Seven Hills School

1311 Overbrook Road

Richmond, VA 23220

15 Reviews

School District
Grade

5-8
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on February 23, 2023

We are having a great experience at Seven Hills. The school empowers middle school boys to learn great social-emotional, executive functioning, and academic skills. Despite these lofty achievements, the biggest benefit is the school is simply fun for the boys. The teachers and administration have created an environment where students feel free to be themselves. Students still have a rigorous academic experience, but also have plenty of time to be outside, attend field trips, and bond.
Submitted by parent on October 26, 2022

What a gem of a school! Middle school boys are active and engaged, The teachers are active and engaged. They care deeply about the success of each boy. My son excelled in academics and grew as a student. 7HS prepared him well for high school (the transition there has been easier than ever imagined). We loved middled school here.
Submitted by student on August 27, 2022

This school is absolutely incredible. It completely changes the students life for the better.
Submitted by parent on December 09, 2020

7HS had a transformational impact in my son's life. He has always been a good student but as he neared middle school age, the traditional school wasn't the best fit for him because it was way too easy for a smart kid who doesn't act out to coast and/or hide in that environment. Thank goodness we found 7HS! His time there completely re-ignited his passion for school. He didn't just "live through" middle school as many kids do, he THRIVED in middle school. 7HS helped him develop a strong sense of self and offered amazing role models for a young guy growing up. Since 100% of their attention is focused on middle school boys, they know just what guys of this age need. The school's culture and innovative experiential learning approaches tap into a kid's critical thinking skills and ability to work well in teams -- these are skills for life. 7HS prepared him exceptionally well to get admitted to and succeed at Maggie L. Walker Governor's School, one of the best public high schools in the country. Thank you 7HS!
Submitted by parent on November 03, 2020

EXCELLENT! This school provides an amazing environment for boys to transition from childhood to young adult.
Submitted by parent on August 21, 2020

Do your due diligence. Don't just speak yo the Administration znd mske your decision after a shadow day. Once your kid is in, he is invested and making a change in his life is devastating. I don't believe that my child has been set up yo be successful for High School. This school has at of show for th he parents and lack if challenge for the students.
Submitted by parent on February 25, 2019

Poor. My son was poorly prepared for high school. 7H does not have a good academic reputation. I wish I would’ve known that beforehand.
Submitted by parent on September 25, 2018

Amazing! I am so happy we found this school. My son enjoys school again and feels like he can be himself (which is an amazing concept!).
Submitted by parent on May 04, 2018

It has been head and shoulders above what we even thought was possible. I feel truly blessed to be able to have the opportunity to send my boys to such a remarkable school. My boys speak the highest praise in saying they love going to school everyday. This was NOT the case in the past.
Submitted by other on December 12, 2016

From a family member of a student: this school is unbelievably amazing. To our family it has been everything. A supportive, emotionally understanding and rigorous environment that is more concerned with helping students become effective people than effective test takers: although high governors school acceptance rates and profound, well spoken and thoughtful students can speak to the quality of the education. Likely this school is an ill fit for those who are married to the dominant paradigm, but perhaps the only school for those who find it lacking. A safe place for boys to survive the transition to young adulthood without having to throw their personalities on the altar of sacrifice to the gods of peer pressure and the encroachment of number-driven and utterly impersonal schooling that awaits them. Kindness, grace, and critical thinking will embolden them to retain their wonderful qualities in the schools that await them.
Submitted by parent on June 06, 2014

Out of respect for prospective parents reading these posts, if a parent or a boy writes a post - and a member of their family is a Board member - they should clearly identify themselves as such. A large group of parents asked the Board and Head of School to address specific, documented concerns, and the Board and HOS declined to address their concerns. While my son loves the school, we question the quality of education he is receiving and do not think the Board or the HOS is effective. True parental concerns appear to be swept under the carpet. Our son will return to Seven Hills only because the contract is iron clad, but he will not be returning the following year.
Submitted by other on June 06, 2014

I'm a freshman in high school now. I went to 7 Hills for three years. I loved going to school every day. The teachers were really good and always helped me. Now I go to the governor's school (ranked 13th in the country!!) and I haven't had any trouble doing the work. I wish 7 Hills had a high school because I would go there.
Submitted by parent on June 05, 2014

My son went to this school for three years and we all loved it. This is a school that really "gets" boys. The teachers are wonderful, and (despite what some other commenters say) the leadership has a great strategic vision. Our boy was well prepared for HS, not just academically but also socially and in self-confidence. Do yourself a favor: spend the time to visit the school and decide for yourself.
Submitted by parent on May 31, 2014

Before you sign a contract with any school, ask for the following information in writing: Student Retention- How many students have left the school after only a year or two? Find out why people have left. Teacher Retention- How long have teachers/staff been at the school. Find out how many have left over the past 3 years. Investigate why they have left. Teacher Bios- Ask for comprehensive teacher bios. Find out what teaching experience they have, whether they are licensed, and what their credentials are. Then you can compare the teacher bios to those of other nearby private schools. Administration Bios - Be sure to ask for detailed information about the administration running the school. Do they have administration experience? If yes, how many years? What type of degree do they have? Compare the administration bios to those of other nearby schools. Student Placement - Find out what high school programs students are accepted into after graduation. Compare current acceptance rates to those of students 4 years ago. References - Be sure to ask around to find out what people think of the school. Remember, in a small community, reputation is everything!!!
Submitted by parent on May 28, 2014

There is so much potential at this school. Unfortunately the leadership of this school is ill equipped to handle the position. The head of school has poor communication skills, fails to return phone calls and emails and the sales pitch doesn't meet up with what they claim to provide. They take your money and run. Out of 19 boys who started in this school in 5th grade, only 8 stayed to complete the program until 8th in 2014. Pitiful retention and no wonder why. While the boys seem happy, the parents are upset and concerned that the academics are not rigorous, there is no testing. Parents express their concerns to deaf ears. The board is ineffective. What a waste of $15k. Some of the teachers are truly special and fantastic, some are unable to control their classrooms and lack any formal educational background, which results in less than effective teaching techniques. Many of the parents have gone up the flag pole and gotten no where....and thus have left, some at the cost of a paying tuition for a school that they will not allow their child to attend. Buyer beware!