Research Hamden Hall School private Schools in Ansonia, Connecticut

“Great school with excellent academics. Administration is approachable and involved. My daughter had excellent teachers who seemed well-versed in their subjects and passionate about teaching.”

“This school is well suited to the above average/gifted student who is capable of independent work. It is not 'tolerant' of the average student or, heaven forbid, below- average student in need of support. Children admitted to the Lower School are often very different from the older children required to pass an admissions test. Classes are taught with an eye to the 'upper levels' and weaker students are left with no foundation and no way to catch up.Expectations for students are very high, but teacher direction and guidance is minimal. For a school with such small class sizes, there is no excuse for not providing for students' individual needs. The 'social scene' is obviously a major draw for many parents and children, as there are countless 'events'. The athletic program had the opportunity to be quite good, but was often plagued by mismanagement and rigid, unlikable coaches.”

“Excellent school, students are well prepared for the top Colleges.”

“Hamden Hall Country Day School provides an outstanding education that is both nurturing and intimate. The class sizes are small, and the teachers give students individual attention. The teachers are outstanding and the overall atmosphere of the school is warm. The academics are top notch. While there are not lower levels of classes, there are many opportunities for honors or AP credit. The campus is small, but maintained exquisitely. Students in the upper school are also given full college counseling and advice. The admissions department is friendly and welcoming. The only area in need of minor improvement is the athletic department. Overall, this is an excellent school.”

“While no school is perfect, Hamden Hall provided my children with a great education based on their individual needs and prepared them very well for college life. At HHCDS, a student is both nurtured and challenged to the extent necessary for each individual. If I had to choose one area in need of immediate review, it would be the athletic department.”

“Our son started at HHCDS as an 8th grader. He had been in public school in our town, with class sizes at 20 or more. Spanish classes in the public high school can be as large as 30 students. Our son has experienced small class sizes, individual attention and extra help from teachers and the study center. Although you will find academically challenging teachers in both public and private schools; a small class improves the potential for the student's academic and personal growth and development. Our school provides many opportunities for extracurricular activities besides sports. Sports are required for two out of the three seasons. As a small school this helps to field the many interscholastic teams. There are 24 other student organizations: like community service, envirothon team, film club and jazz rock. One of the most effective departments is college counseling. Intense support to both student and family make this department worth the price of admission.”

“My son has been at Hamden Hall K-4. We are now looking for a new school. We have found that the school provides an excellent academic curriculum for the average student, but it is severely lacking in social discipline and/or special needs. There are no programs for children that are either gifted or fall behind. A child is expected to keep up with the group and move to with the group. There are strong socially elite clicks not only among students, but also among parents. It is easy to be labeled as a social outcast. There is a high percentage of 'Faculty children' that attend the school resulting in unequal treatment especially in area of discipline. We have found that we have spent more time dealing with social issues (bulling) and the schools inability to deal with it than with academic issues.”

“This school is great! I love the sports,kids, and overall environment of HHCDS(Hamden Hall Country Day School).”

“My daughter attended Hamden Hall from grade five until ninth, when we came to the decision that it was best for her to switch schools. Although we were not completely happy with the middle school teachers (one of her teachers actually made fun of students in front of the class), it only got worse in high school. My daughter never had to study very hard in middle school , but when she hit ninth grade, suddenly she was recieving an extreme amount of homework and tests, a workload my daughter had not been properly prepared for. They believe that it's best to sort of 'shove' kids into more difficult academics in order to prepare them for college, but give them no skills to do such, nor support. Ninth grade as it is is a hard enough time for kids. About one third of the ninth grade class left after that year. There are also few, few choices available for students less interested in sports. Sports are mandatory at Hamden Hall, but there are no arts programs offered besides your generic art class. My daughter was not doing well in school at this point despite the fact that she had been a straight A student prior to ninth grade, and when we discussed the issue with her advisor, she brushed off her struggle as normal and did nothing. Her math teacher never collected the homework, and as a result students began to copy each other's homework minutes before class (I know this because I heard it from my daughter). I find that the academic program at Hamden Hall, for all the money you pay to send your children there, leaves little room for them to grow and develop into their own persons. It's a great fit for some, but generally I have encountered a lot of dissatisfaction with both the curriculum, teachers, and over all atmosphere. There is a great sense of being on your own there I think. My daughter now attends Hamden High School, and thankfully she has managed to recover from a bad year, and loves her current school.”