Research Hume - Fogg High Academic Magnet public Schools in Nashville, Tennessee

“I didn't want to come to this school in the first place, but I am so glad that I did. The teachers are super amazing because they actually teach, and they actually know what they're teaching. They make it fun and easy to learn/relate to. The people here are very respectful, and I feel more secure here. I admit that this school is pretty tough and that sometimes people feel like it's not fair. Well, it is fair because it has almost everything to prepare students for college and reality. If people bail out of this school, that's their choice. If they can't take the heat from Hume-Fogg, then there's probably some place that will better suit them. However, the difficulty at Hume-Fogg is like another way to challenge a student. I think it's best to face it than take the shortcut out.”

“I am a freshmen at HFA this year and I absolutely love it! It is definitely the best school I have ever been too, and I am sad about leaving this summer. I have made great friends and had great experiences. It not only has great academics, but has awesome sports and amazing talents in singing and acting. In short: best school ever.”

“I have just graduated from HFA this past spring of 2008. I was just looking up for a decent middle/elementary school for my young sisters to attend as I stumbled upon this site. As I have realized, through both personal experience and others' reviews, that most regular public middle schools in Davidson lack the academic rigor and care for its students, which worries me tremendously. Now, as I look back upon my fours years in this marvelous institution, I am truly grateful for everything it has provided for me - its caring faculty, its brilliant, talented, and diverse student body...this is a place where one can call HOME.”

“You can't get any better than this. Teachers TEACH at this school, don't just grade it to make him/her look good. God Bless everybody here.”

“I'm currently a sophomore at Hume-Fogg and I love it, but it's not perfect (no high school is perfect, of course) as people might think it is. It has a great environment compared to other schools and the academics are challenging, but rewarding. I have a lot of friends and I just know that I'll be prepared for college. However, to all the parents, if your child doesn't wanna go to HFA or wants to drop out and go to his/her zone-school, then let him/her because he/she will cause problems for the school and will definitely not do well.”

“Hume-Fogg has a great reputation for academics and while this is mainly deserved, Hume-Fogg falls short on several other things. First, the curriculum is very structured leaving little room for any real electives. For the studnet that does not thrive under these conditions, there is little to no support. HFA would prefer those students to leave the school even if it is in the middle of their senior year. Hume-Fogg fosters a very elitist atmosphere and does not want to acknowledge it has faults little less adress those faults. If I had another chance, I'm not sure I would have sent my children there.”

“I am currently a sophomore at Hume-Fogg. I must say that Hume-Fogg is not for everyone, and in fact I have been in the magnet system since middle school. I do think Hume-Fogg is an excellent school. Note that Hume-Fogg is difficult. Freshman year is a breeze and teachers still baby the students. prepared whatsoever. I am in an AP and believe me it is one of the hardest classes I have ever taken. I do realize AP classes are difficult, but the problem is that some teachers just give you the work and do not do anything but teach from the book. And the person speaking on math is completely right. I am a 3.5 student, but my average has gone downNow, in my second year I have felt I have not been because of this. I think Hume-Fogg opens doors, but be prepared to have difficulty with the knobs.”

“Hume-Fogg, while a strong school, is hardly the 'be-all-and-end-all' of academic excellence it likes to present itself as. It's a good school for a certain 'type' of student: the type who equates grades with intelligence and for whom academics is life. It favors a classical education over creativity, and if you don't fit the mold you won't likely enjoy your time there. Or, your time there won't be very long, as the school will often 'strongly encourage' students to go elsewhere, even up to the second semester of senior year. The school also takes a very 'figure it out yourself' approach to math, with most math classes featuring the teacher writing the material on the board and the students copying it down. It's also highly elitist, not simply in academics but in the attitude as a whole: 'We're better than you,' is the general sense. This is not to say that it is a bad school per se, and you do get opportunies there that are hard to find elsewhere (although not impossible), but I would suggest thinking long and hard about whether or not it is the kind of atmosphere where you want to spend four years.”

“it pretty awesome here. the learning experience has been great so far! ;)”

“Both my sons were fortunate to be accepted at Hume-Fogg. Neither wanted to attend; I made them. After a few short weeks, they realized the prestige and glamour of attending Hume-Fogg. Their circle of friends expanded. They were exposed to classrooms, teachers, and students who thrived on excellence where achievement was lauded rather than castigated by fellow students. They were more than prepared for their first year of college and received credit for some of their classes. I am a proud mom who relished the other parents, their involvement and the attention to academics found at Hume-Fogg. Even the physical 'old' school was endearing to me. My sons, graduates of the University of Tennessee and one, a banker and the other, an Army officer, are proud to say they are alumni of Hume-Fogg.”

“I graduated from Hume Fogg in 2005, after finishing my first year at the university level, a rigorous university at that, I have been made fully aware of the preparation Hume Fogg provided me with. Bluntly, my first year was a breeze, especially in comparison to my scholastic schedule at Hume Fogg. I was even encouraged by my general studies english teacher to”

“This is my sons first year at hume fogg and we love the school. He looks forward to going to school every day. The Teachers are amazing. They love what they do. I believe my son will be better prepared for college because he went there. The academic program is outstanding. the diverse student body make everyone feel welcome. the extracurricular clubs are numerous and students are encouraged to take a leadership rule in creating new clubs. The school instills in their students a strong sense of community service amongst the students and goes out of their way to introduce to their students to opportunities to volunteer in the nashville area.”

“My son graduated from Hume Fogg in 2000 and went on to one of the most rigorous and selective schools in America. He was not even a 'top tier' student at HFA but still managed this due to the nature of the program offered. Now my daughter is entering her senior year there and is aspiring to the same type of college experience. While it is hard to know whether she will experience the same success we have every reason to believe that she will. This is the most wonderful,unique school! One of the other raters questioned whether the quality of the program had declined in recent years. I can assure you it has not. Luck plays a large part in it whether you get in because of the lottery. If your child attends, they will be challenged academically and will make friends to last a lifetime, both student and faculty.”

“Hume Fogg is an amazing school, and this school is where you can definetely tell yourself that grades aren't everything. To see my child come home and see what she has learned is a gift to my heart, and I am blessed to get that gift every single day because of this school.”

“I am in love with Hume Fogg. Although it is only my second year, I feel as if it is my home. My closest family is at school, and my life depends on the community of the school. The teachers excel in what they do, whether it's teaching a whole new language or even teaching the basics of the violin. Hume Fogg has taught me to be a leader. 'Don't follow me, get in front of me and be a leader, not a follower,' Mr. Ward said to me today as I was heading up the stairs. I truly am a leader here at Hume Fogg. I come to tears just imagining the all-nighters I pulled and countless hours of AP essays I have to do. Recalling the harsh B's and C's on exams, but, you see, grades aren't everything...it's what you learn. And Hume Fogg is JUST the place.”

“My daughter is a sophomore this year at Hume Fogg and I can not say enough great things about the school,the teachers, and the other students. I would recommend this school to anyone that wants to have an accelerated chance to prepare for college and to get an excellent learnig experience.”

“My daughter graduated in 2003 and is now at a highly demanding college. She is handling it well due to the great education at Hume-Fogg. Very diverse and talented student body, dedicated teachers, dynamic administrators. She transferred to Hume-Fogg from MLK, which is also a great school, but Hume-Fogg was better suited to her. My son is now a sophomore at Hume-Fogg and having a much different but equally good educational experience. I teach at Vanderbilt University and always enjoy having both Hume-Fogg and MLK students in my classes.”

“Hume-Fogg is a great school. I consider it to be a college prep school. It challenges every student that walks into the door. I highly recommend this school.”

“It's been a while, but my son, John Jacob, graduated in 1998. I can definitely say at that time, the kids were the most diverse and well rounded individuals. However since then there has been much speculation that the school has been on a decline due to the students that now fill its halls. It might be too easy to get into nowadays. Whereas the cross town rival MLK has even been said to have won the battle of midtown magnet schools and I can't really disagree.”

“My daughter, who is a senior this year, has had a wonderful experience at Hume-Fogg. The teachers and the leadership are second to none. The courses are rigorous which will prepare her for college. Because of leadership provided by the guidance office, Hume-Fogg has an exceptional reputation with college admission counselors who already know the quality of students that the school graduates. My daughter will be more than prepared to make her mark on the world.”

“Both my daughters graduated from Humes Fogg and they have had no trouble going on with the rest of their life in a very productive way. While I cannot give Humes Fogg all the credit, I do believe they they supported the academic standards that my wife and I set for our girls in our home.”