptional summer program. My family highly recommends it to everyone!
Submitted by parent on October 05, 2016

I am so impressed with the number of enrichment offerings through Hammond's PLUS Programs. Also, Hammond offers more than 100 different summer programs and camps every year. My child attended Hawk Ridge Camp and absolutely loved it! Highly recommend your family checking out these great additions to Hammond.
Submitted by parent on September 23, 2016

Hammond has been a wonderful experience for our children. From the amazing education to the warm and nurturing environment, they have absolutely thrived! While my children are very different from each other, the Hammond experience has been better than we could have imagined. Their unique abilities have been fostered and developed and led to wonderful self confidence. AF
Submitted by parent on September 16, 2016

We’re in our third year at Hammond, and both my kids truly love the school. Hammond has a diverse environment which truly enriches each student's experience. The teachers genuinely love each child and care about their emotional, social, physical and academic growth. They are responsive to student/parent concerns. The class sizes are small enough (8:1) so that each child gets necessary attention. The teachers seem to enjoy coming up with creative ways to help the kids learn. My son’s teachers are awesome in nurturing the excitement in him to learn. My children have accelerated their emotional, physical and academic growth while at Hammond. While in Pre-K, my son would come home and inform me of facts that I’d have to go look up myself. The school teaches the students to be independent and responsible. They not only help the students to become independent, but they help the parents to allow the kids to become independent (cut the cord) lol. It’s hard to express how appreciative I am of Hammond family. I’ve watched both my son’s blossom in all aspects of their lives and I can’t wait to see them grow even more in the upcoming years. The academic preparation they are getting is exceptional, but more important to me was the love of learning, exploration, thoughtfulness and kindness toward mankind, social skills, and the confidence that the school is helping to foster. Hammond not only focuses on academic excellence, but they want their students to excel socially, physically and emotionally. They focus on the “whole” child. My children aren’t just a number or statistic, they are individuals who are respected, academically challenged, cared for and loved. And I know when they walk into the halls of any college; they will be more than prepared to take on the challenges that lay ahead of them. As a mother , I can go about my day at work fully confident that my sons are getting the best education, with people that care about him as if he was family.
Submitted by parent on September 07, 2016

When deciding the best school for your child there is nothing better than choosing an environment that not only excels in its academic curriculum but more importantly a true sense of community. Hammond is so much more than a typical school. It is a family. I am humbled that my son is not only receiving a phenomenal education but the sense of having an extended family to be a part of. The faculty and staff go above and beyond to ensure that every child feels this way. As a full-time working mother, I enjoy watching my son grow up in this community. There is always a friendly face to greet parents and children from the headmaster to the crossing guards. I truly enjoy volunteering in several aspects for the school as I feel honored and privileged to be a part of something great. My son truly loves his school and I could not be happier in choosing such an amazing place for him to receive an education.
Submitted by parent on September 06, 2016

As an alumni and a parent of the school I can speak completely honestly about Hammond. Looking back on my personal education, I can honestly say I didn't realize how fourtunate I was that my parents sacrificed so much to send me to Hammond for so many years. As a parent I will continue to make sacrifices to send my children to this amazing school. It is more than a school, it is a community, a family and a breath of fresh air in the world we live in. If you want to find the "bad" or the "good" online when searching schools...you can find it anywhere, so after reading and scrolling through all of the reviews I challenge you to just come take a look, give Hammond a call, step onto campus and experiance for yourself what makes this school so special!
Submitted by parent on September 06, 2016

Where to start? Hammond's headmaster is a true visionary with tons of energy and passion, and Hammond's faculty are devoted and engaged professionals who are accessible to both students and parents alike. The lower school is essentially addictive- I have NEVER seen students so eager to get to their classrooms and participate in the exciting educational arena that is Hammond. New ideas are encouraged and implemented constantly. There is nothing stagnant about this school. It is cutting-edge... always. The LS principal, Helen Kiser, is warm and fantastically knowledgeable. Best of all, she loves the students AND she loves the parents! The MS head, Todd Fawcett, is always seeking to do what is best for the students and makes himself available at any hour to speak with parents about anything. The US head, Renee Bickley, has been at Hammond for years, knows the ins and outs of education , and is a cherished resource. College counseling at Hammond is second to none. Parents from public schools in the area are constantly bemoaning the deficiencies of their own college admissions programs and trying to access Hammond's. The amount of scholarship money awarded to the senior class every year is utterly astounding. The accolades abound. Hammond's ARTS program is out of this world; this year, for example, the upper school chorus will be singing New Year's Day with the Sistine Chapel Choir at The Vatican to the Pope. Hammond's athletics are the best around. State championships are won continually in many different sports; the athletic events are a blast to attend and- more often than not- end with a victory. Hammond's community service programs have become outstanding in recent years. They profoundly affect not just those who are helped, but also those who are helping, and truly achieve something. Hammond's emphasis on "experiential education" is part of what makes this such a special place. Also, the sense of community. It is truly a treat to get to be a part of this very special place. There is nowhere else I would want my kids. They wouldn't go anyway!
Submitted by parent on September 06, 2016

My girls have attended Hammond for 6 years now, and I have been blown away by what they have achieved. Hammond School truly fosters a close community of learning, in a positive and nurturing environment. They really push these kids to their potential and create a love for learning.
Submitted by parent on April 19, 2016

As my family comes close to completing our 13th year of being a part of the Hammond family, it makes me pause and think what a wonderful gift I've given to my children. My oldest will be a rising Senior, then his two younger sisters will be rising a Sophomore and 3rd grader, respectively. Both my husband and I grew up in public schools and choosing Hammond was a big decision and investment for our family. I regularly ask my kids if they are glad to be at Hammond and the answer is always a resounding, "Yes!". Hammond provides my children with an opportunity to be challenged, to grow in their passions, to experience new opportunities, to excel in becoming a well rounded individual that has a healthy respect for academic, athletic and cultural excellence. We have seen much growth and change at Hammond in our 13 years with technology, new facilities on campus, curriculum as it is an environment that knows to excel you can never stop learning and being open to change. I am thrilled that my youngest has the opportunity to spend 3 years with our unbelievable LS Head, Helen Kiser. She joined the Hammond family this past summer and has already won the respect as well as the hearts of students, faculty and families. I know that with her passion for children and positive nature our LS will continue to amaze and engage our students to do great things and more importantly become kind and generous citizens. Thank goodness, I am fully supported by the marvelous Upper School College Counseling Department and US teachers. I have said to many parents that ask about our US, the guidance and dedicated partnership your family receives from the College Counseling Department in 9th-12th grade is well worth the investment of tuition. The conversations that I share with my older children never cease to amaze me as they share discussions that they had in class or with a teacher. My only regret is that my husband and I aren't Hammond Alumni but we have found our place there as well both serving as volunteers in many capacities. If you are looking for a positive, challenging and well rounded environment for your children, I hope you will visit Hammond. It was the best decision our family has ever made and we have three kids that agree.