So this is from a parent with a son that I knew was a hands on learner! Loving to build, create and think outside a textbook! He has graduated from HTH and while he struggled in traditional middle school soared here in this environment! Has gone in to huge success and we are so proud! Now have a daughter starting at HTH and is thriving! Her independence, and motivation is amazing! The teachers are young and inspiring wanting the most for their students! The kids do need to be open minded to the different structure! But it does seem to prep them for college and real life read more

Great school and do lots of hands on projects, also no homework:)))))))))))))))))))))))

I have been at this school since the 3 grade now in France almost 2 years ago I've left this school and It hade been the best school I have ever been to the teachers, staff and students were amazing to me and my sister. They helped me whenever I needed help with anything. read more

Unique school and provides a great base to learn how to work as a team. Allows students to think outside the box.

I am currently a 10th grade student here at High Tech High North County. I'd like to give a student's view on the school. First, let me start out by saying by saying that I love this school. I have been in the High Tech system since the first day of HTMNC, in 6th grade. This school has the right idea, and 75% of the time, the right implementation. Some things still need work, but it is continually improving. The name High Tech High implies that there is a big emphasis on technology. This is not the case. Don't get me wrong, there are no textbooks, and there are many things that are done using computers, but this is not what I would call a technology-oriented school. The big selling point of this school is the project-based style of learning. Tests and quizzes are few and far between, and the majority of the workload is put into projects, typically done with a group and carried out over a period of time ranging from 1 week to 2 months. There are also smaller, individual assignments sprinkled out daily. This is typically presented as the end-all-be-all of learning, and while it works quite well for me in general, some people are just not suited for it. I tend to struggle with it in math. I still haven't formed my opinion as to whether it truly is the end-all-be-all of learning, and that those who dislike it simply have to adjust (as I did in middle school) or if it truly is just not meant for some. I tend not to lean in either direction, and view both viewpoints as partially correct. At HTHNC, class sizes are typically 25-27 students. This works quite well. In each grade (excluding 12th, I'm not yet familiar with the arrangements in 12th grade) , there are either two or three teams of teachers who teach the same batch of students and work together, coordinating projects and the like. Each team has 50-75 students, depending on how many teams there are in the grade. Each team has an amount of independence in how they run their team. A period is typically an hour or so, and lunch is set, but that's it for standards. The teachers' schedule is staggered so that one teacher on the team has a free period every hour. Scheduling and the like is completely up to the teachers on the team. It is typical that you move with the same group of kids to each teacher, known as a 'class'. I think this differs from most schools. If you have Chemistry with that group of kids, you also have Humanities, Math, and Spanish with the same group. This can vary by team, however, and I have experienced this myself. The diversity of the teachers and their personalities is unparalleled. Each teacher is very different from the next. This is very good in some aspects, as it typically gives you at least one teacher you really like (I would like to point out that I have never had a teacher who I did not get along with or thought incompetent). The teachers are usually interesting people, typically in their 20's or 30's. Some are teaching veterans (typically those who are older), and some are very new. Most tend to relate to students very well and there is little to no friction between teachers and students. One thing that IS both a curse and a virtue is the diversity of the teachers' respective teaching styles. This means that some teachers are more strict, some less so. Some lean more towards projects, some lean more towards individual work (quite rare). Some give virtually no homework, some give plenty. There is nothing that creates a common area of expectation from teacher to teacher, as all are different. This is annoying at times, but is not a major setback for me. For some, though, it could be. In all my time here since 6th grade, I have not seen anything that I would call bullying. As far as I know, there has never been a physical fight here. The vast majority of students are respectful, and there are virtually no serious incidents I have seen. The student body is quite considerate and tolerant regarding things that might cause people to be bullied at other schools. From what I have heard from other students, this is a vast improvement from most non-charter schools. For me, the following is of utmost importance: In my experience, as a student with an IEP plan (due to Asperger Syndrome, as well as ADHD), the extra support here has been top-notch and very accommodating. The inclusion specialists and academic coaches are all amazing, responsive, and very professional in their self-comportment. They are knowledgeable and have experience working with kids that are in need of extra help. Trying to be as impartial as I can, I feel obliged to say that this school tends more to the liberal side, and while that suits me perfectly, it may not suit some. They don't, however, try to 'indoctrinate' students, or promote what some conservatives might call the 'liberal agenda'. I wrote this review as accurately as possible from my point of view and I hope that it helps you form your own opinion of this great school. Thanks for reading! read more

I know this school is not a healthy environment because every day I go to school I wish I was dead. This school drains the life out of me, the teachers are rude and bitter. They do not treat the students as equals they look down on them. They have a power hungry attitude and no love or want to be a teacher any more. My grades where A+ all out the board and coming to high tech high I got my first C. This school is awful, draining, and socially painful to sit through. read more

Amazing school with teachers that care. I'm so lucky to have my daughter attend. Teaches the kids real life skills and has a college campus like atmosphere. read more

Unfortunately I can not recommend High Tech High North County after four year of having my daughter attend this school. The administrative staff claims to have the best interest of the students in mind, however their actions are to the contrary. For the most part, the teaching staff are a group of caring and competent people. We tried going back to the local traditional high school, however because HTHNC groups classes, and has NO PE credits, it would have been very difficult to do so. My daughter would have entered her same grade many credits behind. Besides all of that I found that they refused to deal with the fact that the campus is pretty drug saturated, and they will not search anyone even if they are known to have drugs. I was made aware of several times where people tipped them off about specific students having drugs and distributing them, but they said they aren't that kind of campus and won't search. Doesn't make sense to me considering I knew several people that were directly affected by this negligence; one even having to place her child in a heroin recovery center for drugs he gained access to and received from several other students at HTHNC. I would have appreciated a more proactive approach to this known behavior with many of the students. My daughter stated several times that many students were stoned every day. Your student would have a better shot at finding friends that do not do drugs at a larger high school where they would at least have more options (ie: larger friend pool). The rest would be up to them. Additionally, don't go to this school if you want to learn math, as they have a computer based learning theory that fails these kids. I recommend you read blogs from students that have graduated from any HTH and you will find they comment on how behind they are, and are having to work in college to get up to speed in all math areas, regardless of the grade they received at HTH. One more thing, no security in terms of entering or exiting the campus. Security is ridiculous in this day and age. read more

This is the best school hands down. Wonderful teachers! Leaves all other schools and curriculums in the dust. I have older children who have graduated from West Point, The Citadel, NMMI...I feel that High Tech High schools will prepare my younger children to carry on the tradition. I love this school! read more

I have been to 3 different schools during my time in high school. A private, a Public, and high tech high. As a student, between the three I can tell you high tech high north county is by far the worst. i have quite a bit to say about this schools method of education and would like to urge you to read it if you are a parent considering this school for your child or if you are a student intrieged by this so called "alternative learning style." When I came to high tech high, i was coming from a private school a desperately seeked a place with more individuality and freedom. When I first got to HTHNC if left exactly like that. The work loads were extremely light and the academics were ever so easy. me being not to fond of math, i was enjoying myself since the teaching of math was practicly non existant. At the time I had little concern for the absence of learning at high tech, especially because the school did such a good job a keeping a reputation of being successful in using project based learning. Which parents of this school raved about. But when I left high tech high to a regular public school, thats when the shock hit me. I became apparent to me that by spending a year and a half at high tech high, I had fallen behind in the path of education. At high tech high, we had spent so much time creating big projects with extravagant visual aids and abstract art, that the majority of the factual content had slipped through the cracks. One big thing I would like to say about this place is that THIS SCHOOL CUTS CORNERS. during my time in public school, I have been learning similar concepts to my friends back at high tech high. the difference was is that I had learned the same things in two weeks that they would in 2 months because the entirety of the projects would slow them down. Even more interesting is that when I discussed what we had learned with friends.....I had still learned much more at a greater depth than they did when the public school I attend did it in only a fraction of the time. Its become clearly evident to me that the school simply puts on the illusion that it excels when it in fact greatly flawed. High Tech High North County labels itself as a "college prep school" when i find it to be so far from that. By essentially eliminating all test taking, lecturing, and constructive learning, THEY ARE DOING NOTHING TO PREPARE STUDENTS FOR COLLEGE. I really pray for my friends future college days because they haven't taken a final or sat through a lecture in 4 years. its clear that this school would rather hold a students hand through grades 9-12 foster a sense of independence. In one case, there was a student in my "team" who had failed every single class that year. in mercy, the school allowed him to make up each class in summer school. to my suprise, he failed yet again in HTHNC's summer school program, But instead of holding him back a grade, the school allowed him to advance to the next grade under the excuse of that he had worked out a deal with the director of the school. Later on, this student was awarded exceptions from the star test that next year (which i assume was to keep there test scores up). It sickens me that this establishment of education prioritizes they're false reputation more than the success and progression of each and every student. read more