Hillside Elementary School

We have two children who both love their experiences here. Excellent focus on social-emotional development as well as academics.

We really wanted to love this school. It has a strong reputation and some wonderful teachers. But our family’s experience was disappointing and, at times, concerning.There was a ton of leadership turnover, and it really affected the day-to-day environment. Policies and expectations felt inconsistent, and communication often seemed reactive rather than clear and steady. We were aware of serious situations involving student safety that were barely addressed from a parent perspective, and we rarely felt like we understood what was happening behind the scenes or who was accountable.We also frequently witnessed behavior issues that didn’t seem to be addressed in ways that made the problems stop. Some kids appeared physically out of control in a way that sometimes resulted in injuries. Teachers tried their best but it seemed they spent large portions of their time trying to manage behavior instead of being able to teach.Bullying was also a real concern for us. The school seemed more focused on moving forward than on clear communication or problem-solving. When kids or parents don’t know what happened or what’s being done to help, it’s hard to feel confident that things will improve.Academically, the approach felt just as unclear. Students were given “assessments,” but answers weren’t marked correct or incorrect — so nothing was actually measured, and we were never given a clear picture of student progress. It often felt like the school used the language of assessment without providing meaningful information. For us, that felt emblematic of a broader issue: good intentions, but not enough structure or clarity to support real learning and growth.Some children do very well here, and I want to acknowledge that. But many families we spoke with shared concerns similar to ours, so I don’t think our experience was unique.If you are considering the school, I’d suggest asking very specific questions:• Who is accountable when issues arise?• How is academic progress actually measured and communicated?• How is bullying handled, whether your child is the bully or the one being bullied?• What happens when a child is hurt or in distress?• How does the school ensure harmful behavior doesn’t repeat?We truly wish our experience had matched the school’s reputation.

Our family’s experience with Montclair Cooperative School was devastating. After touring and being assured that our son — a twice-exceptional, academically gifted child on the Autism spectrum — could be supported, we submitted his records. Almost immediately, the admissions office reversed course and told us they would not move forward with his application because of his disability, saying he would be “better served” in public school. His academic strengths and test scores were ignored.This is not just disappointing, it is discriminatory. The school has accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxpayer-funded grants and forgivable loans, which means it is legally bound under the ADA, Section 504, IDEA, and the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination to provide equal access. Instead, it shut the door on our son because of his diagnosis.We pursued every available appeal, including with the State of New Jersey. Even though the state acknowledged the facts, they declined to pursue the case further — not because discrimination wasn’t present, but because they lacked confidence in prevailing in court.Families should know that if your child has a disability, this school may exclude them rather than work with you. For a school that markets itself as progressive and community-oriented, our experience was the opposite. Parents of neurodiverse children: proceed with extreme caution.