Web hosting

Hey all.

I've been looking for some affordable personal web hosting so I can host a network of sites for student clubs in my high school.  I came across this:

http://www.hostdepartment.com/
http://www.hostgator.com/shared.shtml

These two companies are offering dozens of gigs in bandwidth and hosting space for a one-figure sum per month.  Are they trustworthy?  I'm a relative n00b in website management, so I need some opinions on this.

Thanks all!

Thanks all for suggestions.  Another on my list is 1&1.  It's pretty cheap, and it (I believe) has no banner ads or anything.  However, one of my friends says it's notoriously slow.  Can anyone  confirm that?