Worthington Hooker School

Excellence in the performance of the teachers and administrators affects the students' academic and behavioral performance. The involvement of parents also is a key factor in the well being of the school.

A majority white school in a minority white city located in the most affluent neighborhood in the city. It's got major issues. If you come from a certain kind of home that isn't described above, it is a lonely and excluding experience. If you come from a home that is described above, then your world will be reinforced very well and likely at a cost to your child's lived experience of a just world. We had to do a lot of untangling with our children after attending Hooker for years.

We had a very poor experience at Worthington Hooker and swiftly withdrew our child. Regarded as the top public school in New Haven, we expected a warm and supportive atmosphere. Instead what we found is a cold institutional atmosphere with a bully-principal. While waiting in the office various times I witnessed bullying and condescension toward foreign-born parents and grandparents dropping things off, picking up, etc. One mother was forced to wait 45 minutes to drop off something for her son because the staff refused to call up to her child's class or allow her into the lunchroom to look for him. Want to surprise your child and drop-in for lunch? Not allowed. Our child started mid-year and wanted a parent to stay in the back of the class for a bit the first day. Not allowed. The school we came from was bright and cheery, with parents, grandparents and siblings frequently volunteering, decorating hallways or involved in one way or another. Not to be found here amidst the gloom. We've always been active, involved parents and have formed friendships with school staff and fellow school parents alike, but this isn't the atmosphere for that at all. It's cold, institutional and the staff is mean. Had we known what a horrible, cold place Worthington Hooker School is we definitely would have settled elsewhere in the Yale commutable area.

We transferred into WH from an outside suburb and it has been the best experience for our children. The diversity, PTA, programs, and teaching have far surpassed our other schooling experiences. We feel lucky to be a part of such a wonderful community and diverse school.