Highland Park Elementary School

230 N COLE CT

School District

Gilbert Unified District
Grade

PK, K-6
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:18
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 March 06, 2024

Cannot say enough good about this school. Just walk through the halls and see the bright colorful murals and the happy faces of the staff to understand how amazing this school culture is. Just had my first IEP meeting and cried happy tears throughout it instead of sad angry tears. The teachers here care and are completely in it for the children’s education. Love this school!
Submitted by parent on May 23, 2022

This school is very clique-y. The teachers have a very toxic “behind the scenes” culture where they bad talk other students and parents and staff. Obviously this is not ALL teachers but a great majority are not truly for the students and helping their experience.
Submitted by parent on December 02, 2021

This is our second year at highland park. My child is thriving and really enjoys school. The culture at this school is warm and welcoming. The principal is incredibly friendly and helpful. Staff so far have been professional, informative, and a pleasure to be around when on campus.
Submitted by parent on November 18, 2021

We are in our third year at Highland Park and love it! The teachers are incredible and care so much about the kids and their education. The principal is very friendly and truly cares about making the school a great environment for all. I'd highly recommend Highland Park!
Submitted by parent on May 12, 2017

My kids have received a great education and have had a positive experience at school.
Submitted by parent on February 15, 2017

My oldest daughter started attending Highland Park Elementary in 3rd grade. She is now in eighth grade. That same year my second oldest daughter started Kindergarten at Highland Park Elementary. She is now in 5th grade at Highland Park Elementary. My oldest had a great time at Highland Park. She had a great time because she was easy to teach and to be around. She had many friends and got straight A's. She also had the best principal ever! The principal, Mr. Martin, was beyond wonderful! Every time I came on campus he made me and everyone there feel welcome. It was such a warm feeling. He made it all about the kids. He made it a school where kids felt safe, accepted, and loved. My younger daughter would run and give him a hug! My oldest graduated elementary school the same year Mr. Martin decided to work for the district. The new principal, Michel Mowery could care less about relationships with parents or the children. It is her way or the highway. She comes across as cold. The entire feel of the school has drastically changed. She does not make parents feel welcome on campus. Once she followed me into my daughter's classroom and asked me why I was there! Um....to see my daughter and what she is doing at school. I want to be involved in her education! She made me feel as though I was doing something wrong. She asked me, "Do you need to set up an appointment with the teachers?" It was so bizarre to me that she would follow me around as though I shouldn't be at my child's school. This is just as much my school as hers! The entire feeling of the school has changed. You do not feel uplifted when walking into the school. The teachers no longer seem happy. I think if they voted they would hands down want Mr. Martin back. Mrs. Mowery is not a fun person or a warm person which in turn has made the school have a very business- like, cold feeling to it. Worse than the principal, the 4th, 5th, and 6th graders have a schedule like junior high kids. It feels impossible as a parent to communicate or get to know the teachers. These kids are in elementary school! They should have one teacher that they feel comfortable with. My daughter does not feel comfortable with any of her teachers and she is scared of the principal. This should not be an elementary school kids experience! Also, she has struggled in school since the switching of classes. She never struggled before.
Submitted by parent on November 22, 2016

This school is amazing! My daughter previously attended a public school in Gilbert and a Charter School in Gilbert and we went through a lot of frustration in trying to help her with Dyslexia. This is our second year at Highland Park Elementary and I wish we had started at this school in Kindergarten - the teachers are amazing and really care about the students. I cannot stress how much I appreciate the communication from the school and my questions have been answered very quickly (usually same day). Our Resource Teacher has been a true blessing to my daughter. They have went above and beyond learning about Dyslexia. The teachers have restored my faith in the entire school system, I was at a point I thought home school was our only answer and I am so glad we decided to go to this school!
Submitted by parent on August 20, 2016

Highland Park is a school where kids are first! This means that they do what is right for kids every time regardless of the impact on adults! After all, as adults we already had our turn.
Submitted by parent on May 24, 2016

We go to school events & you get stared at & nobody talks to you not even the teachers your child has. They will be unsympathetic towards a child who has health & emotional struggles. My son has seen Neurologist, rheumatologist & worked with the school social worker & seen a councilor. I felt judged as mom & looked on as if I was failing. Whoever knows my son always says how respectful, kind & smart. Who received an academic award in school the year before and was in a accelerated program was viewed here as a burden and lazy. He is involved in sports, scouts, family activities & the people here made him feel bad about himself. He would have work in his bag graded & then I would see online that he got a 0 for it. This happened multiple times. They don't even keep track of graded paperwork properly. If the work is done in the folder then all I know is that its done, unless the teacher who should notify my as an fyi that my son has missing assignments. I should be notified especially when I send regular emails & they know I'm working with him. Which nobody cares until I email them. I would have to keep a bin of done work so when this happened he could take it back to school. I've never felt so upset on how my son was treated by grown women who are suppose to support, teach, inspire. Even those kids who struggle & feel like they don't belong. Not be picked on & excluded. Not to mention that in a entire year I had 1 parent teacher conference & if they were more I was never invited. The other school my son went to had 2 if not 3. And when my son doesn't have a trifold for his assignment & is told by the teacher " Wouldn't expect anything else" that is beyond uncalled for. If you have a problem then you contact me. You do not have full reign to make comments to my son to cut him down. My son has been picked on by adult women all year & then they wonder why he feels miserable, depressed, and unwelcomed. Or the time where my son got a concussion from falling off his bike on the way into school & was in the nurses office waiting (when they had no nurse) & they let him fall asleep while he was waiting for me to get there to pick him up. All these adults and nobody thought when they called to tell me that his words are slurrying and he was out of it that "hey we need to make sure he doesn't fall asleep"????? If you don't belong you wont be treated like you do, ever.
Submitted by parent on May 20, 2015

Every teacher we've had, we have loved. My kids have been very happy at this school.
Submitted by parent on March 29, 2015

Congratulations HPE for receiving the A+ School of Excellence designation from the Arizona Educational Foundation! It is an honor for my family to be a part of this school.
Submitted by parent on May 09, 2014

We are finishing our first year at HPE after transferring in from a highly ranked charter school. We are really happy here, primarily because of the campus culture. Some of our favorite school/community events: Walk to School Day, Fall Carnival, Evening of the Arts, Seussical the Musical (the music teacher is SO ambitious and my goodness, the kids really rise to the occasion), the art program is really sophisticated, the curriculum/homework is appropriate (we're just finishing kinder), they have a learning garden that's *actually used*!, Run for the Shade fundraiser, Holiday Shoppe (my kid was too excited to keep his presents for the family hidden till' Xmas), and fundraisers that haven't been overwhelming. Having come from an environment that put a big emphasis on working kids one year ahead and pushing homework, it is really important to consider the connection between how kids FEEL about school and their performance/stamina. I feel like my child has a lot of opportunities to feel connected to his teachers & campus and *have fun* at school, which is just as (if not more) important to his long-term success as test results, homework & curriculum.
Submitted by teacher on October 25, 2013

HPE strives to provide an exemplary education by challenging students in a warm, supportive environment. Through the teamwork of the staff, parents and PTSO, children are given the tools, love and support that are crucial to successful learning.
Submitted by teacher on October 24, 2013

Our school is amazing. I love how accepting, talented, and patient the teachers are with the kids. The principal is approachable and kind. It's a warm environment with rigorous academics.
Submitted by teacher on October 24, 2013

Highland Park expects high results from its students, and the students come through! It is an "A" school, and teachers take the time to make sure all students are progressing. It is an exemplary school when it comes to student behavior as well!
Submitted by teacher on October 24, 2013

Highland Park is a wonderful school, that provides a high standard of learning along with a nurturing, friendly environment.
Submitted by teacher on October 24, 2013

I have had the opportunity to work in many different schools during my career and have found Highland Park to be a favorite for many reasons. The staff is friendly and hard working. They continue learning through in-service training, Professional Learning Communities, workshops and university classes. They put children and their needs as their first priority. The administrators always make time to listen and deal with any concerns that may arise. The school has a well-deserved "A" rating and the students in general are high achievers. Art, PE and music are provided and all of these programs are of exceptional quality. The building is beautifully decorated and the children are proud of it. Highland Park has few problems with behavior. Parents are involved in their student's education and provide support to the school through the PTSO and numerous fund raising activities throughout the year. Highland Park is a great place to send your student to school.
Submitted by teacher on October 24, 2013

Highland Park Elementary has been a wonderful school to work at. We have been highly active in implementing the new standards, as well as are actively involved in the development of ELA units and math units.
Submitted by teacher on October 24, 2013

great people always have a smile. Very helpful students staff is fun to be around and work with.
Submitted by parent on August 23, 2013

We love Highland Park! Because it is a neighborhood school you get such a feeling of community. Everyone is happy and helpful. My kids love to walk or ride to school with dozens of others.