Highlands Middle School

i am a student here and i think its a wonderful school. You make great friends and you can become friends with teachers. I enjoyed my years there i met many people to be with. Teachers are really wonderful. I love HMS. Can't wait to go there again for my next year there.
--Submitted by a student

My son has gone for 6th, 7th and is now in 8th at Highlands. I'm not thrilled with the Kennewick School District as a whole. A handfull of teachers at Highlands are wonderful. The rest are in need of improvement. Much of the problem is that there are just too many students for the teachers, but manytimes my son is taught the intire year by aids or students still in school working on their masters etc. I hear the kids using horrible language outside when I pick up my son occasionally and the dress code definately isn't inforced. The public school system in general is in need of much help. School is a scary place these days. Highlands just had a girl emergency expelled for writing a threatening message on the bathroom wall. The police canvased the campus the whole next day. HMS wouldn't tell us what the threat was!
--Submitted by a parent

This is a great school, my children are both in the enrichment program, and I have never had a problem with the school.
--Submitted by a parent

This school does an excellent job at helping it's students succeed. The principals do an amazing job with the children. Keep up the great work HMS.
--Submitted by a student

My daughter is a 6th grader. She's a good student and gets good grades, however I worry that she is not being taught at a challenging level. With all the low test scores, I fear the truly needy students get all of the attention and the others are just passed along. Most of teachers seem caring and deeply invested in the school and the kids. Some don't. I'm very torn about leaving her here for another 2 years. I want her to be challenged and learning not just treading along while the slower kids or ESL kids get all the focus.
--Submitted by a parent

They don't really have good teachers except for some. The rules aren't really enforced as much. Their discipline program 'Make Your Day' isn't working out very good for most of the kids. Over half of the students don't like MYD. Several articles have been printed in the newspaper stating kids's opinions. Not very many parents get involved with the school. A fair amount of extracurricular activities are available but they aren't what I would call great. The coaches are volunteer teachers. There is a lot of racism, bullying, and safety issues. A couple of students have been suspended/expelled for drug related issues. The dress code is never followed and the teachers do very little to try to enforce it .
--Submitted by a student

My son and myself have been very happy with Highlands Middle School. He will complete his second year there. He had previously attended Horse Heaven Hills and we decided to transfer to Highlands. We are impressed with the staff involvment in childrens education. Highlands is a good middle school and should be acknowledged for their hard work
--Submitted by a parent

This is a great school focused on helping students excel. The staff cares deeply about their students and works hard to maintain communication and positive relationships with parents. The arts programs are fun and exciting, the fieldtrips are meaningful, and the educational experience is well-rounded.
--Submitted by a parent

I'm a former student of Highlands Middle School and I loved being there. I had so much fun at that school. The classes were great. The assemblies were fun. The field trips were a blast. I would recommend going to this school. Its a great experience.
--Submitted by Ricki Roberts, a student

Not happy with school principal, though assistants are doing just great
--Submitted by a parent