Hillside Children's Center-Varick

School staff is great, however superintendent has destructive policies and the school board president appears to support outdated policies that have proven not to work for students. I personally know many parents who have left this area specifically to be in a better school district. Be warned.

They are not able to support children with alternative needs.

I graduated from this school about ten years ago and wasn't impressed. The junior high experience was very negative. If there was a discipline issue, the ENTIRE class was berated and punished for the actions of one or two students. And rather than remove these handful of chronic problem children (swearing, disrupting class, and bullying), the principal just did nothing, and only took action when it was too late. Meanwhile, the good kids who were getting bullied were pulled out by their families to go to the public schools. There were some great teachers, but there were also those who played favorites and weren't afraid to show it. I was hoping for a Christ-like experience at this school, but I was very disappointed and disenchanted with this experience. I see now that the school has a new principal and several new teacher. I hope that they can improve the climate and atmosphere of St. Stephen's from what it was when I was there.