8655 Thunderbird Rd
Austin, TX 78736

OHE is a great school with so much heart. The teachers LOVE their students, with many teachers having taught at OHE their entire careers (20+ years!!) Academically, OHE is a great school, particularly pre-pandemic. The last two years however, there has been less challenging work assigned. This seems to be the case all over the country. All that being said, the school does a great job with student's mental health and supporting their kids.The OHE PTA is very involved, welcoming and help supplement the school where state funding lacks. There are so many ways to get involved, big and small. The school has a great mix of after school clubs and PTA events.

If you are a parent considering this school, please read this carefully.My son was part of the wrestling program, and the emotional and physical treatment he received from the coaching staff caused long-lasting harm. The environment was extremely unhealthy, and several students—including my son—experienced humiliation, unsafe weight-cutting demands, and psychological pressure far beyond what is acceptable for teenagers.The coach routinely pushed students to gain and lose weight rapidly, made degrading comments about their masculinity, and used intimidation instead of guidance. Promises were made to motivate them, only to be withdrawn later in a way that damaged their confidence and emotional stability.This was not discipline.This was emotional abuse and negligence from adults who should have been protecting our children.Years later, my son is still dealing with the consequences of the trauma he experienced there. He is not the only one—other former students have privately shared similar stories.Schools should be safe.Coaches should build character, not break it.I hope this review encourages the administration to evaluate how students are being treated and to ensure no other child goes through what mine did.

Pros: teachers are highly qualified and have engaging lessons, the office staff are phenomenal, the band program is strongCons: Due to negligent admin, the school has a violence and substance problem. Students in 6th grade get beaten up regularly and their aggressors get a 2 day holiday which only teaches them to keep doing what they are doing. The classes are about 30+ students per class and there are several classes that have broken air conditioning and the school doesn't have the money for repair. The report card looks great. I predict that the new administration's lack of positive leadership and dismissal of school safety will cause problems in the near future. I gave two stars because I guess it could be worse.