Hickory Day School

2535 21st Avenue Northeast

Hickory, NC 28601

8 Reviews

School District
Grade

K-8
Type

private

Find Homes for Sale in this School Zone

Reviews

Submitted by parent on April 14, 2022

I made two mistakes when I chose to send my child to Hickory Day School for 6th grade. I assumed a private school for which you’re paying thousands of dollars tuition couldn’t be problematic. This school is very problematic. I also disregarded the negative reviews I had read about those problems. I would have given it a 1 star review but they do have some very good teachers and the didactic structure is very good. When you can select only the best students, the curriculum can move at a pace that a public school can not. The reasons I gave it a 2 star and not higher is because of the size of the classes, the lack of diversity, the negative judgmental administration and the lack of resources for students. My child transferred in as a 6th grader because of Covid. There were only 16 kids in the entire 6th grade! While I loved small class size, that turned out to be detrimental to the social health of a teenager. When my child wasn’t fitting in because she wasn’t exactly like the other kids, she was bullied. When I turned to administration for support, they blamed it on my child, said she was making it up. If a student is the child of a powerful politician or successful surgeon in town, they will be able to bully with impunity at HDS. When she was so afraid to go back to class, she’d call me from the bathroom crying, there was no one at the school she could go to. You would think for a school that you pay so much tuition for, and they hassle you all year around to fundraise, that the school would have some money to have a counselor there that the students could talk to, not just a teacher who’s busy teaching and isn’t trained to be a counselor. When a teacher grabbed her by the arm several times for not being in the right place or horse playing with other kids, I went to administration for support, I was very uncomfortable with someone manhandling my child. I was so surprised when I got zero support and they said she was manipulating me!! Unbelievable. At every turn, I got no support from the principal. The good that came from us leaving HDS was it forced us to move and find better schools where my child is thriving and very happy,
Submitted by other on August 17, 2019

Overall, the school shows itself as a high-class school for people of all kinds, when the truth is that the teachers are sexist and blame everything on boys, the teachers can’t keep up with assignments and can’t grade them in time, as well as the fact that they will only help students with wealthy families that pour out thousands of dollars a year to the school’s fundraisers. There is no discipline with the majority of students, due to the teachers not doing anything about it, leaving multiple classes packed with annoying, immature kids. I will give a higher rating than some other reviews due to the respect I have for the school’s magnificent Staff, and Head of School. Also, the school looks to be expanding for the better in the next few years, thanks to the Head of School yet again.
Submitted by parent on August 07, 2016

Not all it is made out to be. IB education is a great teaching model but you need experienced teachers. They must be trained and experienced in IB methods to be able to effectively deliver the programs values for your child's benefit. The school has had too much teacher turn over to acquire the necessary experience. If you can't afford to participate in their fund raising programs, your child will be helped last.
Submitted by parent on May 15, 2016

Very, very pleased with Hickory Day School's ability to challenge its students in so many ways; my child loves it. Teachers are dedicated, fully invested and know their students well. The IB program forces students to learn to seek, think and create vice memorize and repeat. Manageable size of the school and each class guarantees students (and parents) don't get lost in the shuffle. Many, many opportunities for parents to be meaningfully involved. A gem of a school.
Submitted by parent on November 20, 2013

We wish every child in America could receive this quality of education. It has been a phenomenal experience with the most qualified and dedicated administration and staff. Our children are thriving at Hickory Day School.
Submitted by student on May 16, 2009

N/A
Submitted by parent on October 11, 2007

N/A
Submitted by parent on October 10, 2007

N/A