First Hill

We have two kids who both started as 9th graders coming from outside middle schools. One has graduated and is in college; the other is still enrolled. The graduate got into every school she applied to and had more good options than was easy to sort through.Both are science-focused with artistic sides, one is now a Biology major, the other is headed toward Biology or Biochemistry. Neither arrived knowing that. They figured it out at NWS, which is part of the point. The school's emphasis on breadth didn't frustrate their eventual focus; it helped them find it. And because the critical thinking and writing foundation is already solid, I'm not worried about them specializing heavily in college. That work is done.Sports are no-cut, so students play and develop rather than watch from the bench. Some teams are consistently competitive; others vary by year. If a winning program is your priority, this probably isn't your school. If your kid actually getting to participate is the priority, it works.Activities are largely student-driven. HOSA has grown in recent years and sends students to a leadership conference and a competition, which has been particularly good for science-minded kids. The urban location adds something too, students get comfortable navigating the city and the wider world in ways that matter later.Not the right fit for everyone. For students who want to be genuinely challenged and arrive at college already prepared to think and write, it's been the right place for both of ours.