Harvest Elementary School

1155 Campus Parkway

School District

Saline Area Schools
Grade

K-3
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:13
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 23, 2023

Overall, Harvest is an amazing elementary school, especially for kids with disabilities. Lots of specials, low teacher to student ratios, a very kind and caring principal, lots of extra curricular activities thru the district. Test scores are some of the highest in Michigan placing it at the top 10%.The IEP process is smooth and thorough- one in which therapists and teachers actually want to meet children’s needs (unlike AAPS). Their philosophy is to provide special ed services in full and early on, so kids won’t need as much extra support in later grades. Harvest packs more therapists, paras, and interventionists in a single school than other districts have in a whole district!!! And surprisingly, most if not all teachers seem well versed in autism, sensory processing disorders, mobility and fine motor challenges, etc.The building is showing its age but it’s still great. Special ed rooms are huge and well equipped, not closet sized like in most schools. Library is eye popping- modern and filled with every genre that any child would ever love to read! Gym is a but noisy but not terrible. Food is good and healthy but cafeteria can get crowded, as the kitchen setup is inefficient and so is their lunch process. Playground is large but equipment is old and lacking. Accessibility is mostly good, with zero-step entries and a commercial elevator.The teachers are great and it shows how much they care. They check up with parents often at the beginning of the year, but as the year progresses, communication decreases especially in older grades. But, they do keep up with great newsletters or blogs. The staff are so extremely helpful!PTA is kind of clickey. You have to be part of the wealthy, mostly white, mostly University of Michigan employees to get connected or taken into account as a parent. Likewise, rich white kids can be kind of mean - which is not a problem with the school but simply a reality of the district population and of the university-elite Ann Arbor culture. Having said that, teachers and staff take bullying seriously and know how to deal with it effectively.Overall I recommend this school. And regardless of the scores on GreatSchools or reviews on Maps, I do think they are educating ALL children well, regardless of ethnicity, disability, skin color, or financial means. And for students with special needs, this school (and the Saline Area Schools district as a whole) is truly a hidden gem and exemplary school to all of Michigan.
Submitted by parent on January 27, 2022

My son has been going to harvest since kindergarten. If you don’t for the cookie cutter then you don’t fit in. My son was bullied the beginning of 3rd grade so badly to the point I demanded a change in teachers. At first they wouldn’t change teachers but I didn’t back down. He changed classrooms and this same kid sought my son out on the playground and started shoving him. Whenever he told the recess aid and the teacher he was called a liar. He then showed them his hands where he scrapped them on the cement, as well as the huge bruise on his stomach. They did nothing. No phone call home, no letter..nothing.My son has an IEP for reading and writing and this bully found out and is now following him in the hallways calling him names.
Submitted by parent on July 20, 2014

Fantastic school with wonderful staff, and heavy parent involvement. We have an incoming 1st and 2nd grader at Harvest.
Submitted by parent on April 21, 2014

I have a son with Down's Syndrome in 1st Grade and a daughter in 3rd Grade. The School is doing great things for both kids but in particular we love the Principal and her open door policy. Our Son is accepted in the School mainstream for 80% of the day. The teachers and staff are simply marvellous. We are very happy with the School!
Submitted by parent on October 27, 2013

This school is amazing! Our child's teachers are excellent, the principal is hands-on and absolutely fantastic, and the children are having so much fun while learning and becoming little thinkers! Even Kindergarten classes take Spanish, the extra curriculars are great, and everything is super-organized and well thought out from drop-off to pick-up and every moment of your child's learning experience in-between.
Submitted by parent on December 18, 2012

Principal Betty Rosen-Leacher is fantastic! She seems to know all the students by name. The staff are like family and the atmosphere is supportive, caring, and even loving. I was so sad when my son aged out of this school last spring.