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GreatSchools Rating

Highlands Elementary School

Public | K-5 | 330 students

Last modified
Community Rating

5 stars

Community Rating by Year
2013:
Based on 1 rating
2012:
No new ratings
2011:
Based on 2 ratings
2010:
No new ratings

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7 reviews of this school


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Posted January 22, 2013

This school positively oozes a warm, caring, supportive, close community feel. The principal is just simply amazing, dedicated, motivated, personal, part best friend, part positive role model, part educator. He knows all the kids by name and gives them high-fives in the hallway each morning. I've been through many schools (public and private) with my 3 kids, but my son has never experienced the same sense of belonging. The teachers are also dedicated, motivated, caring and professional. I guess a great principal attracts great teachers, and Highlands teachers tend to stay! The student body is diverse, because kids come in all kinds, just like real life. With the strong leadership of the principal, the strong support team of the faculty, and the sense of belonging that Highlands provides, everybody is given a great chance to make it at school, and in life. Plus a school experience I doubt anybody who went to Highlands will ever forget.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted March 15, 2011

I have two children, and they transferred to Highlands from Private school. I was wary of this school at first, but in almost two years, their experiences have been overwhelmingly positve. First, the principal is excellent--very committed to the school and the students. The children all like him, and he knows them all by name. The school is smaller than some Delaware schools, which contributes to a warm, intimate environment. My children have had outstanding teachers these past years. Some of the teachers, I'd say are just "very good," but all of them are committed to the students and learning. Sometimes the work isn't challenging enough for my children, but the school follows Red Clay's standards, so maybe the district's standards are not high enough. Overall, I am very pleased with my sons' education. Not many discipline issues--none that prevent other students from learning, I should say.I haven't seen much bullying at Highlands. I wish there were more field trips and experiences outside the school. And more school plays/concerts The PTA is small, but that's only because parental involvement in the PTA stinks.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted January 21, 2011

My nieces attend Highlands Elementary and it is a very good school. My only problem is that there are no bus aids and my nieces has complained about being bullied on the bus by the older students. Nonetheless, the school is pretty good!


Posted October 9, 2010

My twin grandsons go to Highlands Elementary. It's a great school.


Posted October 5, 2009

We have a great principal and an incredibly devoted team of teachers, a beautiful building with a nice population of sweet kids and parents. Not sure why the school has such a low rating but we love the community there and the education my child is receiving!
—Submitted by a parent


Posted September 18, 2009

The staff is incredibly devoted at this school who stick around for an ever-increasing range of extracurriculars, and there's a great core team of parents and students. Our test scores tend to be lower because we have a higher concentration of poor students, but there are great kids and families here, and I have no doubt my daughter is receiving as strong an education as her friends in private, parochial and homeschool environments.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted August 11, 2005

I love Highlands School. I am a 35 year old father of 2 girls attending Highlands. I believe the school is small enough for focused attention but diverse enough to give children a complete elementary education. I went to Highlands when I was young and a lot has changed and some has stayed the same. The school has improved dramtically but the culture of closeness and being a neighborhood school remains. Technology, facilities and a first rate staff has brought this school to the forefront in Red Clay.
—Submitted by Chris, a parent


Community ratings and reviews do not represent the views of GreatSchools nor does GreatSchools check their accuracy or verify the reviewers' identities. Use your discretion when evaluating these reviews.

About these ratings

The Community Rating is the school’s average rating from its community members (e.g., parents, students, and school staff). The highest possible rating is five stars; the lowest is one star.

The test results by subgroup show how the designated group of students is performing in comparison to the general population.
Math

The state average for Math was 88% in 2009.

45 students were tested at this school in 2009.

2009

 
 
78%

2008

 
 
89%

2007

 
 
88%
Reading

The state average for Reading was 85% in 2009.

39 students were tested at this school in 2009.

2009

 
 
64%

2008

 
 
78%

2007

 
 
68%
Scale: % meeting or exceeding standards

About the tests


In 2008-2009 Delaware used the Delaware Student Testing Program (DSTP) to test students in reading and math in grades 2 through 10, in writing in grades 3 through 10, and in science and social studies in grades 4, 6, 8 and 11. The scores for social studies in grades 4 and 6 are not shown on GreatSchools profiles. The DSTP is a standards-based test, which means it measures specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Delaware. The goal is for all students to score at or above the state standard.

See Delaware's state standards

Source: Delaware Department of Education

Math

The state average for Math was 78% in 2009.

62 students were tested at this school in 2009.

2009

 
 
63%

2008

 
 
55%

2007

 
 
53%
Reading

The state average for Reading was 81% in 2009.

55 students were tested at this school in 2009.

2009

 
 
64%

2008

 
 
48%

2007

 
 
64%
Writing

The state average for Writing was 45% in 2008.

74 students were tested at this school in 2008.

2008

 
 
9%

2007

 
 
44%
Scale: % meeting or exceeding standards

About the tests


In 2008-2009 Delaware used the Delaware Student Testing Program (DSTP) to test students in reading and math in grades 2 through 10, in writing in grades 3 through 10, and in science and social studies in grades 4, 6, 8 and 11. The scores for social studies in grades 4 and 6 are not shown on GreatSchools profiles. The DSTP is a standards-based test, which means it measures specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Delaware. The goal is for all students to score at or above the state standard.

See Delaware's state standards

Source: Delaware Department of Education

Math

The state average for Math was 77% in 2009.

61 students were tested at this school in 2009.

2009

 
 
62%

2008

 
 
49%

2007

 
 
62%
Reading

The state average for Reading was 82% in 2009.

54 students were tested at this school in 2009.

2009

 
 
76%

2008

 
 
61%

2007

 
 
70%
Writing

The state average for Writing was 66% in 2008.

89 students were tested at this school in 2008.

2008

 
 
33%

2007

 
 
31%
Scale: % meeting or exceeding standards

About the tests


In 2008-2009 Delaware used the Delaware Student Testing Program (DSTP) to test students in reading and math in grades 2 through 10, in writing in grades 3 through 10, and in science and social studies in grades 4, 6, 8 and 11. The scores for social studies in grades 4 and 6 are not shown on GreatSchools profiles. The DSTP is a standards-based test, which means it measures specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Delaware. The goal is for all students to score at or above the state standard.

See Delaware's state standards

Source: Delaware Department of Education

Math

The state average for Math was 77% in 2009.

77 students were tested at this school in 2009.

2009

 
 
58%

2008

 
 
69%

2007

 
 
48%
Reading

The state average for Reading was 85% in 2009.

60 students were tested at this school in 2009.

2009

 
 
72%

2008

 
 
80%

2007

 
 
73%
Writing

The state average for Writing was 60% in 2009.

77 students were tested at this school in 2009.

2009

 
 
32%

2008

 
 
34%

2007

 
 
57%
Scale: % meeting or exceeding standards

About the tests


In 2008-2009 Delaware used the Delaware Student Testing Program (DSTP) to test students in reading and math in grades 2 through 10, in writing in grades 3 through 10, and in science and social studies in grades 4, 6, 8 and 11. The scores for social studies in grades 4 and 6 are not shown on GreatSchools profiles. The DSTP is a standards-based test, which means it measures specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Delaware. The goal is for all students to score at or above the state standard.

See Delaware's state standards

Source: Delaware Department of Education

Math

All Students78%
Female73%
Male83%
African American74%
Asiann/a
Hispanicn/a
Whiten/a
Low socioeconomic status76%
Not economically disadvantagedn/a
Title I78%
Special edn/a
Regular ed79%
English language learners (ELL)n/a
Proficient in English77%
Not migrant78%

Reading

All Students64%
Female71%
Male56%
African American64%
Asiann/a
Hispanicn/a
Whiten/a
Low socioeconomic status63%
Not economically disadvantagedn/a
Title I64%
Special edn/a
Regular ed64%
English language learners (ELL)n/a
Proficient in English66%
Not migrant64%
Scale: % meeting or exceeding standards

About the tests


In 2008-2009 Delaware used the Delaware Student Testing Program (DSTP) to test students in reading and math in grades 2 through 10, in writing in grades 3 through 10, and in science and social studies in grades 4, 6, 8 and 11. The scores for social studies in grades 4 and 6 are not shown on GreatSchools profiles. The DSTP is a standards-based test, which means it measures specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Delaware. The goal is for all students to score at or above the state standard.

The different student groups are identified by the Delaware Department of Education. If there are fewer than 15 students in a particular group, the state doesn't report data for that group.

See Delaware's state standards

Source: Delaware Department of Education

Math

All Students63%
Female75%
Male53%
African American50%
Asiann/a
Hispanic69%
Whiten/a
Low socioeconomic status61%
Not economically disadvantagedn/a
Title I63%
Special edn/a
Regular ed65%
English language learners (ELL)n/a
Proficient in English63%
Not migrant63%

Reading

All Students64%
Female73%
Male55%
African American52%
Asiann/a
Hispanicn/a
Whiten/a
Low socioeconomic status62%
Not economically disadvantagedn/a
Title I64%
Regular ed64%
English language learners (ELL)n/a
Proficient in English63%
Not migrant64%
Scale: % meeting or exceeding standards

About the tests


In 2008-2009 Delaware used the Delaware Student Testing Program (DSTP) to test students in reading and math in grades 2 through 10, in writing in grades 3 through 10, and in science and social studies in grades 4, 6, 8 and 11. The scores for social studies in grades 4 and 6 are not shown on GreatSchools profiles. The DSTP is a standards-based test, which means it measures specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Delaware. The goal is for all students to score at or above the state standard.

The different student groups are identified by the Delaware Department of Education. If there are fewer than 15 students in a particular group, the state doesn't report data for that group.

See Delaware's state standards

Source: Delaware Department of Education

Math

All Students62%
Female55%
Male69%
African American45%
Asiann/a
Hispanicn/a
White87%
Low socioeconomic status56%
Not economically disadvantaged75%
Title I62%
Special edn/a
Regular ed72%
English language learners (ELL)n/a
Proficient in English65%
Not migrant62%

Reading

All Students76%
Female77%
Male75%
African American59%
Asiann/a
Hispanicn/a
White93%
Low socioeconomic status71%
Not economically disadvantaged85%
Title I76%
Special edn/a
Regular ed77%
English language learners (ELL)n/a
Proficient in English75%
Not migrant76%
Scale: % meeting or exceeding standards

About the tests


In 2008-2009 Delaware used the Delaware Student Testing Program (DSTP) to test students in reading and math in grades 2 through 10, in writing in grades 3 through 10, and in science and social studies in grades 4, 6, 8 and 11. The scores for social studies in grades 4 and 6 are not shown on GreatSchools profiles. The DSTP is a standards-based test, which means it measures specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Delaware. The goal is for all students to score at or above the state standard.

The different student groups are identified by the Delaware Department of Education. If there are fewer than 15 students in a particular group, the state doesn't report data for that group.

See Delaware's state standards

Source: Delaware Department of Education

Math

All Students58%
Female61%
Male57%
African American50%
Asiann/a
Hispanicn/a
White80%
Low socioeconomic status51%
Not economically disadvantaged77%
Title I58%
Special ed18%
Regular ed70%
English language learners (ELL)n/a
Proficient in English58%
Not migrant58%

Reading

All Students72%
Female69%
Male74%
African American64%
Asiann/a
Hispanicn/a
White87%
Low socioeconomic status69%
Not economically disadvantaged78%
Title I72%
Special edn/a
Regular ed72%
English language learners (ELL)n/a
Proficient in English72%
Not migrant72%

Writing

All Students32%
Female48%
Male20%
African American31%
Asiann/a
Hispanicn/a
White40%
Low socioeconomic status31%
Not economically disadvantaged36%
Title I32%
Special ed<5%
Regular ed42%
English language learners (ELL)n/a
Proficient in English32%
Not migrant32%
Scale: % meeting or exceeding standards

About the tests


In 2008-2009 Delaware used the Delaware Student Testing Program (DSTP) to test students in reading and math in grades 2 through 10, in writing in grades 3 through 10, and in science and social studies in grades 4, 6, 8 and 11. The scores for social studies in grades 4 and 6 are not shown on GreatSchools profiles. The DSTP is a standards-based test, which means it measures specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Delaware. The goal is for all students to score at or above the state standard.

The different student groups are identified by the Delaware Department of Education. If there are fewer than 15 students in a particular group, the state doesn't report data for that group.

See Delaware's state standards

Source: Delaware Department of Education

Breaking down the GreatSchools Rating

GreatSchools Ratings are based on the most recent standardized test results for schools. Use the breakdown ratings below to compare types of students at this school. Learn more »


Student ethnicity

Ethnicity This school State average
Black 55% 33%
Hispanic 22% 11%
White 21% 52%
Asian/Pacific Islander 2% 3%
American Indian/Alaska Native N/A 0%
Source: NCES, 2008-2009

Student subgroups

  This school District averageState average
Students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch program 72%N/A40%
Source: NCES, 2008-2009

Student-teacher ratio

  This school District averageState average
Students per FTE teacher 17N/A15
Source: NCES, 2008-2009
Notice an inaccuracy? Let us know!

2100 Gilpin Ave
Wilmington, DE 19806
Phone: (302) 651-2715

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