216 Springfield Rd
Linden, NJ 07036

I am a senior looking to graduate on time in a University. My first year in my University was very hard to adapt to considering the lack of preparation Linden High school provided. My peers and friends in my University claimed it either did not feel different, or was in fact easier. They all come from better districts and received exceptional educations that DID prepare them, unlike Linden high school did for many of it’s students. I had to reframe my own thinking, form of studying, and even writing to succeed in my University. While the high school teachers are mainly kind, the educational system is failing its students. My sibling was absent from school for over half of their last year with no repercussions and literally straight As. Allowing this led to a lack of discipline when moving onto college— and a drop out after the very first semester. From what I know many of my previous class mates have dropped out of college as well or have only pursued an Associates. While there is not necessarily anything wrong with that, I would say I blame it on the faulty education we received. I have taken classes teaching me that this is meant to encourage students to stay in school and get their high school diplomas, but I think this is merely an immediate solution that leads to more long term problems. It is a vicious cycle preparing students for failure rather than preparing them for success.

As a parent of a student who just completed her first year of middle school, I have mixed feelings about our experience.Middle school is already a difficult transition for many children, and unfortunately this year presented challenges that went beyond academics. My daughter often felt unheard and dismissed when she tried to advocate for herself regarding assignments, grades, and classroom concerns. While I understand that teachers have policies and deadlines to maintain, there were times when she felt that her questions and concerns were not genuinely listened to.I was also concerned by the overall school climate. Throughout the year there were multiple fights among students, reports of bullying, and incidents that left many parents questioning whether student behavior and safety concerns were being addressed consistently. From a parent's perspective, there seemed to be a lack of adequate supervision at times, and consequences for serious incidents did not always appear to match the severity of the behavior.Academically, some teachers were supportive and genuinely cared about student success. However, others came across as rigid and unwilling to consider individual circumstances. Students should be held accountable, but they should also feel comfortable seeking help without feeling dismissed or discouraged.My daughter struggled with confidence this year, and part of that stemmed from feeling that her voice did not matter. Middle school students are still learning how to communicate, advocate for themselves, and navigate challenges. Schools should be helping them develop those skills rather than making them feel ignored.I hope the school continues to evaluate student supervision, bullying prevention, communication between staff and families, and how student concerns are handled. Every child deserves to feel safe, supported, respected, and heard while at school.This review reflects our family's experience during our daughter's first year of middle school.

My child has been attending Highland Ave School since Kindergarten. The teachers in each grade level were competent and highly involved in my child's academics. All the teachers I've worked with have shown their committment and dedication towards the children and I especially love how my child's current teacher, Mrs. Kefalas uses out of the box methods to obtain additional learning resources to assist the children with their academics. The class has a Smart board and other technology available to make the classroom interaction more fun. My son enjoys his class and is eager to go to school. I also find it easier to be more involved with school functions because the staff is so welcoming and nice. Love this school!!!