Northfield Middle/High School

37 Cross Street

School District

Paine Mountain
Grade

6-12
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:10
Type

public

School Map for Paine Mountain 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 other on March 09, 2019

It's been a few years since I attended, but with the University in town, this little school has and does offer some unique advantages.
Submitted by teacher on November 15, 2018

I have hosted 9 foreign exchange students who have attended this school as well as my own 2 kids. They all enjoyed their time here with the extra opportunities of teams that have won state championships, music festivals, stage band, and the annual musical. They were all challenged academically and supported by the staff here.
Submitted by parent on November 23, 2015

We are a military family with kids in both middle and high school. Northfield is the BEST school experience we have had in 23 years of moves. The teachers are excellent...providing a positive and hands on learning experience. The class size is small, which allows for the teachers to know the kids strengths and weaknesses. Teachers are allowed to be creative and think outside of the "box". There is a good mix of AP classes. The electives are great too...our son has really enjoyed learning to cook in consumer science and he looks forward to woodworking next year. Our daughter enjoys Spanish, and is excited to take complete all 4 years.The chem teacher has terrific techniques to inspire. The government teacher is providing the kids good critical thinking skills. The language teachers have inspired our kids to read and creatively write. The math team is great too. Mr. Howard the art teacher is terrific too. The kids are looking forward to being a part of the drama dept and continuing in the great music program. The towns kids have embraced our kids, and encouraged them to join clubs and sports. The guidance counselors really care about the kids feeling welcome too. :) The leadership is terrific. The nurse is wonderful. The cafeteria has good food and a nice staff. The school is very clean and presents a happy environment. We are thrilled to be part of Northfield! Alicia(mom)
Submitted by parent on January 12, 2015

Great school! Middle-school teachers are genuinely interested in helping students learn to love exploration. Teachers and administrators have both shown me a commitment to developing good communication with parents.
Submitted by other on January 08, 2015

Northfield Middle and High School is big enough have many wonderful offerings and small enough so that each student and parent is important to the school's success. Success is celebrated, and if problems do arise, they are handled with dignity and fairness. Students may select core courses at all appropriate levels, including Honors and Advance Placement, and they are even accommodated if they choose to take classes at the college in town, Norwich University. The arts, including music, art, photography, woodworking, as well as consumer science and physical education are valued as parts of a well-rounded education. The excellent library and one-to-one laptop program support learning in all classes. The highly skilled teachers care about each student. They make the school a place of learning that welcomes everyone's uniqueness. Music, plays, sports, yearbook, service clubs and more give students a wide range of ways to get involved in the school outside of the classroom. Parents who choose to send their children to Northfield Middle and High School will be pleased that they did.
Submitted by parent on January 02, 2015

Ranked #4 in the state by US News & World Report and with statewide awards this year (2014/2015), Northfield is definitely on the upswing. Here are a few features I particularly enjoy: 1. Emphasis on technology: Every student grades 9-12 receives their own laptop. It's theirs to bring home and to keep upon graduation. Really? What other schools are doing that?!! Amazing. 2. Culture change: Northfield used to be a jock-centric school with the usual attitudes associated with sports culture. Fortunately, over the last decade a new administration, staffed with completely new faces, has delivered a new kind of culture which supports students across all areas of interest. 3. College prep: Parents and students who want to get the most out of Northfield capitalize on the informal partnerships between the school and Norwich University. Students can take university level courses for credit. If you want your child to get a background in STEM, this is the place to be. Northfield offers AP level courses. The suite of services provided by faculty and staff is pretty incredible especially for a small school. Five stars.
Submitted by parent on January 02, 2015

This school USED TO BE a very strong school that had numerous strengths. Academics, athletics, extra-curricular, and community involvement were very strong in the past. In recent years the school has been in a steep decline. There have been less and less opportunity for students; not just because of finances, but also because of shrinking enrollment. This is due to a natural trend, as well as students participating in school choice to attend neighboring schools. Attend most sporting events and you will see there isn't enough student participation to field both a JV and Varsity team in most sports. Thankfully, some programs have survived due to participation from students in neighboring districts. Similar participation issues for the arts to the extent there really hasn't been a school band in recent years. Grade sizes that commonly had 80 students, today only may have numbers in the 20's. That's a drastic decline. Bottom line - this school needs to merge to provide the students opportunity.
Submitted by teacher on September 24, 2014

I am proud to work at Northfield Middle & High School. The faculty, students and staff are supportive and encouraging. We have high expectations for our students and we care. Our school offers a variety of pathways to graduation which allows for all learners to succeed. This is an ideal place to work.
Submitted by teacher on August 28, 2014

Update on our school since last year...we have moved up to number 4 from number 8 in a state of 290 schools! We are also the home of the VT teacher of the year, VT high school principal of the year, and VT middle level principal of the year.
Submitted by teacher on August 22, 2014

NMHS is definitely the best school I have ever been a part of. The teachers are amazing and the academics are rigorous.
Submitted by teacher on August 17, 2014

Northfield High School consists of many hard working individuals who collectively are making a difference in many students lives. Innovative teaching lessons, service learning projects, PLP's, and internships in surrounding communities as well as in town are all adding up to educated, well prepared citizens entering the next phase of their lives.
Submitted by other on May 09, 2012

When I attended this school it was an average school with above average athletics, average to above average teachers, and a majority of student who wanted to excel. Over the past few years however, I have had the unfortunate ability to see this school deteriorate in many ways from the actual structure of the school to what goes on inside. The majority of teachers have stopped caring, in rebellion mostly to a principal who has no idea how to run a high school and the students have lost their drive for education. With the unreasonably high taxes that Northfield residents pay, you would expect the school to be at a much higher caliber, unfortunately, this is not the case. Sadly, many students with potential and drive leave Northfield for prep and private schools, but the truth is that most families in the town cannot afford this and those kids that have the drive but no funds are forced to suffer in classes where most students don t want to be taught and the teachers don t want to teach. Northfield would be better off as a union school and surely if things continue down the path they are on, it will soon become one.
Submitted by other on August 13, 2010

Academically, the school offers enough AP courses to hold over smarter students. On average, one student every two years will attend an Ivy or Top 20 college or university. There are a few excellent teachers, yet many people in the faculty and staff have lived in Northfield for their entire lives. Northfield is one of the more backwards towns in Vermont, and the influx of recent and distant Northfield grads in the school lets this live on in the school. Many things are swept under the rug when certain students or faculty are involved. Most students that are rewarded and receive this type of immunity attend mediocre colleges, so I guess the joke is on them. All in all, if you are intelligent, this place can get you where you want to go, but don't expect that you will not face adversity from the jealous inbreds who have lived here their whole lives.