James H. Hendrix Elementary School

My son has been at this school since January 2023. We have experience the the worst teacher interactions. There’s a huge lack of communication, they send home 1000 seasaw messages with all this info and call with this long drawn out recording from the principal. But the teachers directly, you have to beg to be informed. The have an unhealthy obsession with discipline. They lack a sense of urgency when it comes to students who struggle academically.

This school is horrible!!!! All the way to the principal! He's a JOKE! They have no concept of SAFETY for children that are put in their care from the time they step on their property til the time they step off it! We recently just moved to SC from out of state and thought this would be a good fit but my children defiantly will NOT be returning to Arcadia next school year. He is retiring and should because he doesn't care about ALL the students only certain ones. However when I called the Supertindent he was very apologetic and showed sympathy something the principal should have done. My youngest child attends another school in district 6 and I love that school along with the staff and principal. DO NOT SEND YOUR CHILDREN TO THIS SCHOOL if you care about how they are treated and there safety.

Our daughter graduated 5 years ago from Spartanburg Christian Academy and was been very successful in her university. She was accepted to all the colleges that she applied and received top scholarships. She was a double major in math and education and completed her undergraduate degree in 3 years. While we are so thankful for the rigorous education and college preparation she received at SCA, we are most thankful for the relationships she had/has with her teachers and fellow students that enhanced her relationship with Christ. She was mentored by older students and in turn mentored younger students while she was in high school. These lifelong leadership skills have given her the skills to be a leader in her school where she teaches and in her church and community as an adult.

As a former employee, I have to say this is perhaps one of the worst schools in South Carolina. The administration is incompotent and vendictive. If a teacher dares to complain about something they are immediately targeted by administration and "Put in their place." A good portion of the students have stuggled in public schools. For some it's academics, for others its behavior. Many come to HPA to avoid being either expelled or sent to an alternative school. Once at HPA, their struggles continue but teachers are told to "get them through" so the school maintains its high graduation rate. Discipline is erratic at best and many teachers leave feeling tramatized. At least one teacher a year is fired at the behest of a parent of a child who would likely be expelled at a real school. The pay is low. The school takes a portion of each the money the state provides for each teacher's salary. As a result, some are earning $10,000 less per year than they would receive at another school. Teachers are also required to do service projects such as repairing structural problems in the school or deep cleaning the bathrooms. If you are either thinking of sending your child to HPA or working there, I strongly suggest you reconsider. The school puts on a great front, but behind the scenes it is a house of cards ready to fold.