Huffman Elementary School

5510 Channel Isle Drive

School District

Plano Independent
Grade

PK, K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:11
Type

public

School Map for Plano Independent School District

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 other on May 07, 2024

Although this school is designated as an IB World school, which aims to promote a more peaceful world through understanding and respect, its practices starkly contradict these values. Under the leadership of the unprofessional principal, Jigyasa Sethi, the school environment adversely affects both staff morale and student well-being. Disciplinary actions such as making young children walk laps, isolating them during lunch ("lonely lunch"), and punitive responses to minor infractions undermine the principles of peace and respect the school claims to uphold. Moreover, the school's approach to handling concerns, such as calling security on a grandmother who voiced issues regarding emotional abuse and a lack of proper education, is concerning. With many students spending the year with a substitute teacher, critical educational opportunities are being missed. Parents seeking a genuinely nurturing educational environment might find this school, in its current state, unsuitable for their children.
Submitted by parent on August 26, 2023

My 2 boys transferred away from Huffman and my oldest is behind on his reading. I’ve expressed my concerns to the teacher and even principal. Got him one on one tutoring. They were not very helpful on individual help.
Submitted by other on July 12, 2023

I liked this school a lot. My grades were at their peak in 5th grade.
Submitted by parent on November 18, 2021

My son had great teachers that supported him. Son is on the spectrum and every time I go most of the staff know him by name. The kids say hi to him. It is a great school with lots of programs. You ultimately have to do your part as a parent too and get involved. I saw some students who were not attentive during home school period of Covid lock downs. It shows when parents are behind there kids and when they are not.
Submitted by parent on April 06, 2021

When we moved into the neighborhood in 2012, we read a lot of negative reviews but figured we will have either moved or the school had improved by the time we had a child ready for kindergarten. Well, somehow that moment crept up on us nine years later. My wife met with a handful of parents and gained enough of a comfort level to enroll our daughter in kindergarten. With first child jitters and the complications of the pandemic, we were nervous and really just hoping for the best. Kindergarten is near complete and we couldn’t be more happy with our decision. Our daughter has shown incredible growth academically, personally and socially. She amazes us on a weekly basis when she casually applies a recently learned concept at home. She’s made plenty of friends and adores her teachers. When people ask how her first year has been, I respond “she wakes up smiling and excited for school and she returns home with same big smile”. Not an exaggeration. We’ve also learned that the school is attracting a large influx of transfers from other Plano schools, some of which are likely considered more “desirable” than others. To me, that’s a testament to what has been occurring at Huffman over the past few years. We are looking forward to sending the next (and final) two to Huffman as well.
Submitted by parent on November 13, 2020

We are loving Huffman. When we moved into the neighborhood the school was our number one concern. After talking to other neighborhood moms and touring the campus we knew Huffman was where our son needed to be. During virtual learning we heard from parents of kiddos who did virtual at daycares that Huffman was one of the most organized schools and they wished all schools were as organized. Unfortunately, Huffman has a bad reputation based on things that are true and untrue that happened years ago. Our son is in kindergarten and his thriving. He is learning so much, becoming more open minded, becoming a better citizen in his home and community. Just yesterday he said "I am a Huffman Hawk and I take care of myself and others." Don't let previous bad comments scare you off from trying this amazing school. I will also say as a "neighborhood mom" there are neighborhood kids who go to Huffman. Even if they didn't, Huffman would still be an amazing place that the neighborhood kids would be missing out on.
Submitted by parent on September 24, 2020

We joined Huffman knowing that it was not a well rated school academically at the time. However the IB program really is something special seeing what my child is learning and how has only cemented that for our family. And, it should be known that any teacher that wants to be at Huffman has to go through additional training each year and it really requires a much higher requirement from them. The teachers and staff at Huffman are very dedicated to the program and their students!
Submitted by parent on July 10, 2019

Huffman Elementary is a diverse school. The teachers show passion. The leadership has clear goals. In this ever-changing world, being kind, honest and principled go hand in hand with education. Huffman values these ideals! We believe this schools potential is just now being unlocked and excited for the future!
Submitted by parent on May 18, 2019

Our experience at Huffman was great. A diverse school with attentive staff. It also prepared our son well for Renner especially socially in dealing with all types
Submitted by parent on April 09, 2019

You will see if you tour this school nobody from the neighborhood goes here. everyone is being bused in. Which should tell you something that not enough of the neighborhood families go here that their zoning is bigger than intended. The parents are not friendly at all during events and just come and go and the PTA is always asking for help for everything. Seems like this school is a charity case and I want my child to learn not always having to buy stuff for the school because other parents dont. There is always some belligerent parent in the office. There is no safety at school. Their PTA always has someone new so I dont know who to talk to about helping out. I helped out before and the person in charge of it seemed was nice and friendly but I dont even see her anymore. The only thing I like is my kids teacher who does send me emails about how my kid is doing. But we will move during the summer or transfer because there is too much inconsistency and as a parent I dont like that . My kid is always telling me how someone was mean to her and when she tells her teacher its considered tattle telling. Okay you are the adult. Do something. I feel like they are trying to get rid of all the lower income people by sending home letters out of no where to show proof of residence because they want to make room for transfers. Jokes on them when they transfer here even we are trying to leave. My lease was not even up and the front desk girl was demanding for my lease as if we were illegals. not somewhere ideal I would send my kid. Cenntennial has good reviews for a reason and Hightower.
Submitted by parent on March 06, 2019

We gave it a try but couldn't get out of there fast enough. The IB program goes into effect this year or next so maybe that will make a difference but I can't imagine how if they aren't going to work on getting the neighborhood kids back to the school. The PTA seems resentful that parents would pull their kids from a poorly performing school. It doesnt make any sense. The neighboring school and PTA at Centennial is a much more tightly run ship. Suggestions have been made, other successful PTA groups have reached out and offered assitance but Huffman PTA seems to think they have it under control. The principal and school board support whatever opinion the PTA has. You can't fire the PTA so I'm not sure how to deal with it other than leave.
Submitted by parent on February 22, 2019

I will never recommend this prison to any parent who has a child with a disability. Jamie Allen is the worst warden(principal) I have ever dealt with. There is no compassion only obligation to care, but still doesnt show sincere emotions for these kids.
Submitted by parent on December 20, 2018

My daughter is thriving at Huffman. She is reading and doing math beyond her grade level, and has a wonderful set of friends from very diverse backgrounds. The International Baccalaureate program is such an enhancement to the standard Plano ISD curriculum, especially with Mandarin lessons.
Submitted by parent on September 08, 2018

We transferred from a "high rating" Plano school for two reasons: 1. Mandarin Chinese, which no other schools offer. 2. IB, which is very close to the gifted and talented summer program offered by PISD. Not only are we completely impressed with the enthusiasm and the dedication of the teachers and the staff, but also quite surprised and moved by the open-mindedness and inclusiveness demonstrated by the kids. All the schools have big splashy inspirational words everywhere, and so does Huffman, except you really actually can feel that they lived by these words everyday. Huffman is doing something right and the other schools can definitely benefit by implementing even a fraction of the Huffman program.
Submitted by parent on May 11, 2018

So far, my experience at this school has been wonderful. The teachers and staff are highly trained and experienced and the IB PYP program is bringing so many new opportunities to my children. I love that they are getting an excellent education, but also learning to be kind and compassionate human beings as well.
Submitted by parent on October 09, 2015

I don't know where to start, I will so try to keep this short. I moved to Plano from Dallas at the beginning of the school year of 2014. I am a single parent of two girls, now... ages 10 and 12. Upon going through marital changes and constant work changes, my girls had to experience going to 2 to 3 schools a year since my separation... with me constantly moving them around in search for stability and a better environment. I can not begin to explain how behind my girls were as far as their curriculum. Constantly being enrolled in new schools, constantly trying to get settled, constantly trying to catch on in environment that was forever changing. I chose my new new job this time based on the school district and not the pay. From the very first day of enrollment, ALL of the Huffman Elementary staff have been more than wonderful. Always concerned, always friendly, and always with the best of spirits, they are an AMAZING group of people!! Right away you can tell that they all LOVE their job. That alone made me feel tons of relief in my choice of schools. My oldest daughter had it rough, she struggled tremendously with her reading and comprehension, making it hard for to retain what she was learning. Her spirit was already so defeated going in. Her teacher(s) immediately accessed the problem, and contacted me with a solution.. a plan to get her on track. The first year was rough.. so rough. The teachers had to basically go in and retrain her thinking and the way that she processed things. They took time from their schedules and gave her the tutoring, the attention, and the materials needed to excel in her classes. The following year was even better. Although a lot had been accomplished we still had so much more work to do. By the end of the second year, a meeting was called with the counselors, teachers, and myself just to go over the progress of everything that had been done and just to kind of evaluate the before and after results. They were ASTOUNDING!!! Her scores had taken a dramatic leap!!! Now she goes to Renner Middle School, a really awesome school as well. My daughter received her 2nd report card for the year and all of her grades were A's and B's!!! I cannot express the joy in my heart when I saw her face of satisfaction from her work. I KNOW that if it were not for the teachers and staff at Huffman, this would not have been possible. Thank You!!!!!!!
Submitted by parent on April 18, 2014

Huffman has a wonderful staff and an energetic new principal. I've been at the school for over 5 years and have always been impressed by how well my children are doing both academically and socially. This is a great school with staff that listen and help you as a parent for each child. The size of the school has dramatically changed since we began. Thanks to the school board, we have less than 550 students. We have a great PTA with many fantastic after school programs and our new Principal has added Wordmasters Challenges and Math Olympiads as an after school program.
Submitted by parent on April 18, 2014

We love Huffman. My kids are taught by educators that care and have developed fantastic friendships!!!!
Submitted by parent on May 03, 2013

Huffman has very good and very bad points. The school has a lot after-school activities for families to be brought together, which is a great asset. There is good communication between the Principal, teachers, and parents. The parents strive to keep a great PTA. The cons are that it became very overcrowded, due to the PISD districting. PISD addressed the overcrowding recently, but where PISD relieved the overcrowding, it also relieved the school of a rich multicultural school where kids could learn life skills from others. The No Child Left Behind Laws have not worked in favor of Huffman either. I would say look at the school before enrolling, it's not for everyone.