Verdant

This is our first year at Manhattan and we are incredibly pleased with the middle school experience our son is having. When we first moved to the neighborhood (when the school was under old leadership) we were warned to look elsewhere because of some institutional issues. By the time enrollment came around last year, the new principal had infused the school with incredible energy and he was adamant it was his top choice. It feels like a vibrant place where the whole community is striving to improve and make it the best three years possible for every kid there. The principal shared that test scores showed 22% growth last year, which is pretty mind-blowing! I'm always a fan of a place that is focused on growth and improvement rather than one that's resting on its reputation and we've definitely found that at Manhattan.

We have been an Eisenhower family since 2019 and absolutely love our neighborhood school. It's a more traditional elementary approach than some of the speciality schools in our neighborhood (think BCSIS, High Peaks, and Horizons) but it's been wonderful for my gifted, ADHD, anxious kids. They get the care, attention, and challenge they need. It has also opened up a whole new sense of belonging in our neighborhood. We know our neighbor families and my kids can ride to their bikes to friends' houses without even having to cross busy streets. It's truly the elementary school dream!

Ah Fairview. I've experienced both a lot of ups and downs during my time here. While some of the students may not be the most accepting of different political beliefs, they're at least mostly friendly if you don't bring up politics. On the downside, Fairview was the very place where I got my first taste of racism. Even when I spoke up, I don't think the issue was really dealt with. Additionally, the teachers here really care about their students. There are so many clubs one can be involved in (and it's easy to start a club too!) and there's really something for everyone. For me, I joined the debate team and it was definitely the best decision of my life. Not only did it help me improve my confidence and my argumentation skills, I made really good friends with my teammates. There were times that I wished I hadn't gone to Fairview, but overall, if I could go back in time to 8th grade when I was choosing a high school, I'd probably still choose Fairview. Yes, I surely had some ups and downs and rough times, but overall, still a good experience and I can't imagine going to a different high school