Hillside School

404 Robin Hill Street

Marlborough, MA 01752

22 Reviews

School District
Grade

4-9
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on March 26, 2023

This school does not provide an appropriate learning nor social-emotional environment for kids. Please look at major websites that contain job reviews. Teachers suffer a toxic work environment. Students notice and this leads to a poor culture, at best. Try to interview staff to attempt to get some honest answers about the turnover. At least 45 teachers quit or were fired in the past 18 months. Kids were often left unsupervised as parents were not notified - e.g., borders were left without a dorm parent, and day students called home to ask what to do when they are out in the field for sports practice without a coach or other adults.Student attrition has been steep. Ask how many students have left each grade in the past year, not due to graduation. Ask yourself if the school is transparent - is it reasonably easy to see who in fact comprises a Board of Directors, and if any of them are truly independent and empowered to hold the Administration accountable?
Submitted by parent on August 19, 2020

An absolute highpoint. I am indebted to this school. My son grew in all the ways we could have hoped, academically, personally, and socially. Hillside is a truly special community.
Submitted by parent on November 13, 2019

Excellent -- the academic, social and emotional development of the kids are important and paramount to everything that happens.
Submitted by parent on September 17, 2018

EXCELLENT-really positive change in self confidence and willingness to succeed
Submitted by other on August 30, 2017

The faculty and students are fine, but the administration is disrespectful and deceitful. They are the role models for tomorrow's leaders.
Submitted by other on June 01, 2017

As a former secondary school admission officer, I interviewed dozens of Hillside students over the years. No matter what their interests, talents, or abilities, my impression was always the same. These students were mature, thoughtful, respectful, confident, eager to be an active part of the school community, and natural leaders. Now that I work at Hillside, I understand why. The program is custom-made to meet each student's individual needs and pace. The academic program is robust, with bright, experienced, encouraging faculty; classes are small and individualized (7:1 student/teacher ratio); students progress based on mastery of material; the 5-teacher tutorial program is excellent; and, the athletic and creative offerings are diverse and invigorating. A 300-animal working farm is on campus, and all students have an opportunity to be involved. The leadership program and other offerings reflect the shared values of honesty, respect, compassion, determination, creativity, and fun. Newest features include a 2,500 sq. ft. Innovation Center, turf field, and outdoor climbing wall. Secondary school placement is outstanding, with 99.9% of the students being accepted into their first choice high school. Students love going to school here, and the parents say, "Hillside is transformative!"
Submitted by parent on April 12, 2017

My son is a 7-day boarder. He entered HS as an 8th grader. He is now in 9th grade and will be graduating in June 2017. Since attending HS, my son's academic performance increased dramatically from his prior school (which was a private school in NYC). Hillside teachers are very hands on with their students. The school provides a rigorous academic program that prepares their students for secondary schools. Teachers provide biweekly progress reports with narratives, which I found very helpful in following my son's academic progress. Each student is assigned an advisor, which is very helpful because it gives you a direct contact to discuss your child's experience at HS. I found my son's advisor very helpful in selecting the most appropriate secondary school for him. Another benefit of Hillside is that the school is tied into the New England boarding school community, which gives Hillside students a great advantage when applying to secondary schools. When my son was visiting/interviewing various secondary schools, the director of admissions for each of these schools had nothing but high praise for Hillside students. My son played on HS's varsity hockey team, and he received a lot of attention from top secondary schools--whose coaches will make the effort to watch HS's varsity games for potential recruits for their programs. The exposure HS's student athletes receive, particularly hockey players, to other secondary schools is invaluable, and it is something you cannot get playing on a travel hockey team. Most if not all of HS's 2017 graduation class has been accepted to a top boarding school. My son's experience at Hillside was very positive. The school has a very strict policy on cell phones -- which some parents are not crazy about. But the kids get used to going w/o a cellphone which is a good thing in the end.
Submitted by principal on March 30, 2017

If you are looking for a small, supportive, structured school where your middle school-aged son will be allowed to either further develop or improve upon his academics, athletics, extracurricular, and/or social life, then Hillside is the ideal environment.
Submitted by parent on March 03, 2016

My son is in 8th grade and in his second year at Hillside. I am beyond amazed at how his academics have improved from his previous school. They are preparing him for the future and enabling him to enjoy school and life. Allowing him to play 3 sports brought out the soccer player that we never knew existed. They are his family away from home.
Submitted by parent on July 04, 2015

Great caring teachers who also serve as coaches and dorm parents which shows their dedication and takes time away from their personal life. Very qualified and experienced educators and mentors. 2014/2015 was a great year. Headmaster has been removed so it's nowhere but up for this school.
Submitted by parent on January 05, 2015

This school has changed my son's life. He finally feel good about himself as a learner and a friend. Hillside's support for their boys is second to none. He is enjoying school and boarding life which has made him more independent and responsible. Thank you Hillside!!
Submitted by parent on December 17, 2014

This is our first year at Hillside School; our son is in sixth grade and it has been the best year ever. The transition was extremely smooth and almost immediately, everyone on campus knew our son's name. He felt welcomed and included everywhere he went. He loves the small class size which helps inspire him to work harder and ask questions whenever necessary. All of the teachers are compassionate and clearly work hard to support the boys emotionally, academically and athletically. The day might be long in the beginning but now our son tells us that every day is like Friday! We have noticed a huge change in his personality and comfort level with daily tasks and trying new things. We are very lucky to be a part of the Hillside family.
Submitted by other on November 16, 2014

I am a current student at Hillside school. I first became interested in Hillside from speaking to a few recent graduates from the school that really loved Hillside. From the first time I shadowed at Hillside I knew it was the perfect school for me. I love the small classroom sizes and the relationships that I have with my teachers and coaches. I feel that they are always encouraging me to be successful and pushing me to reach all of my goals. I have gained more confidence than I ever could have imagined in school. We are taught to have respect, compassion, honesty, determination , and fun .I have made amazing friends from all over. I am looking forward to the next 3 years at Hillside school. I would recommend to tour or even shadow a student for a day.I am sure you will fall in love with it the same way I did!
Submitted by parent on November 14, 2014

Hillside is an amazing school! From its scholastic program, sports, incredibly committed and caring faculty, and warm and friendly student body. My son is thriving in all areas at Hillside .He is academically challenged and supported simultaneously, he has gained tremendous confidence academically and socially. Headmaster David Beecher has created a amazing community with caring and compassionate teachers, coaches and admission staff that truly take pride in the community that they have built at Hillside. My son has made friends from all of the world, and is very happy in the Hillside community. As a parent, The communication Hillside provides with constant feedback on my sons academic progress is truly wonderful and keeps our family in touch with his with academics and social happenings on campus.We are very happy with the decision to have our son enroll and attend Hillside We highly recommend Hillside school!
Submitted by other on October 08, 2014

I attended Hillside School from the 5th through the 9th grade. The school put me on a path to success starting with my 5th grade year. The faculty were committed to both my education and my social/emotional growth as a teenager. Although I was a day student, I grew to see Hillside as a home away from home. As I matured while attending Hillside, I became more confident and eventually earned a position of leadership amongst the student body. Hillside opened the door for me to succeed in school and become a well-rounded young man. As I approached the 9th grade I was supported in my secondary school placement and even had faculty members offer to visit schools with me when my parents could not. The middle school years can be very difficult for many kids. Hillside helped me grow up and develop into a mature and confident student.
Submitted by parent on September 22, 2014

Thank you Hillside! Prior to entering Hillside, my son rarely smiled, he wasn't happy in school. From the moment we visited we knew he needed to be here. He just finished his 8th grade year at Hillside, and he is so proud to call this community his school. Whenever asked how he likes Hillside, the response is always the same, 'I love my school!' We are forever grateful.
Submitted by parent on September 10, 2014

My son just began his second year at Hillside. He entered as a reclassified 8th grader in 2013. School was recommended by friends who children also attended. What a great decision to have him join the Bulldog community! The teachers are wonderful, extremely committed to my son's success academically. He achieved Honor Roll status last academic year for the first time since elementary school. The campus is beautiful. The diversity of students is a great quality. He's learning Mandarin as well as exploring his creative side in Music. He plays 3 varsity sports. The staff foster the kids' creativity while encouraging development in other areas such as leadership and serving others. School core values of Compassion, Honesty, Leadership, Respect and Fun are taken very seriously.They are keeping up with the latest technology by the recent implementation of the IPAD in the classrooms for both teachers & students. My son has grown immensely both as a student athlete and as a young man. He's more focused, driven, independent, self sufficient, dependable, very self confident and seems to be having a great time. These are qualities that have been enhanced by his time at the Hillside School.
Submitted by other on August 11, 2014

This school shoud be shunned. Here are some reasons. Terrible teachers, terrible head, bad dorms, disrespectful children, not using money for education, The head brags too much, people's belongings stolen, talking about rival schools makes people shun you, bullying,Etc etc etc The only hope for you is to go to a diffrent school.
Submitted by parent on April 10, 2014

Beware. Over 10 teachers and administrators left this school over the summer of 2013. Headmaster scrambled to fill positions with unqualified teachers. Overall teacher morale is low. Absolute lack of leadership, especially from Headmaster David Beecher. Dorms are ridiculously overcrowded and filthy. Matters got so bad that we pulled our son mid-year. Look elsewhere. Your son deserves better than this place.
Submitted by parent on July 15, 2013

Our son began at Hillside last fall-as a 5th grade day student. The transformation was remarkable. We watched him go from feeling depressed, overwhelmed, dumb and frustrated from our town's public school to a thriving excited student feeling proud of his grades at hillside. His teachers know the best ways to tap into his way of learning. He s mentioned to us, "I am a smart kid. I didn't think I could be good at school." He is starting to take responsibility for his own actions. He is learning how to express his thoughts/ideas/opinions in an effective manner and how to listen to his peers and teachers. Our son has made friends in his class and in many other grade levels. He is so excited to share a moment with a 9th grader at lunch, play basketball w/a 7th grader at recess or hanging out on the sports field/farm w/a 6th grader. The school values are not just words, they do a great job at teaching and modeling how a child can be smart, play sports and have friends all over the world. Our child loves the ECO-Team and helping on the farm. Our son's teachers communicate very well with each other, the administration, and families. This school is working for our child.