Higley Elementary School

My chilrdren really love this school. They have been here for five years and the changes have been truly amazing! The teachers are dedicated, the curriculum is challenging, and the administration is very willing to help. Parent involvement is encouraged and the PTO appreciates any and all help!
—Submitted by a parent

We have only lived here 6 months but every interaction we have had with this school has been top notch! My 5th grader loves his teachers and has the best grades since kindergarten. Even when he needed to be disciplined we were involved right away. This is a great school in my book!
—Submitted by a parent

Dedicated Leadership has allowed Higley Elementary to exceed anyones expectations. Higley is offering so many great programs to meet every childs' needs including the gifted programs, technology and extracurricular. We are glad to be here in Higley.
—Submitted by a parent

Higley has improved drastically over the past couple of years. The new principal is very dedicated, and the teachers and staff are all kind and hardworking. The student population is diverse, and they all show excellent character. I've had 2 children enrolled there for the past 3 years, and they've never had a problem with bullying. They've also received great educations. Higley's test scores are improving every year, so the "Excelling" label is not out of reach. Having taught at schools in the Kyrene, Chandler, Gilbert, and Scottsdale districts. I can honestly say that HEMS is at least as good if not better than many of those others.
—Submitted by a parent

I am a parent of a student in the Gilbert District and when my kids went to this school they got a much better education. I suppose the grass is always greener on the other side...
—Submitted by a parent

This school lacks in so many different areas it hard to know where to begin. I find that the teachers tend to yell at students and intimindate instead of teach. The staff are unorganized and uncaring. The classrooms are bland and boring-not a bright learning enviroment. My daughter has been there since kindergarten and I am desparately trying to get her to another school in the Gilbert district. Much better schools!
—Submitted by a parent

My children attended Higley Elementary from Kindergarten through the third grade. My daughter who is a bright student did well in each of her classrooms. My son, on the other hand, was tested as gifted in the first grade and all three years he became more and more frustrated and angry with the teachers and the school because he was not challenged. Higley School District has a gifted program (HATS) but does not exercise the program as they lead you to believe. My son is gifted in two of the areas tested and is borderline in the third. The principal said she would personally write his curriculum to satisfy his needs...her word had no follow through. His teacher did not want to teach him and his gifted teacher had very little time for him. I would not recommend this school to anyone with a gifted or excelling child.
—Submitted by a parent

After a very rocky start at HEMS with my daughter, I have to admit that this school has proven to me to be an exceptional place. The teachers are caring and more then willing to go the extra mile for students. In addition, the school nurse and counselor have been instrumental in helping as well.
—Submitted by a parent

I have three kids in HEMS. This is our 2nd year there. I have mixed feelings about the school. There are definitely some great teachers there and some terrible teachers. It depends on who you get. I would like to see more parent/PTO involvement. I think it would make it a better place for the children. The school wide communication is lacking. And we have had two prinicples in two years and supposedly another one next year. On the positive side, my kids like school, are doing well and the curriculum is good. We are happy there.
—Submitted by a parent

I have two children at Higley Elementary and we love the school. I find the teachers and administrators are very willing to do whatever is necessary to help the students learn. I feel my kids are receiving a very good education at Higley. The teachers are great!
—Submitted by a parent

In response to your post about Higley El. and the electives offered not only for your child but all junior high students, as well as the fact that Higley El.'s teachers are purchasing needed materials out of their own pocket, I suggest you look at the district as the cause of these problems and not the school. It seems to me the teachers are willing to do what ever it takes to help students, even if that means paying for the materials needed. This is not a Higley El. problem, rather starts at district level.
—Submitted by a parent

My children attended Higley El & Middle school for several years. I found that during this time teacher/parent communication has gotten worse. We always receive notices late or last minute. Homework is graded late or lost by teachers..thus having a negative impact on a childs progress report/report card. Teachers do not communicate with parents unless a child is in trouble...if there is a sudden drastic change in school work the teacher does not call the parent. It becomes a surprise at report card time. I am very discouraged by the lack of communication. The 'organized' sports is another pitfall. I understand and appreciate the staff that volunteers as coaches, however you cannot be competitive if a coach knows nothing about the sport as is basically there for 'supervision'...very very disappointing.
—Submitted by a parent

Our family has had a wonderful experience at Higley El. I have two children at this school and feel with both children that they are being taught above standards and their teachers are excellent. I am a parent that is involved in helping out as much as I can and that sometimes just means doing things at home, but I find that being involved helps the school and has helped my children as well. We love Higley schools and would highly recommend to anyone!
—Submitted by a parent

Very poor quality at Higley Elementary School. The worst communication with Parents I have ever experienced. I have been to meet the teachers and many did not even know who my child was at teachers conferences. What is going on at this school. We are changing schools next year due to the poor quality of teachers, principle and learning.
—Submitted by a parent

very unwilling to assist children who are not 'quick learners'
—Submitted by a parent

I feel that if parents would start caring about kids education, this school would be fantastic! I enjoy this school, I like the teacher and staff, and I have been very involved in volunteering in classrooms and PTO. I see parents leaving their kids at school for the teachers to raise. Kids are disrespectful. Where do they learn that? Home! So if parents would stop placing the blame at the schools and start looking into their own homes and really care about education, then any school would be highly successful. HEMS is wonderful as long as you stop complaining and get involved!
—Submitted by a parent

Very disappointing!, 2nd year for my Daughter and education seems 2nd rate. Some good teachers but elective classes need to be improved. Information that comes home is wrong or late.
—Submitted by a parent

I have been very happy with the education my children are receiving at Higley Elementary. The teachers are wonderful. Ann Templeton is the best principal I have ever worked with as a parent or as a former teacher. She always has time for parent's concerns and really takes the time to know the students. The middle school teachers have really impressed me as well. My children came to Higley El from a private school and I have never had cause to regret my decision.
—Submitted by a parent

I am dissapointed in Higley Elementary. Several of the middle school teachers have been unprofessional with my child. I have complained to the principal about one of them. The class was an elective class and the only other elective that was offered was band and my child does not play in band. We had to keep him in the class for the remainder of the year. I never felt he got anything positive from that experience. They don't have a lot of options for the kids for sports and the teams are horrible. The teachers are not given what they need in supplies to help teach our children. Many of them go out on their own to purchase stuff. There doesn't seem to be much school pride.
—Submitted by a parent

Great school! My children have learned alot and love going to school everyday. The teachers are very understanding of my childrens needs. The academic programs are very enriching and provoke alot of thought in my children. They love to get work and to turn it in. They have a great deal of extracurricular activities for the children and my children love to go to kidzart and the gardening classes that they offer. Parent involvement is definitely there.
—Submitted by a parent