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GreatSchools Rating

Highlands Elementary School

Public | PK-4 | 680 students

Last modified
Community Rating

3 stars

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

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6 reviews of this school


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Posted May 27, 2012

I am not impressed with the school at all. I feel that the school lacks structure and organization.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted December 13, 2006

The quality of education has not been consistent.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted May 10, 2006

The Content Mastery program at Highlands has been a very supportive and positive influence on my daughter who has gone there from Pre-K to 4th grade. From speech, to one on one attention, weekly counseling, the entire support system for the children is phenomenal.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted January 10, 2006

My kids are doing well, but I have had some heartburn in the past about the amount of homework that my kids seem to bring home. I feel that it is a little much that my kids bring home an hour of homework almost every night and sometimes as much as 2 to 3 hours worth. On nights that they have after school activities, they are very stressed out, when they should be enjoying themselves. Also, in my honest opinion, it is ridiculous to assign a 100+ question homework packet over the holidays. I am happy my kids are doing well, but I honestly did not have the amount of homework they have now when I was going through high school. What is the balance between keeping a child engaged in the education process and burning them out with too much homework? I don't pretend to have the answer, though.
—Submitted by Tony George, a parent


Posted September 27, 2005

the quality of academics is very good. the availability of music, art, and other extra curricular activities is very good. parent involvement is high.
—Submitted by j, a parent


Posted November 3, 2004

The school is run very orderly. However,it seems that fundraising takes precedence over children's health and safety. Also, some of the teachers do a lot of shouting at the kids and don't seem to have much patience. Not a very caring atmosphere.
—Submitted by 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 87% in 2011.

94 students were tested at this school in 2011.

2011

 
 
90%

2010

 
 
83%

2009

 
 
78%

2008

 
 
79%
Reading

The state average for Reading was 89% in 2011.

70 students were tested at this school in 2011.

2011

 
 
89%

2010

 
 
88%

2009

 
 
88%

2008

 
 
91%
Scale: % meeting or exceeding standards

About the tests


In 2010-2011, the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) was used to test students in reading in grades 3 through 9; in writing in grades 4 and 7; in English language arts in grades 10 and 11; in mathematics in grades 3 through 11; in science in grades 5, 8, 10 and 11; and in social studies in grades 8, 10 and 11. TAKS is a standards-based test, which means it measures how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Texas. The grade 11 Exit Level TAKS is a high school graduation requirement. The goal is for all students to score at or above the state standard.

See Texas' state standards

Source: Texas Education Agency

Math

The state average for Math was 88% in 2011.

136 students were tested at this school in 2011.

2011

 
 
96%

2010

 
 
79%

2009

 
 
81%

2008

 
 
67%
Reading

The state average for Reading was 85% in 2011.

132 students were tested at this school in 2011.

2011

 
 
86%

2010

 
 
84%

2009

 
 
85%

2008

 
 
75%
Writing

The state average for Writing was 90% in 2011.

132 students were tested at this school in 2011.

2011

 
 
98%

2010

 
 
95%

2009

 
 
92%

2008

 
 
90%
Scale: % meeting or exceeding standards

About the tests


In 2010-2011, the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) was used to test students in reading in grades 3 through 9; in writing in grades 4 and 7; in English language arts in grades 10 and 11; in mathematics in grades 3 through 11; in science in grades 5, 8, 10 and 11; and in social studies in grades 8, 10 and 11. TAKS is a standards-based test, which means it measures how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Texas. The grade 11 Exit Level TAKS is a high school graduation requirement. The goal is for all students to score at or above the state standard.

See Texas' state standards

Source: Texas Education Agency

Math

All Students90%
Female88%
Male93%
Black or African American88%
Asiann/a
Hispanic97%
American Indian or Alaska Nativen/a
White71%
Economically disadvantaged91%
Not economically disadvantaged88%
Special education89%
Not special education91%
Limited English proficient (LEP)93%
Proficient in English89%
Migrantn/a
Non-migrant90%
Gifted/talentedn/a

Reading

All Students89%
Female85%
Male92%
Black or African American87%
Asiann/a
Hispanic100%
American Indian or Alaska Nativen/a
White100%
Economically disadvantaged89%
Not economically disadvantaged86%
Special education88%
Not special education89%
Limited English proficient (LEP)n/a
Proficient in English89%
Migrantn/a
Non-migrant89%
Gifted/talentedn/a
Scale: % meeting or exceeding standards

About the tests


In 2010-2011, the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) was used to test students in reading in grades 3 through 9; in writing in grades 4 and 7; in English language arts in grades 10 and 11; in mathematics in grades 3 through 11; in science in grades 5, 8, 10 and 11; and in social studies in grades 8, 10 and 11. TAKS is a standards-based test, which means it measures how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Texas. The grade 11 Exit Level TAKS is a high school graduation requirement. The goal is for all students to score at or above the state standard.

The different student groups are identified by the Texas Education Agency; if there are a small number of students in a particular group, the state doesn't report data for that group.

See Texas' state standards

Source: Texas Education Agency

Math

All Students96%
Female96%
Male95%
Black or African American93%
Asiann/a
Hispanic98%
American Indian or Alaska Nativen/a
White100%
Economically disadvantaged99%
Not economically disadvantaged86%
Special education100%
Not special education95%
Limited English proficient (LEP)94%
Proficient in English95%
Migrantn/a
Non-migrant96%
Gifted/talentedn/a

Reading

All Students86%
Female92%
Male80%
Black or African American84%
Asiann/a
Hispanic88%
American Indian or Alaska Nativen/a
White91%
Economically disadvantaged91%
Not economically disadvantaged74%
Special education86%
Not special education86%
Limited English proficient (LEP)85%
Proficient in English86%
Migrantn/a
Non-migrant86%
Gifted/talentedn/a

Writing

All Students98%
Female98%
Male97%
Black or African American99%
Asiann/a
Hispanic98%
American Indian or Alaska Nativen/a
White91%
Economically disadvantaged99%
Not economically disadvantaged94%
Special education100%
Not special education98%
Limited English proficient (LEP)85%
Proficient in English99%
Migrantn/a
Non-migrant98%
Gifted/talentedn/a
Scale: % meeting or exceeding standards

About the tests


In 2010-2011, the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) was used to test students in reading in grades 3 through 9; in writing in grades 4 and 7; in English language arts in grades 10 and 11; in mathematics in grades 3 through 11; in science in grades 5, 8, 10 and 11; and in social studies in grades 8, 10 and 11. TAKS is a standards-based test, which means it measures how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Texas. The grade 11 Exit Level TAKS is a high school graduation requirement. The goal is for all students to score at or above the state standard.

The different student groups are identified by the Texas Education Agency; if there are a small number of students in a particular group, the state doesn't report data for that group.

See Texas' state standards

Source: Texas Education Agency

  • In 2010-2011, this school was rated "Exemplary".
  • In 2009-2010, this school was rated "Recognized".
  • In 2008-2009, this school was rated "Recognized".

About the tests


Texas uses Accountability Ratings to indicate the overall performance of each school and district. The ratings are based on TAKS test results, dropout rates for grades 7 and 8 and school completion rates for grades 9 through 12. Schools and districts rated under standard accountability procedures are designated as Exemplary, Recognized, Academically Acceptable or Academically Unacceptable. Schools and districts rated under alternative education accountability (AEA) procedures are designated as either AEA: Academically Acceptable or AEA: Academically Unacceptable.

See Texas' state standards

Source: Texas Education Agency

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 48% 14%
Hispanic 45% 48%
White 4% 34%
Asian/Pacific Islander 2% 4%
American Indian/Alaska Native 0% 0%
Source: NCES, 2008-2009

Student subgroups

  This school District averageState average
Special education 6%N/A10%
Gifted/talented students 0%N/A8%
Limited English proficient (LEP) 38%N/A17%
Economically disadvantaged 68%N/A55%
Source: TX Education Agency, 2007-2008

Student-teacher ratio

  This school District averageState average
Students per FTE teacher 18N/A15
Source: NCES, 2008-2009

Teacher experience

  This school District averageState average
Beginning teachers 22%N/A8%
1 to 5 years 31%N/A30%
6 to 10 years 16%N/A20%
11 to 20 years 22%N/A23%
21 or more years 9%N/A19%
Source: TX Education Agency, 2007-2008
Notice an inaccuracy? Let us know!

131 Sims Dr
Cedar Hill, TX 75104
Website: Click here
Phone: (972) 291-0496

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