East Hadley

Great teachers, caring principal, nurturing and academically strong environment. I had the options of sending my kids to Amherst, but we love this school.

Where to start - we home schooled our children - two until college (one just graduated and the other is on track graduate a year early). For a variety of reasons - we could not continue with our youngest and sought a private school for her entering 9th grade. Biggest mistake of our parental lives thus far was enrolling her at Hartsbrook. Unequivocally. A few examples: they hired a Spanish teacher that year (last year 9/2024 start). He had no experience teaching but could speak Spanish. Wow - so when she left (keeping in mind that she had never had any Spanish before last year) her transcript indicated she had completed Spanish 2 and a very solid argument is that she never really had Spanish 1. Enter Dina - high school leader (I use that term very loosely). She acknowledge our concerns re Spanish and indicated they were quietly search for a replacement - they did hire another Spanish teacher BUT wait for it - the first guy is still there! He now teaches Spanish to the younger classes….ok another example - they have a school trip before classes start (at least for the 9th grade). My daughter was 1/5 of the ninth grade class. Without any discussion, they felt it appropriate to have her sleep I. The same room as her 4 other classmates (one of which is a male) - never told us. Want more? We had concerns that were not addressed - Dina is a child. Example - after we announced our departure for reason (including but not limited to the above) - she went out of her way to tell my daughters two friends - in front of my daughter and only acknowledging the two other kids that the 10th grade would have more kids (again only 5 in class). My daughter is going to a public school now. He has been accepted into the honors society and is actually learning. Hartsbrook should not have a high school, Hartsbrook is a day camp. Dina is a terrible leader and clearly does not like men - even said in a meeting, “ I even work with republicans” - hilarious how little emotional intellect going on there. Run from sending your children here.