Great Hearts Forest Heights

Posted: August 15, 2025

Posted: August 15, 2025

Posted: August 15, 2025

Posted: August 15, 2025

Posted: August 15, 2025

My son attended Great Hearts (Lower School) for two years. Overall, our experience was fine, and I believe some children truly thrive in this environment but it’s very much a case by case situation. Unfortunately, out straight A child did not. He wasn’t challenged by the coursework and often complained of being bored. We would ask him to rate his day from 1 to 10, and his responses, along with the reports of his work, were consistently middle of the road.

The school’s classical education model and Socratic method so prominently featured in brochures, Headmaster remarks, and reading lists rarely appeared in actual classroom practice. My assumption is that the demands of STAAR testing and related funding pressures make it nearly impossible to deliver a full classical education. It’s hard to devote meaningful time to rhetoric, logic, and student led debate when standardized test scores determine the school’s success.

I understand the constraints, but the ways the school tries to remain “classical” can feel misplaced. For example, they limit technology use to an extreme degree. While I value classical education, I don’t believe technology is incompatible with it in fact, it can enhance learning (a computer is a powerful tool for studying Latin, for instance). The mandatory computer class, added only because of STAAR requirements, felt like an afterthought. And the frequent boasts about the absence of devices seemed odd, no school wants kids playing Roblox in class, but depriving students of technology entirely doesn’t prepare them for the modern world. It’s hard to claim you’re preparing students for life when they could graduate confused by something as basic as Excel macros.

Since switching schools, my son is far more engaged and challenged. I couldn’t justify him spending eight hours a day at school only to come home saying he was bored all day. Every child is different, but if yours consistently tests well and hungers for knowledge beyond what the STAAR curriculum covers, you may want to think twice before enrolling.

***Bonus Anecdotal First hand story:
Our son’s teacher was fresh out of college in her first job. Not a concern at first since they use a two person model with a “helper” in the room, 32 kids for a new teacher felt like it could be manageable with that support but we had doubts. Midway through the year, the helper quit, and coverage came from another room who had to keep fulfilling both roles. Not sure how they claim a 23:1 ratio.

Posted: August 15, 2025

Posted: August 15, 2025

Posted: August 15, 2025

Posted: August 15, 2025

Posted: August 15, 2025

Posted: August 15, 2025

Posted: August 15, 2025

Posted: August 15, 2025

This sweet school has helped our children learn the love of education. On the daily we see children thriving and learning at the same time.
It is a school with heart and soul, unlike other comparative charter schools.
Highly recommend.

Posted: August 15, 2025

Posted: August 15, 2025

Posted: August 15, 2025

Posted: November 18, 2024

Posted: November 18, 2024

Posted: November 18, 2024

Posted: November 18, 2024

Posted: November 18, 2024

I am a former student at this school. I spent 4 years there, and this was too much. Please, if you are reading this, pull out your kids as fast as possible. There is no student counselor here and kids are prevented from being kids. No pop culture, no unicorns, no dogs or cats (sharks are okay though?). This school works very hard to make kids adults too soon. If they ever transfer schools (like I did) they will be immediately be placed in Gifted in Talented even if they are not ready for it. Also, Great Hearts teachers do not make efforts to re-explain things to kids who did not understand the first time, instead jumping ahead severely. Second graders were taught fifth grade math. They will become alienated from their peers in middle school because they know everything. Also, do not put your children in a lifetime of hell by keeping them in the middle and high school. They are convenient, but if you really love your child, don't do it.

Posted: November 18, 2024

Posted: November 18, 2024

Posted: November 18, 2024

Posted: July 24, 2024

Posted: July 24, 2024

Posted: July 24, 2024

Posted: July 24, 2024

Posted: July 24, 2024

We have finished 5 years at this campus and have children in several grades. A classical education is a unique environment that lifts children to their highest learning potential. This does not always (or usually) look like a regular public school learning environment, but the material is rich and full of time-tested truths. My kids are all very active, 1 has a 504 plan, and they’ve been supported and loved throughout their education experience. The parent involvement is what you make of it. You can choose to help in the library, at lunch, or other opportunities, and the learning environment is protected from undue distractions. We’ve been proud to see our kids progress and become kind, well-reasoned people who are secure in themselves and their environment.

Posted: July 24, 2024

Posted: July 24, 2024

Posted: July 24, 2024

Posted: March 4, 2024

Posted: March 4, 2024

Posted: March 4, 2024

Posted: March 4, 2024

Posted: March 4, 2024

Posted: March 4, 2024

Posted: March 4, 2024

While GHFH isn't for every child and every family, it is a great school. Reading the former review made me realize how many people must not research classical education and/or a particular school before enrolling their child. I have children at both lower and upper campuses. Lower school is definitely where boundaries are instilled and seems to be a bit more "strict", but they do explain to the kids the WHY of the rules. Lunch and recess times are short, which is a downfall, but they do have SO much to teach during the school day. One of our favorite things about the school is the early-release Fridays and lots of days "off"-I understand this might not work for every parent, so please see the calendar before registering your child. The other review said the classrooms look " sad" whereas to me they look organized and without distractions. There is no "pop culture" as is stated in the handbook-for example, princesses are ok (Cinderella is not) or sharks are ok (Baby Shark is not). I always thought this would be a bigger issue for my kids, but it hasn't ever been. Yes, only black/navy/khaki/white are worn--its the school UNIFORM. The lack of a school counselor is a bummer, I do wish they had more support for kids in need. Carline is fairly reasonable at both schools after the first week or so-I never spend more than about 15 minutes in line once it gets moving. It was definitely more organized when the former headmasters were there, but it's ok. Parking is a challenge, but only if you're there to do a walk-up pick up/drop off (not the norm). There is a business parking lot across the street where parents park to walk up, but I've never found this to be any faster or easier than carline. Many of the teachers are "newer", but that changes each year as the ones who stay have gained experience, and it shows. While my kids haven't always liked their teachers, they have always felt appreciated and any concerns have been addressed immediately. No school is "perfect", but I'd say to most certainly do your research and take a tour before enrolling. One final thing I have to say is that the PSO (parent service organization) at GHFH is outstanding and really strive to make everyone feel included.

Posted: March 4, 2024

Posted: January 16, 2024

Posted: January 16, 2024

Posted: January 16, 2024

Posted: January 16, 2024

My daughter is a kindergarten. The staff at this school makes the transition for a 5 years old terrible! They are always comparing the 5 y.o. with high schoolers. They pretend the kids are well-behaved at all times. They disqualify anything. It's hard for teacher to give a perfect punctuation because they just request perfection even for the kindergarten who are learning and everything is new for them. Lunch and recess times are very short. However, the kids has A LOT of days off during the academic year and early release every Friday. Kids are not able to be kids at all. Poor resources and materials. Classrooms looks very sad. My daughter is not allow to use anything about princesses, unicorns, or whatever a 5 years old is into. Nothing but navy, beige, black or white can be worn. The emails are barely responded and the headmaster is very careless about any concern that is brought to her. The children, even the 5 y.o. are sent to the dean of student just because they are talking with their friends in the classroom... as normal. The only counselor for the hundreds students goes 1 or 2 times to the school and everything is attended by appt. There is not a plan against bullying in the school and they have only ONE officer on duty for the two campuses. The carline are a mess. There is only around 8-10 parkings for parents, so not walking drop off is possible, unless we park in a private parking. We are in January and my daughter still "hates" going to school. I don't know what is going on in her classrooms, besides that she is not valued, even though I know she does a great effort in her classworks and homeworks. It's been such a bad experience and I just feel bad for putting my daughter through this bad experience. The staff is negligent, irresponsible and unprofessional. Some parents has told that they will report the school to the TEA, and I just hope they have.

Posted: January 16, 2024

Posted: January 16, 2024

Posted: January 16, 2024

Posted: January 16, 2024