39 Pine Ave
Keene, NH 03431

There was a point in time where I would meet with my counselor weekly sophomore year and that was great. Honestly I needed it and she was helpful enough, but then she randomly just stopped answering my emails and I can't set up appointments with her. Since then I've had to email my counselor probably 5 times before finally getting a response. Most of the teachers at this school are genuinely angels. They're helpful and kind and the best part of this school. However, some of them can be extremely passive aggressive. You can tell when a teacher doesn't like/ get along with a student and that is not okay. Students should never feel as though a teacher dislikes them as it is insanely unprofessional. There are constant issues with small things that shouldn't be issues. For instance, the bathrooms. God forbid I have to use the bathroom at the same time as someone else in my class, I'm stuck waiting until they get back. It cannot possibly be that big of a deal to allow 2-3 students to use the bathroom at a time. Who knows how long someone may be in there and I'm sat on the edge of my seat damn near peeing myself all because I'm not ALLOWED to use the bathroom? It's a bodily function, get over it. The last thing I'd like to talk about is the principal. During the junior and senior class meeting at the beginning of school this year, she very passive aggressively spoke about our test scores regarding the PSAT and SAT. I understand that our scores as a school may not be top ten in the state like she wants (for her own sake), but essentially blaming it on students and telling us we "don't try" or "don't care" on tests is inappropriate and disrespectful to the entire student body. She went on to tell us we would be put in "remission" classes to up our scores. Speaking for at least 75% of the junior and senior classes, we most definitely try and care. The issue is that no teachers prepare us for these tests. Math teachers don't do SAT prep classes nor do they teach us 85% of what was on the SAT's this past year. It is simply not my problem that the Math department doesn't care enough about us or our test scores to teach us what we need to know. Unless you're in advanced math classes and have taken pre calc and stats and trig and every other math class offered (before second semester of junior year), you are never going to be prepared for the SAT's. It is grossly incompetent to blame this on the students.

This school has a terrible issue with bullying and the administrative staff does nothing to address it. They do not acknowledge the issue, nor do they repremand kids bullying other kids so severely. Do not recommend.

Symonds is an excellent neighborhood elementary school that serves West Keene residents. Teachers are caring and dedicated, you can feel the positive energy in the building. Symonds has a commitment to teaching kindness, respect and citizenship along with academic subjects. The school is adjacent to Wheelock Park, a great community park.