South Gardner

Lived here for a year. I have twins one who does great in school and hasn’t had any issues or troubles. If anything school is just boring. My other child has great difficulties and it’s been explained now over a year and we are still in the same boat. Goes to school everyday and nothing changes. We ask about it and it told it’s being handled and they are doing what they can and will update me and nothing till I bring it up again. The school itself is beautiful, brand new and up to date with the present day.

I am a recent alumni of HFA (Class of 2019!) I was very happy with my experience there. We were taught with morals and many teachers, especially in the higher grades were very helpful and would try their best to ensure your success. However, during my time there, many young teachers came and went due to the low pay. This means that any future students will probably have much more teachers than I did. The school is very close-knit due to its size as well (My graduating class was made of 16, the ones before us only had 8). I will admit that the school did not have a very effective Special Education course however. There were few tutors and most families were forced to hire outside independent help. However, HFA is a top pick among schools for students who are interest in enrolling in St. Bernard's High School in Fitchburg, MA, one of the only Catholic High Schools in the area, as well as Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical High School (Monty Tech) where I am currently enrolled now. There are bus services but basic ones. One thing I definitely miss was the ability to have recess Pre-School through 8th grade. When I was enrolled, there was no cafeteria. We ate in our homeroom class. However, sometimes the church next door will lend the basement and stage to the school to use for assemblies and lunch. There were extracurricular activities such as an After School Program, a Ski club in which students are bussed to Wachusett Ski Resort in the Winter, Chess Club, Robotics and introductory STEM courses, a Choir, Student Council and Government Programs, Chess, Girls on the Run, and a Drama Club. Their is a Spring Musical that is presented each year by the Drama Club, who have been using the Theater at the Mount stage for the last 4 years. Some Pros Are: Good teachers, small environment, good leadership and character, extracurricular programs, and work ethic. Cons are: Tuition, limited for students who need special ed, not may teachers, Bullying can go unnoticed in some occasions due to it being mislabeled as "friendly banter" among classes, and sometimes it can be very difficult to raise money for student field trips and fundraisers.