The Hudson School

601 Park Avenue

Hoboken, NJ 07030

19 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK, K-12
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on January 31, 2023

My child went to Hoboken public schools through 5th grade and found as the grade level went up, the challenge went down. We switched to what we hoped was a more challenging and engaging school and were proven correct in our choice. Hudson School challenges and engages students on all levels, high marks are not given out easily and are truly earned through hard work and participation. Field trips, overnight trips, guest speakers are all regular and well thought out, while arts programs are well supported and creative. I cannot speak to sports because my child doesn't play too many on a competitive level, but kids at the school who do have soccer, basketball and volleyball from what i have seen and heard and those things seem to be equally well supported as well. During the pandemic THS pivoted to a very focused and competent(!) virtual program that impressed us immensely. Some amount of a drag on the learning process was to be expected, but THS minimized this and was set up and ready to go within a week of going virtual. THS shows this sort of flexible and dynamic capability in general, but during the pandemic it was truly on display.The Hudson school is a terrific school and we are very pleased with how things are going.
Submitted by other on November 22, 2022

Wonderful institution! With beyond qualified and passionate for teaching educators (most of them with 10+ years of teaching in The Hudson School and 20+ years in teaching). Dedicated and caring administration and leadership.Students learn, become self-advocates, and flourish in the most creative and beautiful of ways possible. Th Hudson School is not just a school it is a family and a strong and loving community.Rare gem in today’s middle and High school age pedagogical landscape.
Submitted by other on December 07, 2014

I went to the Hudson School for middle school. I credit the school for showing me that the acquisition of knowledge is self-directed and self-motivated and not an end in and of itself. What I do with knowledge is what is critical. While I did not know it at the time, the pedagogy is mostly inquiry-based. Students learn how to investigate and make connections for themselves between disparate concepts. I feel the school held at its heart what it means to be an ethical and openhearted person in society. I'm grateful beyond words for the experiences I had there. - an alumna
Submitted by parent on November 20, 2014

We have great disappointment in Hudson. We thought that if we paid more money to send out kids to school, they would turn out so smart. We found the school to not be the best and our children were overpraised for doing very mediocre work. This school is a lot of hype, unfortunately. For us, it was a painful and expensive lesson: Many schools claim to be so great and with the brightest kids. We found the opposite to be true: the kids are average and the school is not worth the money.
Submitted by parent on April 06, 2014

the school is overrated. parents here complains louder because they are paying so expensive. kids are avearge sudent and also school is very small. not worth it.
Submitted by parent on March 02, 2014

As for the HIGH SCHOOL, here are the pluses: It's very very diverse -demographically, socially and academically. Your child will feel freer to explore who s/he is, rather than fit into a box. Some teachers will go out of their way to help your child. And the school has a remarkably good record in terms of college acceptances. The negatives: The school's leadership is lacking and has blinders on. A few teachers get away with not doing very much teaching at all. [If the administration reads this: it's really time to overhaul the Without Walls class. ] The bottom line: Not perfect by a long shot. This is not an "elite" private school. BUT if your child needs an environment that isn't a pressure cooker, and you're looking for a place where s/he could find his/her voice, this could be a good place.
Submitted by parent on February 15, 2014

Our experience at the school has been somewhat disappointing. When we enrolled two years ago, we were under the impression that the school was for exceptionally bright children. What we found in actuality was that the school holds (and accepts) a majority of average children and a few that are exceptional. As a result, the few highly intelligent carry the weight of the average in terms of high test scores and awards. We came to realize that most kids we know get "accepted" into the school with ease and that most of them are not gifted in anyway, especially academically. We are writing this review so that no other parents go through what we have to go through looking for another school that is more challenging because we believed all the talk and chatter of the school's uniqueness and high standards. What you have at Hudson are a mostly average kids with supportive parents with the money to pay the tuition.
Submitted by other on October 27, 2013

The Hudson School offers an incredibly unique academic experience. As a high school student here, I am still impressed with the myriad course options available. In addition to its rigorous academics, the school truly focuses on educating the whole child. Hudson's overall atmosphere is laid-back and supportive. The teachers want you to do well, and above all, learn and understand. The student body is very diverse; I have friends from all different racial and socioeconomic backgrounds. While I did not attend Hudson's middle school, I can easily say that it looks like an incredible academic experience. The middle school has a unique curriculum that prepares its students for top high schools, just as the high school prepares its students for admission to rigorous colleges. If I were to sum up a Hudson School education, I would say the following: The Hudson School offers a "real-learning" experience. The English teachers teach how to write effectively; the Math department teaches students how to think like mathematicians, and so on. Critical thinking and community are the most defining elements of the school. It's too unique to describe--I encourage you to come check it out.
Submitted by teacher on October 25, 2013

A graduate in the class of 2013 said in their speech last year, I started at Hudson in eighth grade, uncomfortable in my own skin, believing that there was no place where I could fit and truly belong. Thank you for proving me wrong. This kind of accolade is common, not only among students, but also faculty and parents. The Hudson School is a warm, supportive and familial place -- perhaps the nicest place I have ever worked. It's not only the warm atmosphere that keeps teachers working here for 20 and 30 years. Another teacher said to me today, "This school is an extraordinary place where we as teachers are given room to grow and are motivated by the intellectual environment to challenge not only the students, but ourselves. We as teachers are encouraged to think imaginatively, to use new ideas in place of what's expected, to detach from the old and already known and limited, and to be able to accept new perspectives."
Submitted by parent on October 25, 2013

This school has a wonderful blend of strong academics and support. The teaching staff is very engaged, and all the kids (including in the upper grades) are very supportive of one another. The school maintains high standards but also allows the kids to grow on their own. My child is learning a lot and growing as a person every day while getting a very well-rounded education that requires her to learn facts but also how to think on her own, speak publicly and analyze a lot of material. In short, it is a warm, loving environment that urges and insists that children take their education seriously, be an active part of their community and enjoy being a child. I love this place!
Submitted by parent on October 25, 2013

The Hudson School is not just a school, it's a family. They nutured my daughter from grades 5 to 12. The faculty is extremely dedicated. Parental involvement was encouraged and I benefited by it. The academics are challenging but the intangables come with it. By the time they prepared her for college she had fantastic study skills, organizational skills and confidence. These traits helped her so much in college. The entire family was rewarded by it's involvement with the Hudson School!
Submitted by parent on June 17, 2013

I would like to respond to the previous review - yes, there are tests and homework, but neither I or my husband found it to be overbearing for our child. It was just the right amount. Our kid had plenty of time to be on Facebook, read, watch TV in the evening and go to all the additional clubs and socialize with other kids. Our family loved the school, it was wonderful experience with some hiccups, but nothing is absolutely perfect: there always be amazing teachers and not so great ones, but kids have to learn how to work with both. Hudson has many truly amazing teachers and I wish I had at least one of them as my teacher when growing up. It is very personal, very nurturing environment, but it is for very bright kids: it can be a tough place academically for some children. At the same time Hudson has been very accommodating as it offered 3 levels of math for middle-schoolers. There is a lot of pressure to get to the best possible college and there is fierce competition. Whenever my kid goes in life, Hudson taught him/her this very much needed lesson on how to face these types of pressures in a very loving, very liberal and highly academic atmosphere.
Submitted by other on May 14, 2013

If you want your child to be completely overwhelmed with homework, essays, tests, and projects, go to the Hudson School. Here, your child will be doing busywork and tests/assessments in every subject every day. This is especially problematic in the seventh and eighth grades towards the end of the year, where the students must juggle weekly tests, daily graded assignments, finals, and multiple projects at once. For increased results from the pupils, some teachers allow the students to be exempt from the final for that class if they perform exceptionally in each quarter. However, this is made up for when these same teachers give huge projects, papers, and presentations at the end of the year anyway. The workload is overbearing and leaves no time for the student to enjoy the leisure of simply being a kid. Those with long-distance commutes have it even worse as they cannot spare a minute, for they must always be thinking of homework and upcoming tests. There is so much pressure being put on the kids as the teachers grade nearly everything the student hands in, and constantly announce the person with the highest grade.
Submitted by parent on October 12, 2012

The Hudson School has one of the most unique, progressive and positive learning environments I have ever seen in a school. Mrs. Newman, the compassionate and dedicated principal, is aware of everything that goes on and genuinely cares deeply about each student. The teachers challenge each child as an individual and appreciate everyone's unique talents. Passion is evident all around, among the students and staff. You can often hear students engaged with teachers in interesting discussions in the hallways.The work load is challenging but manageable, the classes small, and the staff fosters self-esteem and curiosity. For anyone seeking solid academics in a loving, slightly alternative environment, Hudson delivers. It's a small school with a big heart.
Submitted by other on June 26, 2012

This school is a unique school, and it does its job. It diligently educates students, while also managing to teach them about current issues in the real world. Its science and math programs are great, and the teachers---such as Mr. Raisa, Ms. Couturie, and Dr. Wool---teach in a not only captivating, but also dynamic way. Its other strengths, such as History and the languages(Latin, Japanese, French, Spanish, etc..), are also very strong. Teachers such as Dr. Case frequently engage his students in discussions of the material they cover---which often results in students understanding much more of the content then they otherwise would have from just reading the textbook. Additionally, the language teachers are very skilled at their job. Teachers such as Ms. Soulier and Ms. Yokota often make understanding foreign languages not only easy, but enjoyable. The Hudson School's students are very sociable, and it is easy for any student to find friends here. As a Hudson School graduate, I can't begin to explain just how much this school has allowed me to mature as a person. With that said, this school is as far from "normal" as possible--and I wouldn't have had it any other way.
Submitted by parent on June 25, 2012

Hudson School is Overrated. Strengths: 1. A few terrific caring Teachers. 2. Strong Latin & French Language teachers/programs. Critical Flaws : 1.Favoritism is rampant. 2. Many students are borderline bullies and the school administration is clueless about the goings-on inside the school bldg. 3. Expensive .School is always asking for extra Donations. 4. Lacking in strong Technology & Science/ Computer courses. 5. School administrators not at all responsive to constructive recommendations from concerned Parents. Overall not worth the high Tuition Expense> Student Body from a very narrow demographic income group. Very few students stay back for High School. No broad 'real-world' experience. Needs to revamp/replace Teaching Staff in many classes/courses. Just an honest direct assessment of Hudson School. Hopefully will be helpful to others. My child is still currently enrolled at the school.
Submitted by parent on March 25, 2012

I have 2 children in the Hudson School. They are both very different kids with different strengths and interests. They are both thriving in the Hudson School. Why? Because they are treated with respect and valued for their individuality. The small classes are what many students crave....an opportunity to be known and understood by their teachers and classmates. The success of the teaching is that the teachers are truly passionate about learning....not memorizing and regurgitating facts for tests. The students are challenged and supported by the most superior group of teachers I have ever seen in a school. These teachers stay late after school, helping students understand a lesson more clearly, doing science experiments, helping in every subject and the students want to stay after school. The students help each other. A real experience of community is what you feel every time you walk in to the Hudson School. My children commute on the NJ transit from an excellent public school system where we live. But we come to The Hudson School because we value education and learning at these earlier years, as critical to children's development as "whole" and holistic people.
Submitted by parent on February 17, 2012

We are considering this school for 5th grade next year but are confused by the extremely conflicting reviews. It sounds like an nurturing and exciting and intellectual environment but are there also teachers throwing things at children? Poorly taught science classes? An inflexible principal? We would really appreciate more reviews from more parents to help us get a better handle on this school.
Submitted by parent on March 22, 2010

Hudson has no problem filling the ranks of its middle school; call Stevens, Mustard Seed, and All Saints and find out how many children are switching over to Hudson for fifth grade and above. Yes, there is a drop off into the High School, but the two divisions are very different. And, Hudson also draws a chunk of kids in Essex County. Enrollment in the middle school is not problematic. I've worked there and I know plenty of people who seek spaces at Hudson when they tire of other schools in the area.
Submitted by parent on June 29, 2006

We used Hudson School for 2 years and then pulled out. There is way too much homework, plus there are mandatory weekend activites. Kids are allowed to hand work in incomplete or late yet get full credit. And, in spite of astronomical tuition, everything costs extra. We had to pay for them to charter a bus for a field trip to Manhattan. All they needed to do was take the PATH! That kind of thing was typical.