Hickory Creek Elementary School

235 HICKORY CREEK TRL

School District

St. Johns
Grade

PK, K-5
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 November 11, 2024

The previous principal was great but then they brought in Yvette Gonzalez. She blatantly plays favorites. She barely responds to parents. But our real problem was with a 5th grade Teacher Ms Barnes. awful teacher that just isnt good with children. She simply lacks the patience to teach children. She will literally yell at them if they try to ask any questions. Not a good look for a teacher for 10 year old kids. Its sad to see the downward trajectory the school has taken since Gonzalez took over.
Submitted by parent on July 16, 2024

This school offers more than any nearby school. A play performance each year and soccer, musical performances! Well rounded Education experience!
Submitted by parent on June 10, 2022

I have had four of my kids attend Hickory Creek Elementary in the past four years in all grades. I am a 3rd grade teacher at a k-8 school in the county. We moved here from California and the first major difference was the security that we were completely lacking in San Diego! There is a school resource officer on campus all day, bulletproof glass in the lobby, and computer sign-in and id checks. They are so secure that they won't let anyone in the building if they are not cleared in the district's system. We loved Dr. Reichenberg, who was the former principal, but absolutely love Mrs. Gonzalez, who was the new principal this year. She brought a terrific musical theater program to the school this year and intends on continuing with theater as a signature for the school. The school is very small and calm, compared to the K-8's going up all around St. Johns County. The classrooms are large and the campus is impeccably clean. The culture of teachers seems to be enthusiastic, supportive, kind and happy and I have not once had an issue with any of the teachers or staff. The cafeteria is large, clean and not too loud. There are several playgrounds with mulch that the kids love and a large outdoor covered basketball pavilion for PE. The school set-up is very cool, as it has "houses" where classes are in pods with a huge common area equipped with a kitchen, sinks for washing hands and tables for gathering, and all the classrooms surround the common area. There are around 5 of these areas if I recall correctly. If your child walks to school, there are crossing guards on the main road to make sure the kids are safe coming from any direction, as well as a police officer guiding traffic. There are sidewalks in all directions so it is very easy for students to walk to school. Parent drop off/pickup seems to move pretty quickly and busses are always the first to get to the school in the morning and first to leave. All in all, I would highly recommend this school.
Submitted by parent on February 24, 2022

Sarah Goeslin has been one of the best teachers my son as ever had! She took the time to ensure my son had the extra help he needed. She was so patient, kind, and very gentle. I would highly recommend her and will have all my younger children placed in her class. I appreciate her communication back to me as a parent keeping me up to speed on where my son’s progress was and the suggestions on how to help him at home. I know that she truly cares for her students and strives to ensure everyone succeeds. Highly recommend her and the school!
Submitted by parent on March 15, 2021

Excellent teachers and staff. I couldn’t be happier with the school and the experience my kids have with them. Thank you for making the kids feel loved and important! HCE definitely is a 5 stars!
Submitted by parent on April 27, 2020

Excellent!! My daughter came to this school struggling and is now doing well. We are very happy with the all the teachers & staff here at HCE.
Submitted by teacher on June 08, 2018

HCE provides students with a balanced learning approach to develop curricular skills as well as social and emotional development. Teachers effectively make positive realtionships with parents, students and colleagues. HCE is a great school!
Submitted by parent on January 20, 2018

My children will be returning next year for 1st and 4th grade. I have seen so much growth in them and the love of school they have because of Mrs. Gauger, Mrs. Palmer, Mrs. Southworth, Ms. Acevedo, Ms. Ferro, and the administration. We struggled last year with my 3rd grader and collectively as a group decided the best decision was to hold him back. But the administration and teachers never treated him different. We are very proactive and have made it clear to the teachers that we are staying involved and have had no issues with them. We are now halfway through the year and my 3rd grader that was held back is thriving and excelling in school now. Ms. Acevedo did such an amazing job with him and he loves getting his grades back and seeing the As and Bs. What was once no disappointment last year if he got lower than a C...I see him actually be upset if he gets a C or lower because of how much he cares again. My Kindergartener started this year and Ms. Ferro has just made his introduction into school amazing and he loves it. We couldn't be happier than being here at Hickory Creek Elementary!
Submitted by parent on July 08, 2014

My child will return to HCE this upcoming school year as a 1st grader. I have been nothing short of thrilled with this school since his 1st day of Kindergarten. Parents are very involved here, even the working parents like me. The teachers and staff are absolutely amazing!
Submitted by parent on April 03, 2014

Two of my children have attended HCE from the first year until now. The facilities, principle, and support staff are excellent. However, this will be the last year of attendance for child #2. The communications with teachers has declined over the past 8 years as more standardization of curriculum has occurred. Emails go unanswered, notes written the teacher never have a response, and not all homework is returned. We generally find out there is an academic issue when grades are posted online 3-4 weeks later. Parent-teacher conferences have proved unfruitful in addressing difficulties. In fairness, we have several friends whose kids do excel here, as did child #1. If you have a gifted or a special needs child, they will excel here as they get extra work and attention. If you have a child who is middle of the road C student, they will not get extra attention. In fact, we were told that for our child to have in-class help with common core concepts, he would have to have a low D average. We can longer keep hoping or waiting for things will get better. Home school here we come!
Submitted by parent on March 12, 2014

All three of my children have attended HCE. The staff and the school are amazing. As a military family we have moved all over the world literally, and have experienced various educational systems. I would say that HCE is the top. My children have been well prepared. The principal hand picked all his teachers and it shows...The staff is also amazing!
Submitted by parent on March 05, 2014

Hickory Creek Elementary Not so great since the New Assistant Principal arrived. She does not believe in returning parents phone calls.
Submitted by parent on June 04, 2013

HCE sits in a beautiful area still lots of trees and nature.The school itself is really nice, as in the layout and its kept very clean, inside and out. Now after all that being said Dont let your first visit discourage you. Beware! The front desk people act like they hate their job and dont want to be bothered with anyone or anything. When you call the school the lady that answers the phone is about as lively as eyore from winnie the poor " Like O Bother" and thats not where it ends, there is also 2 of the parent pick up ladies that are plum rude, Like maybe this isn't the job for you anymore, rude. The schools communications between teachers and parents arent working so well. you will get a lot of unswered emails and the teachers website are a joke as well they are never ever updated or our teachers wasnt. With all that being said, let me say this, the principal, the asst. principal and the principal's sec. are Great! The nurse is Great and the Teachers are some of the Best life has to offer. I am glad my child goes there..