3.65 out of 5. This is an old school, and a school that is very busy w almost 900 kids. Pushing 25+/- in a classroom. The property itself could use a facelift, but that costs money. Big money. Will our kids learn anything here? Hope so. Only time will tell.
The teachers seem good. School faculty seems professional. The principal is a nice lady and appears fair and level headed. Safety is key here. Good. We need that. Problem here is the extreme insulation of teaching staff from parents. It's very hard to speak w your child's teacher in person unless you make an appt in the front office, which is much like trying to be a new patient at a doctor's office. "5 weeks from now we can get you in." Ugh. All is basically done via email or an app which can be arduous to communicate properly re issues when not face to face. There is no showing up at school for a quick hello w a teacher. Nope. They won't let you see your child's teacher real quick. They'll turn you away, and give you a slight snide vibe... like you might be a criminal or trying to do something dastardly. The attitude is unnecessary and unreasonably excessive.
Another aside is that "side eye" that some "outdoor kid wranglers wearing safety vests" give if you dare ask a question, or "cross an imaginary line" that they deem uncrossable. So many rules to break by accident. A few, not all mind you, seem to deem some parents as a threat. I'm sure these ladies outside have seen their share of hard to deal withs, they're out there, but that percentage is low. Parents w their children aren't threats. (Hence the 3.65 out of 5 stars) What about that "Kindness Always" message again?
Now... the ugliness that is the drop off and pick up situation at Hillcrest. Hoooo weee! DO NOT DO IT. Stressful! The school built in 1961 was never ready for the volume it has now in the 21st century, as well as the neighborhood that was built around it. Put your child on the bus! Seriously. Trying to park or getting in a line up of cars winding through a neighborhood an hour prior to drop or pickup is extreme. It can move along expeditiously at times, but mostly it's slow going and a daily fight. I wouldn't, nor would most, recommend it. You have to get there fairly early before school, and 45 mins before for pickup. Lots of sitting in your car waiting. People cut the line amd make it worse too. Getting away from the school is also tough. Put the kids on the bus! Nix the traffic jam and hanging around out front waiting for the teacher to walk out. This is an issue all experience.
All in all Hillcrest is alright. B-. We can deal w the vests outside, the warden-esque front office, and the insane school traffic. Most agree it's the better school of the bunch in LS. Better than most. We work with what we have. read more
