Pond Road Middle School

I enjoyed my time at UH, I loved the teachers and I'm glad I went here!

All the subjects are fine except for English; I learned more from a textbook I used than any of the classes I had for English. Most of the teachers are pretty nice. It’s a safe environment. Overall, it’s an alright catholic school in NJ, Trenton area.

Wilberforce could be great for some (heavy emphasis on discussion + deep thinking, public speaking). But the school has major flaws, including:Lack of Diversity: in ethnicity, background, and experience. Students aren’t exposed to other cultures; the atmosphere feels like a “White Christian culture.” Racism is an issue, with some teachers and students showing ignorance toward slurs.Education: HS should allow exploration, but Wilberforce does not have class options beyond the standard Math, Science, English/History (HL), etc. Students have little class choice. Language options are limited to Latin and Spanish (Latin required first year HS). Other classes are standard and required, with another minimal choice between choir and art later on (you are forced in the beginning into a certain schedule).Teachers: Some seem chosen for being pastors or “good Christians,” not for teaching ability— these teachers are often rude and close-minded.Favoritism: Many teachers make no effort to conceal their favoritism, openly talking about get togethers at their houses that the favorite student has gone to or simply having a blatant display of favor for the favorite over other students.Class Size: This could depend on the person, but I personally find Wilberforce far too small for a High School class. For context, my public elementary school's grades (in Princeton) had around 10-20 more people than a regular grade in Wilberforce. You are with the same people in the same classes all day every day, which can severely promote comparison to one another and can feel confining almost, especially as it is HS and no longer middle school or elementary school. Participation grading may be hard for introverts, and the atmosphere can be competitive or toxic depending on the small class. Wilberforce has helped me think deeply and engage in discussion, but whether that outweighs its flaws depends on the student.Ultimately, I would NOT recommend this school for current high schoolers or 8th grade families considering Wilberforce as a high school. The lack of opportunity, class options, confining class size, + lack of diversity and cultural awareness make the school not a very suitable High School. As a middle school it was alright, but I feel as if I'm missing out on opportunities (both academically and in exploring interests) through staying at Wilberforce through High School.