Harding University Partnership

1625 Robbins Street

School District

Santa Barbara Unified
Grade

K-6
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:17
Type

public

School Map for Santa Barbara Unified 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 parent on November 07, 2024

We looked at a lot of schools in the district. We are assigned to Peabody (the best charter in the region). But we requested a move to Harding. We liked how small Harding is less than half the kids of most schools in the district. We like the teachers, many of them have been at Harding for over a decade and have a good relationship with each other. The principal is great, Ms Binkley, she knows the kids, and likes them. Harding worked with a Educational specialist to build a pilot program for the STEAM labs, which then got used in all the schools. The garden classroom at Harding is amazing, kids eat incredible things they would never touch at home. The garden instructor opens the garden at lunch time along with the regular classroom visits. Harding is backed up by UCSB and they send their student teachers to Harding. Often classrooms have many extra adults working with kids. Its just a great school, its full of families who choose to be there. Its low drama high learning. The kids do a reading program where the words they read are counted and accumulated. When they get to a million words read, (there are dozens of kids every year) they are awarded Millionaire status. They go on wacky adventures with the principal around town and carry that badge of honor into junior high. We have loved our time at Harding, it's exactly the kind of school we wanted for our kiddo.
Submitted by parent on October 31, 2024

The Principal is the first person you meet when you enter the school. The students and teachers are enthusiastic and happy. This is a boutique school crime the beautifully maintain 1927 architecture to the state of the art STEAM lab in which they have Glow Forges for prototyping and production, this school is full of surprises. They have been running the IB curriculum for over a decade and it shows. Students don’t get lost in the mix, teachers are given the power to make their learning environments fit their teaching style. We have been here since TK and love it.
Submitted by parent on June 03, 2020

Our son has finished first grade and attended Kindergarten here as well. The teachers and staff are very engaged and led by a Principle Binkley who's conviction for education and character is apparent in all she does. It is a shame greatschools.com compiles test scores (not a great indicator of learning taking place) and spits out a number rating on a ten scale that is often the only thing most people may see. Harding is located in the best neighborhood is Santa Barbara yet many students attend schools outside of the district. The International Baccalaureate program provides standards and guidelines for education and child development that far exceed public school standards. Send your child here if you want a learning environment to build a confident thinker and student capable of independent action. If you want a child that satisfies generic tests scores this school may have too much to offer for you!If you have read this far and are curious as to why rating schools with a number based on standardized testing may be problematic check out the article in Medium addressing this issue medium.com/s/story/the-problem-with-great-schools-69b4ef4f5079
Submitted by parent on March 06, 2019

Harding Elementary provides the kind of world class education that all of our children deserve . They implement the Lucy Calkins Literacy Collaborative at the maturest level, which is the premier methodology for teaching reading and writing. The school environment is inviting and respectful and the campus is lovely. Following the latest research on childhood development and learning, children are up and active throughout the day and learning techniques such as mindfulness exercises that they can use throughout life (my son now practices the mindfulness exercises he learned at school when he feels like he's going to lose his temper at home). My son's classmates are lovely, compassionate children who treated him as a welcomed guest when he joined the class partway through the school year. Communication is excellent, we receive updates on occurrences in the classroom daily in the form of pictures, videos, and notices via the SeeSaw app (there is no better pick me up when you're at work than receiving a video of your child happily reading with his reading buddy!) I am from a family of educators and in the past have chosen to send my children to private Montessori when I did not believe the public school was optimal. There is nothing in the world more important to me than the learning, development, safety, and joy of my children and I choose Harding. I am thrilled to have my daughter enter Harding next year as a kindergartner and she is excited to go! My son will tell anyone who wants to listen how much he loves being a Harding Hawk.
Submitted by parent on January 06, 2018

Harding is the best kept secret on the Westside. This is my family's second year at the school, and I have students in 1st and 4th grades. The teachers are dedicated to student success, more so than at any other school we have attended. Teachers remain at the school for years. They could probably find easier places to work--admittedly, the high percentage of English language learners who attend the school add a layer of complexity to teaching. We too, could find an easier, more comfortable school to attend, where everyone looked like us--my family is in the racial minority here--but we value diversity and want our kids to have the rich education Harding provides. Veronica Binkley has been the principal since we arrived at the school, and we are continually amazed at how involved she is in both the big-picture leadership of the school and the minutiae of everyday student life. When conflict arises between students, she is happy to mediate and treats all students with respect while holding them to a high level of responsibility. We have also appreciated the rich after-school enrichment clubs offered, including photography, cooking, clay art, drawing, music, and gardening. Even better, the school's parent group (the Harding School Foundation) offers the classes at an affordable price so that kids can choose multiple classes and build on their already holistic education. My only disappointment with the school is that more of my Westside neighbors do not attend. That is already changing since we arrived. I hope that trend will continue as more people discover this hidden gem!
Submitted by parent on September 01, 2014

The only elementary school in Santa Barbara area to offer the IB program, Harding is amazing! They are more than prepared for the Common Core thanks to the IB, inquiry-based instruction that has been occurring there for at least 4 years. My child attends Harding, and we are so happy. She loves her teachers and classmates, is challenged academically, and truly loves learning! Thank you Harding!! I can't recommend this school enough!
Submitted by parent on April 12, 2014

My child's school is awesome. It's amazing to see the collaborative effort when parents, teachers and principal come together to educate not only the children but the parents as well. My child teaches me new and exciting things he learns everyday. I love Harding!!!
Submitted by parent on December 05, 2011

I just recently enrolled my 3rd grader and Im very happy I did. The office staff , class teacher and the principle made us feel comfortable.
Submitted by other on March 24, 2011

This is the best school in the entire world!!!!!!!!! i am so happy to have been there since preschool and it is AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Submitted by other on April 29, 2010

My two nephews go there and they love it. They say their teachers are awesome and they look forward to going everyday. That to me speaks wonders.
Submitted by parent on April 20, 2010

The teachers are wonderful, and so is the principal, but I feel like the entire school is aiming way too low. The test scores reflect that. Not having much money, and not speaking English fluently is no excuse. Other schools in the area have 40% and above of English learners and they can still pass state tests. I also feel like this school lacks discipline and consequences for the students, and the staff speak very condescending to parents.
Submitted by parent on April 16, 2010

This school is by far one of the best I have ever sent my children to.
Submitted by parent on March 12, 2010

I went to Harding School, I now have a son that is attending kindegarden there. I have to say that Harding just is NOT the same!
Submitted by parent on August 19, 2008

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