Highland Park Elementary School

While I agree with some of the reviews about the cliquish feeling within the PTA (I felt that way, too), I have found as I have gotten to know people over the past 7 years at the school that the people in the PTA now are more inclusive than they seem. My advice would be to for volunteers to approach the PTA president if there is a committee or an event. It seems they are always trying to fill positions. The PTA does do a bunch of fundraising, but it also buys educational materials for the kids, supports the library and specials classes, supports the teachers, etc. I feel like that PTA support is what makes our kids breathe a little easier when standardized tests come around. The teachers don't have to teach to the test because they have other materials to use to teach the foundation kids need. As for academics, I have mixed feelings. It seems that the kids who are placed in the middle classes are not challenged enough. My child in the highest classes was challenged more. For the most part, I feel the kids get a good education. They do some great, really fun projects.
--Submitted by a parent

I love all the teachers that I have worked with as a parent. I don't like the entitlement of those who pay moeny for private parking spots and then are rude to other parents - in front of the children. Doesn't teach the children good values - and the PTA doesn't seem to mind as long as it brings in money. They sell parking spots, they sell passes so children can cut in line to games during Hoot. I don't understand how this reinforces any good values whatsoever. My parents attended Hoot and were mortified. Reviews are based on the lack of leadership of the principal and the PTA to practice what they preach.
--Submitted by a parent

This school is over-rated. It may have been great once, but that was some time ago. The principal has no idea what is happening in the classroom and seems out of touch. The "grouping by ability" is a joke as my son has experienced it first hand. He's never been challenged in 3 years and is bored in class most of the time. Teaching quality in my experience has been poor - I've seen lots of preference issues which other reviewers have already mentioned. They are correct. There is way too much emphasis on parent funding of special events. The school should be focused on the learning aspect. I am now looking at private schools.
--Submitted by a parent

Teaches entitlement while saying they promote "scottie" values. Raising money is key even if it means allow "rock star" kids whose parents have paid a lot of money to cut in line at the annual HOOT carnival. Kinder kids waited patiently in line while our future Wall Street jerks cut in line and played games over and over. Parents pay $20,000 a year for parking places. They don't practice what they preach. The teachers are great but values are important too and they are being lost by the actions of the PTA.
--Submitted by a parent

Lots of school spirit, plenty of money for extra programs. Education seems pretty good. Lots of emphasis on testing. Lots of emphasis on money and privilege. Too much fundraising -3 major events that the PTA strives to raise $50,000-$70,000 EACH event ask parents for $50-1500 sponsorship donations. They do help out students who can t afford things like $50 for trip to Sea World on a chartered bus for 1st graders (that's just one of the field trips).. Promotes entimtlement and they don t see it.. Worst example is raffle to be a Rock Start at the Halloween Carnival winner and 5 friends arrive in a limo and get to cut in line all night at the events and booths. Good character building for future real world execs and politicians I guess.
--Submitted by a parent

Great teachers, great students, great staff!!
--Submitted by a parent

I concur w/ the parent who says 'They monopolize the high-profile PTA jobs, while many parents put in time but are not recognized.' Not just PTA but homeroom parent positions too. Every yr, it's the same clique revolving the spots. The last two principals have been asleep at the wheel. They have done nothing but collect their paychecks. And if you think your children's getting a good education, think again. My child got straight a's, and a gt student, throughout his 6yrs at HP. When he got into middle school, he failed math and science for 2 straight yrs. We had to pay handsomely to the Sylvan learning ctr to teach him what was not taught at HP. if I were to do it again, I should have enrolled him in Kirby Hall.
--Submitted by a parent

Highland Park has benefitted from the energetic leadership of a new principal 2 years ago. One of the most challenging aspects of educating students at Highland Park is the matching the expectations of the parents at the school. My own children have benefitted from exceptional teachers. Inconsistencies across grade levels are being addressed with alignment initiatives, but progress does take time. Parents are quite involved yet the school is certainly not driven by parents as the previous reviewer suggests. Every staff member has extensive professional experience in education, including parents who have been hired to serve as staff. I have 2 HP graduates and one current student and am extremely satisfied with the quality of education at HP!
--Submitted by a parent

There's ability testing, and it's inconsistantly messured from grade to grade. There are children who are moved up to 'higher' classes based on their parents' involvement and popularity in the school, rather on their assesment scores. So the whole idea of seperating the children on skill level is a joke. Some parents have the attitudes that they own the school. They monopolize the high-profile PTA jobs, while many parents put in time but are not recognized. If you've done enough time on the PTA in the high-profile jobs long enough, you'll be hired on as a regular paid employee at our school! There's a lot of chronism based advancement, where the teachers and some parents are much too familiar, which leads to favoritism amongst certain students. The teachers are spoiled with gifts/money , but give nothing in return. We've had really great and poor teachers. 5th grade was terrible.
--Submitted by a parent

I was first attracted to this school because it supporting Levin's 'A Mind at a Time' which focuses on each individual child's differences, working on their strengths and not only putting the focus on their weakness. I was disappointed. My child not only lacked a challange in the area she was advanced in, but ended up in the lowests classes in the placement overall, with extra attention to her weakness in special ed, with teacher, Read, who was a waste of a year. Not only did my child not improve on her weak areas but she lost a lot of ground where she had been strong. I would not recommend this school. The principal is very nice but is not familiar enough with what's going on with the teachers in their classrooms. She should be more acquinted in this area.
--Submitted by a parent