From a Harding Parent with a 4th and 1st grade student ~ Pamela E.
"Harding is the best kept secret on the Westside. This is my family's second year at the school, and I have students in 1st and 4th grades. The teachers are dedicated to student success, more so than at any other school we have attended. Teachers remain at the school for years. They could probably find easier places to work--admittedly, the high percentage of English language learners who attend the school add a layer of complexity to teaching. We too, could find an easier, more comfortable school to attend, where everyone looked like us--my family is in the racial minority here--but we value diversity and want our kids to have the rich education Harding provides.
Veronica Binkley has been the principal since we arrived at the school, and we are continually amazed at how involved she is in both the big-picture leadership of the school and the minutiae of everyday student life. When conflict arises between students, she is happy to mediate and treats all students with respect while holding them to a high level of responsibility.
We have also appreciated the rich after-school enrichment clubs offered, including photography, cooking, clay art, drawing, music, and gardening. Even better, the school's parent group (the Harding School Foundation) offers the classes at an affordable price so that kids can choose multiple classes and build on their already holistic education.
My only disappointment with the school is that more of my Westside neighbors do not attend. That is already changing since we arrived. I hope that trend will continue as more people discover this hidden gem!"