Bell

As a former parent at this school, I am leaving this review out of frustration and genuine concern. In my family’s experience, my child did not feel safe or supported—especially when it came to issues of homophobia and basic respect in the classroom. My child repeatedly came home upset, telling me that students were openly using homophobic and racial slurs during class while teachers seemed to ignore it. Whether intentional or not, it created an environment where certain students felt unprotected and dismissed.I was especially troubled by what my child described happening in the 8th grade English class. According to my child and others, the teacher made comments that came across as politically charged and, in their view, judgmental. My child felt targeted and uncomfortable, and I was shocked to hear that political opinions were even being discussed in class—something that does not belong in a middle school learning environment.The ongoing drama between students, particularly between boys and girls, seemed to spill into the school day constantly, and kids who weren’t involved often ended up dragged into it. What concerned me even more was the inconsistent treatment of students. Based on what I observed and what my child experienced, certain “popular” or long-standing students appeared to get away with behavior that other, newer or quieter kids were blamed for. It felt unfair and damaging to the school culture.If this school wants to protect its students and build a safe, inclusive environment, it needs to take these concerns seriously. Teachers should not be bringing personal political views into the classroom, and staff should be proactive about addressing bullying, discrimination, and harassment—not ignoring it.I hope future families have a better experience than we did, but the school leadership truly needs to step up, train its staff appropriately, and make student safety—not politics or favoritism—its top priority.

I would not recommend enrolling your child in this school. The administration appears to be more focused on financial matters than on the well-being and development of the children. The staff has demonstrated unprofessional behavior, and my four-year-old was removed from the school due to unsubstantiated allegations.The school does not provide adequate support or resources for children they perceive as having behavioral challenges. Michelle Taylor initially informed me that my son could not return because of these allegations, but later denied making that statement—apparently in an attempt to justify additional fees on what they claim is an outstanding balance.For an institution that identifies as a Christian academy, I found very little that reflected Christian values in their actions. I strongly advise parents to consider other options before enrolling their children here.

I absolutely love this school. My son is in Kindergarten this school year and I am very pleased. He has made dramatic improvements in his comprehension, reading, writing and math. Plus he adores his school! At just about 6 years old, he is always rushing me in the morning so he can get to school on time. He tells me "Mommy don't make me late", LOL. I do believe that every experience is unique and that you must do thorough research when deciding where to send your children. I have a two year old daughter who I plan to also send to HTEDS and follow in her brother's steps. I love that they demand the most from their students and require parents to participate in their children's education. Yes their expectations are high, but I think high expectations prepare our children to readily compete on a larger level in all parts of their life. While I feel the tuition is more than affordable and I decided to give the school 4 stars because the before and after care is quite pricey. They should re-evaluate that system. Otherwise, great, safe, engaging and fun learning environment at a great price and their program can compete with most of the surrounding private schools in the region.