Highland Elementary School

My oldest son has been at Highland for 4 years and my middle child just one year. We have had a wonderful experience with Highland. I've heard some of the negative things that people have said but I can only speak from personal experience and the truth is that we have never had any issues. My kids love their teachers. The principal is a little strict but that is not a bad thing considering that the principal before her was a little too relaxed. My oldest son has thrived academically there while my younger child has had a little harder time. We will be moving away this year and I'm very sad to leave.
—Submitted by a parent

My children have been at this school for the past three years and I am sorry that we will be moving away this year. After reading a number of the reviews posted here, many of which shocked me, I realized they are all over a year old. Yes, the school has some issues, what school doesn't. There are good teachers and bad teachers. Just like good students and bad students and good parents, bad parents. Highland has a healthy mix of all those and everything in between. Between my three kids, over the course of three years (3rd-5th, 1st-3rd and a current kindergartener) we've had 9 teachers at this school. I have enjoyed all of them, as have my kids. The school has been transitioning to the common core curriculum the past year, which I think they've struggled with, but it's a big change. We also got a new principal last year (2011-2012), Mrs. Miller runs a tight ship. All in all, I like Highland. My kids like Highland. It doesn't offer a lot of other extracurricular activities, but what it does have is done well. I would recommend this school to anyone!
—Submitted by a parent

Unless your child is completely normal with no issues whatsoever, do not send them to school here. My son has speech and sensory issues and I am struggling to get the help that he needs because they are unwilling to work with us. Some of the teachers need to learn how to act like human beings and have some compassion towards their students with special needs. Teachers and the principal are almost impossible to get a hold of when you need them, but are more than willing to call every day and tell you how awful your child is being. They have even made me pick him up early for behavior issues, but are dragging their feet on evaluating him for extra help. Worst. School. Ever.
—Submitted by a parent

We are very happy with this school and the support it's showing our children. It is academicaly challenging and my kids are always happy about their day. The communication with their teachers has been great and their new principal is very motivated and involved. The only thing I am not crazy about is the nutritional value of the school lunch, but I think that is a given for most schools and it's easier to just pack your own. Overall, we are very happy and excited about the rest of the year!!
—Submitted by a parent

This is the worst school i have ever seen in my life! The teachers are rude, disrespectful and down right unprofecional!!! My children are in kindergarden and first grade. they are not learning like they should, but i have no problem teaching my kids! The teaches have gone as far as scraming in my childs faces and sticking them in corners away from the rest of the class so they have no contact with there peers!!!! there undermine me as a parent infront of the class and other parents...they even try to get in to confrintations with me infrom of students..they dont return my call EVER they dont even grade half of my kids work... i hate this school and you'd be smart not to EVER send your kids to this school....i will be doing my best to get my kids out!!!!!!!!!
—Submitted by a parent

I do not understand how staff is hired at this school. Do they even do background checks??? I am not at all happy with this school. If you spend some time listening to your child they tell you what the other children do. The teachers do not correct the problem at all. Kids touching other kids privates should not be tolerated!!!!!!!
—Submitted by a parent

I love Highland Elementary! My daughter has been in this school for the past 2 years and she's really loving it! She has not missed a day of school, she is eager to wake up every morning and head out on that school bus! Her teachers are so sweet and generous, I volunteer twice a week so I see what goes on and I am VERY happy with the way they teach the kids. They're stern when they need to be and loving when they need to be. My daughter reads and writes way beyond her grade level and I know its because of her teachers. I am not looking forward to PCSing as we would miss this school very much! I too, think that the cafeteria is well organized at lunch time :)
—Submitted by a parent

My son went to this school for Kindergarten and 1st grade. I am sorry to leave this school! His teachers have been incredible and the office staff is great! Everyone that I have met at this school seems very involved and willing to work with parents who are also involved! My son is an advanced reader and they have taken strides to accomodate his forward momentum in reading and writing even though there is no expectation for T&G students of his age. I love Highland! We are only leaving it because we are PCSing! I highly recommend this school.
—Submitted by a parent

After reading the reviews it seems like the easy solution for many of the parents complaining would be to request more communication. I've been there at lunch, yes there are many classes, but supervision is present and the process is well organized. As far as parties and awards, we've always been well informed...as long as you read your child's agenda and check her homework folder. The information is there. Entering this school, we had high expectations for our daughter's learning...and we haven't been disappointed. Her teachers have given her tasks at first grade levels when she found K work too easy. My only gripe is that they do not have an accelerated program for students under 3rd grade. Overall it's a great school.
—Submitted by a parent

Out of all the schools I have been to- this one is by far the worse school. Even if the school is over populated there is no reason for not returning phone call or answering concerns! I volunteer and I am at the school 3 days a week so I am involved and it is discouraging to see the mess at the school.For all you parents with children there please know that during lunch time in the 2007-2008 school year your child eats with 11 OTHER classes with only 2-4 (at most on a great day) staff members supervising all the children! There is so much potential if you just had the correct staff and communication! Now I have had one teacher this year that has stood out and is SUPER! If I had not been there I would have never known the stuff I do!
—Submitted by a parent

This is our third year here and we enjoy Highland. We have been fortunate to have excellent teachers with whom we communicate. The school has implemented different learning tools to help the population succeed. The Principal is strict, concerned only with the students achievement and safety and I applaud him. Highland is the largest elementary school in the district, as big as a high school.
—Submitted by a parent

I would not recommend Highland Elementary to any parent of a disabled child. The principle seemed to be genuinely concerned. He treated our child respectably. Unfortunately I can not say that for many other members of the staff at Highland. Highland never returned phone calls or emails.
—Submitted by a parent

This is our first year at this particular school and I am dismayed at our experience so far. We work with our children at home to guarantee their educational success. They have clearly shown us that they do not care, and have added undue stress on our child without hesitation or consern for the student's well being. We have been and will continue to take every effort to correct this within the school for our own child's safety, education, and well being,but I'm beginning to feel our efforts will be in vain due to the lack of cooperation from the school.
—Submitted by Highland Mom, a parent

I have had children attend Highland since it has opened, but I did not and do not have the same issues that some of the other parents have. I am a parent who is involved in my children's education and I know that it takes the teacher and the parents working together to help the child succeed. Highland made school of Distinction the first 3 years that it was open, despite the student population growing. Yes the classes are larger than the Administration or the teachers would like it to be, but you can not blame that on the school. My children have had very caring teachers who informed me when my children needed extra help in an area. I think Highland is one of the best schools in the area. I want to see how well the other school do we they have over 1100 students.
—Submitted by a parent

I have had children at Highland Elementary since it first opened and have not been happy with the progress...it seems to be going down hill every year. The staff is rude....the teachers do not care about the children like they claim. Their solution to a child not learning is blaming it on the child not willing to learn and reataining them year after year. The class size is too big to pay adequate attention to any child falling behind. They do not offer any kind of Tutoring for younger children below 3rd grade....and do not teach at grade level. They have failed to make the No School Left Behind Grade for two years in a row and you can bet that now I have to chance to move my children to a different school.... I am moving them ASAP and giving another school the chance to teach my children what Highland Elementary could not.
—Submitted by a parent

The 2007 year has brought dismay to parents and the children. Our math scores from this years EOG are continuing to drop. Anyone with a mindset, including Administration, should see the last two years are the cause of too many sub's and not sufficiently spending instruction time on math covered in the EOG. No child left behind is a joke and teaching the test is all we do! Quit telling our kids to do page so and so and teach them how to do it. We all wonder why NC schools are so far behind the curve. Raising teachers requirements won't help anyone can have book sense, but no common sense. My child is not a problem child like most parents that complain. I am just sick of the sweep it under the rug good 'ole boy system in Harnett County!
—Submitted by a teacher

My two children have been attending this school for the last three years. Sadly, our military tour is up and it's time to move again. Before we moved here my husband did his homework and choose this school.It has grown an incredible amount with the new housing around it. Many of my friends have taken their children out and sent them to private schools this year. I chose not to because I believe the school is a great school just overcrowded. However, when I asked my kids if they ever felt there were too many kids they did say yes. There are too many modulars and the student teacher ratio troubles me. Despite that one area, they are with a staff of friendly caring adults and I wouldn't change that. Overcrowding is a big concern but they are doing the very best they can and my kids love it.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter is in Kindergarten, has a new teacher and is in a modular building. I cried the day I found out. Today, I could not be happier for all of those things. The level of communication between her teacher, teacher s assistant and our family is wonderful. The amount of homework, although exhausting at times, is helping my child prepare to compete in the world. My daughter s teacher has been attentive to her academic prowess and has sent home additional work as she master s tasks. The only thing I would like to see is the inclusion of foreign language 20 minutes a day, three days a week. The school is dealing with overcrowded-ness just as every other school in communities across the state. Allowing builders to come in, throw up homes, profit enormously and leave without paying towards building a new school is the big issue.
—Submitted by a parent

My oldest kids have attended Highland Elementary since they opened and we can t be happier with the quality of education that they receive at Highland. The staff is great and my kids have lots of fun while they learn, they love their teachers. Before settling at Highland my kids attended different schools and none of them provided the great facilities and had a curriculum that stimulated them the way that Highland does. I have not seen any elementary school that has a computer lab and actually encourage kids to learn like Highland does. Also, the principal is very attentive and open to parents. As a matter of fact I have friends that bought their houses in this school district just to send their kids to Highland Elementary. Overall, I will highly recommend Highland Elementary to any parent.
—Submitted by a parent

I have one child who currently attend Highland and I feel the school is set up to promote and enhance the intrest of some students over others. I have never witnessed so much favortism in one school. I pray my child will be allowed to transfer to another school next year.
—Submitted by a parent