Hillview Middle School

1100 Elder Avenue

School District

Menlo Park City Elementary
Grade

6-8
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:15
Type

public

School Map for Menlo Park City Elementary School District

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by parent on December 04, 2024

have a drama kid. You won’t find a better elementary and middle school in-school performing arts program (along with a traditional education) in the Bay Area than Hillview. Just saw my kid in Lion King - Amazing talent, coaching and direction. Theater instruction begins in 3rd grade at all the feeder elementary schools. If you have a drama kid, this is it.
Submitted by parent on August 02, 2024

About education, except for a few, teachers are not good. Child's performance is not discussed with parents. Missing assignments are not timely informed to parents. Open house is just useless as it doesn't give any idea what the child did whole year. School environment is not safe as some children browse dark web comics to read & watch adult material & a lone child is circled by seniors to search women's private parts. Incidents when reported were never responded by the authorities. Restrooms are not cleaned regularly because of which children hold on & rush home to urinate after school. My child even didn't drink water at school because of the possibility to have to use the restrooms which are in a bad state always.
Submitted by parent on September 17, 2023

From my experience at this school, my son thrived and developed exceptionally well thanks to the support of the teachers and staff at Hillview Middle School. They have shown fantastic leadership and are so willing to listen and help parents understand and guide their children best as possible. Definitely glad we moved and my son was able to attend this wonderful school.
Submitted by other on June 09, 2023

The school is very poor in providing the required support for students with disabilities & covered under a 504 plan. Teachers are either not aware or not educated on alternative approach & accomodations under 504 plan. They cause last moment pressure & emergemcies for both student & parents creating a panic situation. Staff here is lazy to respond to emails & even pick up calls to provide required support to parents. They did not even respond to an IEP request within 90 days. So much they are slack even in legal things. They finally denied IEP on a zoom call with a lame excuse. The principal never cares to reply to emails. The district Special education officer is also always supporting them & did not care for our requests to find help for my ward.Except for few staff & teachers who have been kind, most staff have shown this kind of behavior. There is campus bullying & food shaming etc. Some teachers don't teach anything during the year but are eager to advertise for private tutoring during summer.
Submitted by student on April 15, 2023

To be honest, the only way I can really describe this place is "alright". Some of the teachers care about students, others straight up go and make fun of students for living in toxic households-- but still, you can feel that they're trying their best. The principals constantly try to spread school spirit, which is great and all, but they don't seem to get the memo that we really don't care. The homework amount is alright. There are a lot of complaints, but Hillview really doesn't give out that much homework; students just really like to lie so they'll get less. We learn an okay amount of stuff. However, I don't think students feel safe. Last year, a white girl straight up said the n slur, and she barely got in trouble for it just because she cried and said she didn't do it. Personally, I find the classes boring. But maybe that's just because I'm a "gifted kid" with clinical depression and chronic motivation issues. And maybe it's just because we're all moody hormonal teenagers, but I don't think anyone else really cares about the content we're getting. Science is cool, I guess. There's a lot of family involvement-- maybe too much. I feel like every little mistake is going to lead to a parent Email. And god forbid that happens, because my mom would beat me up if I made her too mad. The Special Ed kids seem to be doing alright, though. They're in a lot of our classes, and I'm friends with one. There's only one counselor for each grade. It's not really an issue, but that also means they're unavailable a lot. Maybe I'm just paranoid, but I keep being scared that my counselor will tell my parents what I tell her. And so, I don't feel like I can tell her anything. Here's a simple little fact: no one really cares about student mental health. They just want the payment. And honestly, that's fine. Still, it's nice to know the counselors can at least realistically pretend they care. That's always nice to see.So yeah. Hillview's alright, at best. I just feel kind of apathetic to it. It's kind of funny how much I complain about it-- after all, when my parents tell me they want me to switch schools, I always say no. It really is hilarious how pathetic this is, no? I talk so much about how horrible this place is, but I love it all the same. Hm.
Submitted by parent on January 24, 2022

Our daughter thrived at Hillview in every aspect. The teachers and administration were all very personable and willing to help when thing weren't so easy as well. Having them on her side (rather than just placating parents) worked wonders for her development. Furthermore the student body, while not perfect, seems to get along better than any middle school I've ever seen.
Submitted by parent on January 18, 2022

We moved to Menlo Park from Wellesley, Massachusetts just before the first day of school at Hillview. My two daughters, in seventh and eighth grade, respectively, expected a challenging transition. To our surprise, Hillview made their arrival at a new school as seamless as we ever could have imagined. From the first day onward, we've been amazed at the support they've received from Hillview teachers, students, and members of the administration. The teachers are absolutely top-notch. The student body is friendly and welcoming. Members of the administration communicate with an impressive level of care for the students and their parents. Our girls have had opportunities to join sports teams, watch movies on the outdoor field, dress up for spirit days, and attend after-school dances. They have expanded their intellectual horizons in robotics classes and other electives. They have grown in their ability to see a problem from different angles. They have developed their ability to express points of view in robust class discussions their teachers facilitate. Hillview's core values-- including kindness, respect, and tolerance--shine through in every aspect. We're infinitely grateful for the experience we've had at Hillview. We highly recommend the school to anyone considering a move to Menlo Park.
Submitted by other on September 03, 2021

Overall ok school with some bad teachers. The mask policy is absolutely horrible though. Even when outside exercising and socially distancing you can’t talk your mask off. Also a bad vice principle.
Submitted by other on January 05, 2021

I graduated from this depression influencing center and go to high school at ma now. Wow this placed sucked. But I give it 2 stars because mr haug (the principal) and mr chui (the vice principal) are great people and are worth giving an extra star than the school deserves. This place ruined the mental health of many many students. One of my english teachers told us to "let go and let god" and would sing us hymns from church, despite being a public school. I barely learned anything from her class, and really struggled in english the year after because of how little I had progressed. Also, the dress code. Where do I even begin. It is so blatantly targeted towards girls, because shoulders are "too distracting for boys" and the tiniest rip on her mid thigh is "too revealing". It has gotten better over the years, I will say, but it still isnt good. Like back in 2017 leggings were allowed. The spirit here died. It was drop kicked into the sun. No one besides sixies actually care about school events. asb is stupid. I would know. I was part of it. I heard mr schack just retired and that sucks that no one will ever have him in the future. He and mr babington were realistically the best teachers. Good things about this school: theres an orchestra (la entrada doesn't have that), nah i cant really think of anything else. I wouldn't necessarily recommend hillview, but I understand if this is your only option (cause I know that everyone isn't rich enough to go to a school like menlo or sacred heart). The education can be really good. Overall, hillview is ok, because at its core the fundamentals are good, but there are many issues that need to be addressed that just haven't been.
Submitted by parent on September 22, 2020

Badly in need of leadership change and new teachers.
Submitted by parent on March 06, 2020

If you want your child to keep their mental health, you should not send them to this school. Almost everybody is miserable there. Sure, kids will learn whatever is expected of them and perform well in the state exams, but at what cost? We moved our child out of it after one year, as it became clear to us that if he stayed he would be damaged for life and become one of those folks who abhor learning anything new. Since we moved him out of Hillview, he bloomed and we finally feel he is closer to achieving his potential. Our whole experience with Hillview was a big disappointment, as we moved to Menlo Park because of the schools, only to find out that our kids would be better served in private schools.
Submitted by student on September 05, 2018

This school is the root of so many kid's depression simply because they dread going to school. If you have the choice of sending your child to another middle school, please do, for the sake of their mental health, happiness, and their desire to learn.
Submitted by parent on August 16, 2018

Our child had a very bad experience for several reasons, which I will list below. 1. Excessive and uncoordinated use of technology. Students are given an iPad at the beginning of the school year, and teachers make extensive use of it. The lack of leadership on technology use, however, results in each teacher getting to choose the learning platform they use (be it Google Classroom, AltSchool, etc). As a result, some students are often confused as to where and how to turn in assignments, and where to get the instructions they need. Also, giving iPads to students resulted in a decrease in social interaction during breaks, when kids spend their time playing video games or watching YouTube videos on their iPads. 2. Aversion to communication with parents. Our child was having issues due to medical problems, and we found it nearly impossible to communicate directly to teachers. Whenever we contacted them, the answer would inevitably be "ask your child to talk to us about this." However, my child's medical problems prevented from having an effective conversation with teachers, and some teachers would only agree to talk to parents once other folks, like school counselors, were involved. 3. Lack of empathy. Our child was having a hard time keeping up with work, and instead of working with child and parents to figure out a solution, teachers not only shut parents out of conversation, but implied many times that child was lazy. This was a statement about a kid who was having medical problems and working on homework until sometimes 8pm at night, with great cost to social life. 4. Excessive homework. Homework is done in a one-size-fits-all, and there is no flexibility about it. If your child, even for medical reasons, misses a homework, they will be asked to stay during lunch to make up or take a grade deduction. 5. Teacher qualification. Some teachers are really good and caring, but the a few others make the whole experience miserable for the child. One of the main complaints that my child had about some teachers was that they didn't care about the subject. At first I was skeptical about this claim, but after meeting with a particular teacher, not only it became clear to me that she didn't care about the subject, but also that she had a very superficial understanding of it.
Submitted by student on February 06, 2017

I go to hillview middle school and my experience there is amazing! All the people there are super nice, my favorite thing about hilliew is when they have a class that is my 2nd favorite, Orchestra! I love how we make music with all kinds of instruments, my most favorite is the violin and the orchestra teacher is very wacky and thats what incourages me to do more and play more because he incourages us and making us laugh which is great for me and some of my classmates!
Submitted by parent on January 24, 2016

Highlights:1. Top notch principal and teachers2. Focus on whole child development3. Ensuring that every child finds his or her place4. Breadth of options for both core academics and enrichment5. Involved parents This school is absolutely top notch and works hard to develop the whole child. Although it is a large school, the "Academy" structure makes it feel more like a small school experience. The faculty engages kids at their level and there are programs to support every child at his or her level. For example, my advanced math learner can progress at a fast pace if she wants to, and those who need additional support have various in-school and after-school options (all free!). In addition, children are given the flexibility to choose from a range of subjects outside the core English, Social Studies, Math and Science: Art, PE, dance, music, coding, drama, world languages and several more electives…plus the mini course week, which offers students the opportunity to choose from an extensive catalog of week-long courses including horse riding, scuba diving, photography, veterinary medicine, theatre, physics, etc. etc. etc.! And if that is not enough, teachers and students run lunch clubs for everything from French to debates to dance to quiz bowl. We are so privileged to have this school and its fabulous staff in our community. I was not sure what to expect when my daughter entered 6th grade this past fall, but I must say that this school has exceeded my expectations. Kudos and thanks to Principal Haug and the fantastic team of Hillview teachers!
Submitted by parent on March 03, 2015

We're almost at the end our second child's career at Hilliview, and the journey has been nothing short of excellent. Classes, teachers and course selection are very solid across the board, with incredible instruction in the Music and Drama programs (a range of dedicated theater and performance classes). The homework is challenging but excellent preparation for college-track high school programs. The academy system brings a positive sense of additional social structure and identity to the kids and teachers. And an amazing, dynamic principal in Mr. B. I'm just sad this is our last year with Hillview.
Submitted by parent on January 08, 2015

The administration on campus and in the district office care more padding their resumes, then helping the children thrive. There is an elitism present and if your child doesn't fit their idea of success, they are ousted. The academics are challenging and there is a wide variety of courses available, but the homework load is ridiculous and non beneficial. When are the kids supposed to be able to develop talents, nurture friendships, and have FUN! Our does take Qw3st, but its not enough. As for the iPads- Kids have full access to airdrop, which allows them to send non traceable inappropriate content. Each child has YouTube and they constantly share inappropriate videos. How about google docs? Sounds innocent, but kids are meeting in google docs to have untraceable conversations and sexting. The school is giving the benefit of the doubt to preteens! Of course they are going to be curious and push boundaries, that's what 11-14 yr olds do! But the stakes are higher when they are online and talking to friends and strangers in unstructured and unsafe environments.
Submitted by parent on April 25, 2014

Our child is just over 2/3 through the first year at Hillview. It was probably the usual dramas of 6th grade to start. But with all the fun things to do and learn, supportive teachers and counselors, and friends of course ... it's been great. Our already savvy computer user has grown even MORE comfortable with technology with the new iPads. The academies sound scary but aren't. The ideas about somewhat sheltering and encouraging the 6th graders have all worked for our child. I was skeptical about the Qu3st (study hall of sorts), but it has helped keep the homework beast tamed just fine. Mini course week was not only an amazing feat of logistics, but a great way for kids to try something new and grow in fun new directions. I'm seeing more self-confidence and independence these days (of course! but in good ways :). Parents are welcome and can volunteer if they are interested and have time. But it's not required for working parents. Mr. B, the principal might be a bit arrogant, and I suspect the teachers don't always get a say, but he does get things done. Will be interested to see the test scores the next couple years.
Submitted by other on April 21, 2014

It's is the best school know that we can have the help we need thanks to our new Principle Mr. Burmeister who has made the community in the school a better place. Also we are glad to have iPads as a tool to our learning. I think that it needs to improve in bringing more EPA people on the circle to change their route in life to help them in those who really want to go far that it should have at least a 50% white kids and the other 50% to be Mexicans, Asians, Tongans to make the community between the different race in the community of Hillview Middles School to bring together the leaders that can make a change where everyone is equal where more Mexicans, to gone, Asian, and white work together to know that it does not matter the race you are but how working together with others is something that can be a great thing.
Submitted by parent on September 26, 2013

Hillview Middle School offers a superior-quality and well-rounded education. The principal and assistant principal are young, inspired, progressive and experienced, with excellent leadership skills and willingness to weave strong values into all school programs. The principal was nominated for national principal of the year last year. Staff, students and parents admire/appreciate his leadership, energy, attitude and skill. The school is building innovation into the curriculum by implementing recommendations of a design team of parents/staff/school district leaders that used Stanford's Design School principles and practices. The community of parents at Hillview is invested in the success of each student and staff member; many volunteer for projects and programs. This year Hillview is offering an outstanding series of free presentations by experts in education, raising teens, safe use of technology, and I plan to take advantage of them. My son is in his last year at Hillview and has blossomed academically, emotionally and socially there. The only negative has been a PE program hampered by too little space during construction of the new campus, still not quite finished.