Hidden Valley School

We have not had positive experiences with N Dickinson. The teacher to student ratio is deceiving; listed as 12:1 is simply false. General classes outside of special education is in the range of 22 - 28:1. The teachers have been very good for the most part, except for one terrible year with a checked out teacher who retired as soon as she could at the year's end. Aside from this, the teachers do what they can. The school board is more worried about perception than actual education of students, raising taxes and borrowing 100 million dollars for new buildings, but never where it is really needed, actual teachers on deck to help with the kids that need a little more attention. I can't tell you how many times we have heard "We don't have the resources for XYZ..." If your child needs special attention/education or excels, they may do well, but the average student, or one that does not "qualify" for help, will suffer. More importantly, the safety of children appears to be of little concern. Bullying runs rampant, and no one addresses this. We have experienced this with our own child and have knowledge of many other parents with similar complaints. Send your child here, and be prepared for the effects of bullying. Charter schools are a much better option if you reside in this district, but the school board will fight this tooth and nail. Friends tell us it ony gets worse as the child ages; middle school and high school appear to be far worse. Bottom line, if you can avoid sending your child to this district, you will be much better off in the long run. Bottom line, if you can avoid