Hackberry Hill Elementary School

7300 West 76th Avenue

School District

Jeffco Public Schools
Grade

K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:16
Type

public

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by parent on January 29, 2025

I can't say enough good about Hackberry! It is student-centered, it's small & has a strong community feel. The teachers know all the students by name (even students not in their own classes). The teachers are a tight-knit group of people who contribute greatly to the cohesiveness of the school. There are only three classes per grade, allowing the students from each grade to really get to know each other, with the odds of students in each grade being in each other's class at some point during their Hackberry experience. Hackberry is great with Gifted & Talented students (one of the three classes per grade is a GT classroom, with most students being together from 1st-5th grade because of the nature of GT). Hackberry is also great with students with special needs. The building is old & yet that's part of why it's such an amazing school. They've been around a long time and have really figured things out. Quite a few students choice in and drive to Hackberry, and parents are highly involved. When we attended our first Welcome to Hackberry night in the spring before we started there, we were amazed and knew immediately it was the school for us. We felt abundantly welcomed. Then when we attended the Fall Fest, there were kids laughing all around us and there was a carefree feeling we hadn't felt at our prior school. The majority of parents attend the fall fest and it has a family reunion feel to it. Hackberry has great balance...good academics, good student support, great admin, great social-emotional support for students, good diversity, and plenty of hands-on parents. Our only regret is not starting at Hackberry sooner because it's the best elementary school in Arvada. We LOVE Hackberry!
Submitted by parent on April 13, 2024

From my observation as a parent over the years, Hackberry Hill Elementary School is a public school with people who are trying their best and understandably burning out on all fronts trying. That is the case for the community as a whole, sans some select high elite families. There's wealthy transplants gentrifying the area and beyond. The out of touch school board has been failing for years (seek and find data on their progress). It's most recent botch has been by closing over two handfuls of district schools. The entire community, especially the most vulnerable (caretakers and the students) suffer immeasurable daily stresses from things like unemployment, overcrowded classrooms, schoolyards, parking lots, and routes of transport to schools. As a person who grew up poor, now a GT parent, I'm convinced that housing a GT Center within a title I school is pure mockery, it's demoralizing to those who need financial support. Sure, offering gift cards at X-Mas time, and offloading some free bikes to a few will gain the PTA President some publicity points but it doesn't help real people with real struggles on the regular. Maybe consider that at the next golf course mixer, or before showcasing your cultural heritage of excessive wine consumption on the Hackberry PTA website. Welcome to Arvada, it doesn't feel like my hometown anymore, it feels like the People's Zoo and the schoolyard at Hackberry is one of it's giant exhibits. FYI, the other schools are equivalently jammed as well. To the high elite in our community: time to prove your worthiness as genuine human beings raising the future. Time to touch the ground with your own two feet from your high horses.
Submitted by parent on November 10, 2023

If not affluent, the parent base is struggling. The community at Hackberry is no exception to this external factor. Pick-up and drop-off are cringeworthy due to overcrowding and low parent morale. Aside from that, Hackberry is a magnet school for good reason. Internally, the faculty and staff are compassionate and work very hard to support every child's needs. The curriculum is well adjusted. For internal reasons, I really wish I could recommend this school but I'm becoming apathetic over the daily nightmare our school parent base presents to me. The district can't provide a big enough parking lot, therefore the villagers are unhappy. The least they could do is cap off the enrollment next year!
Submitted by parent on September 28, 2023

My kids landed here after our home school closed and it has been a very positive experience. The teachers have been responsive to emails & questions about the kids’ learning and the school’s focus on recognizing positive behavior is fantastic
Submitted by other on September 26, 2023

I had fun here, all of the teachers were kind and i had very few problems, and I learned so much! I may be in middle school, but I still go back to the playground when I'm upset or mad, and I am going to try to visit from time to time.
Submitted by parent on January 22, 2023

This school is absolutely wonderful and has been for generations. The teachers are outstanding. Our family has attended this school for nearly 10 years. My spouse and brothers are all alumni. It’s an incredible school and supportive community!!
Submitted by parent on January 21, 2023

We have experienced having a student on an IEP as well as 1 in the GT program and believe that this is a school full of educators and administrators that do everything they can to help students succeed and meet them where they’re at. At our previous school we felt there was a lack of community and are so glad we moved over to Hackberry. There is a very involved PTA that works hard to be inclusive and drama-free while providing opportunities for all families to gather and build connections, despite the challenges of post-pandemic life and the divisions and loss that time period created. Of course no school is perfect, but we have found that any issues we’ve had have been handled quickly and fairly by administrators who have the best intentions.
Submitted by parent on November 07, 2022

This is our first year at Hackberry and even though academically it was the correct move for our child, everything else has been a nightmare! The staff is rude, unkind, and unwilling to communicate about anything! Unless you are rich or a PTA Mom; your child means nothing. And you are made to feel like nothing as their parent, even though you volunteer and your child is performing in the top 95% of her class and achieved awards, neither of you matter. The principal won't even look in your direction if you are not apart of the PTA, again you don't matter. The front office gives you the death stare every time you enter the building TO VOLUNTEER at the school. The environment has been so unwelcoming and rude to our entire family. Don't even get me started on the after school activities.... Please explain to me how anyone normal, working class home with children can afford after school programs that exceed over $150??? So again unless you are rich and apart of the PTA you will not be welcomed, nor will your child be able to participate in almost anything! I wish anyone that is sending their child here luck. You think you are doing it for the right reasons, to help their education, well I can honestly say I don't think it was worth it.
Submitted by parent on July 14, 2021

Teachers are unwilling to keep up with changing trends in education and there doesn't seem to be any sense of urgency to improve from the principal. If your child is not in a GT program, do not send them to Hackberry. It's a great school for already privileged children. If you need any real support or want your child to have a diverse education, I would not recommend Hackberry.
Submitted by parent on July 17, 2020

fine. We have had a good experience in the year we have been there.
Submitted by parent on May 10, 2019

If I could give this school no stars I would. My 3rd grader started at the start of school in 2018 and it has been a nightmare! She has been bullied almost every day. I've had multiple meetings with the principal/teacher and even spoke with the superintendent but nothing has changed. She has been physically assaulted by a boy multiple times and we had a problem with other girls pulling at her clothing/jewelry to the point of damaging clothes and ripping a necklace off of her body. She did defend herself once but received an in school suspension for doing so. The last time I spoke to the principal he said my child was lying. I have personally watched the bullying happen and it makes me sick. I cannot believe this staff is letting my little girl continue to be bullied like this! Do not send your children here if you hope to have your children protected, this staff will not provide safety from other students.
Submitted by parent on July 19, 2017

My son just finished Kindergarten. He is entering first grade Hackberry. Teacher and staff are very helpful . Each teacher cares deeply about the kids and brings enthusiasm and experience to the classroom.
Submitted by parent on December 11, 2016

Teachers and staff are amazing. My kids are very happy to be at Hackberry.
Submitted by parent on August 16, 2016

One of best Elementary schools.My daughter went there from kindergarten to 6th grade in the GT program. Great teachers
Submitted by parent on October 16, 2013

My daughter went to Hackberry Hill for six years. It was an amazing experience and prepared her for the transition to middle school. While we were pleased with all of her teachers, the music teacher is outstanding. Ms. Mogan instills a love of music into all of her students.
Submitted by parent on August 04, 2013

Last year was a rough year for HH: there has been "acting principals" assigned to HH due to Mr. Blair's promotion and health concerns of the previous incoming principal who had been expected to stay. There was also a spike in enrollment numbers, which was challenging. That written, I am still so impressed with the HH faculty. The music, art, and homeroom teachers have I meant over the last 3 years and two children are dedicated and highly qualified. My kids have fortunately not been bullied there, as far as I am aware; hopefully with the new principal, we will have more stability in the HH social environment and better crack down of any bullying.
Submitted by parent on April 01, 2013

The GT Center at HH has done wonderful things for our kids. The growth we've seen in them is nothing short of amazing. Instead of daily worksheets for homework, they often have projects in which they study in depth a topic and learn so much more. The teachers are caring and are very receptive to parental input. There have been many principals, but one has been chosen and is expected to add a sense of stability to the school. The music program with Sue Mogan and Amy Woodley is top notch. The PTA is so open and appreciative of parental involvement. There are so many extracurricular activities: Oral Interpretation, Geography Bee, Spelling Bee, Reflections, Science Fair, Talent Show, etc. Our kids couldn't be happier at Hackberry.
Submitted by parent on March 31, 2013

The only good thing about this school is the music program. They have had 5 different principals in the last 5 years, and they can't seem to get their act together since Mr. Blair left. They do not communicate very well, homework is a joke, and they don't provide a bully safe environment for the kids. If a child is a bully, they learn how to perfect the bullying behavior there and are not held accountable. The GT program is what I would consider a regular education and not a Gifted one. The homework they get is a couple of worksheets a week in their Friday folder and it doesn't give the children the reinforcement they need for what they are learning in class. The teachers also don't communicate what they are teaching unless you are physically able to come volunteer in the classroom itself. Some of us cannot do that. They are also not very effective in using the available resources of parent volunteers. Even if we can't come into the classroom, we want to volunteer, but there are no opportunities for us to do so. Overall, if you have a GT kid, take them to a charter or homeschool them. They won't get any better education here than at any other public school.