I have two children at Hightower, and I am especially impressed with the active PTA and the many programs they provide. Since the parents are very involved, the teachers are appreciative and caring. I have found the current principal to be rather aloof, but have seen much improvement in her performance
... Read more in the last year. I find most of the staff and other families to be very welcoming and involved. Read less
Posted by a parent on 09/09/08
My daughter went to the 1st grade at Hightower. The previous parent was spot on when they wrote that Hightower is not a welcoming environment. I definately got the feeling that we were not welcome, and that parents are to stay out of the classroom. When my child had issues, I wanted to observe in
... Read more the classroom to see what was going on and the teacher refused! I pulled my daughter out of the school because of that environment. Read less
Posted by a parent on 04/03/08
I have a KG student and a 2nd grader and I couldn't be more pleased with the quality of the work and the atmosphere of the school. I have had interaction with the principal and found her to be quite enthusiastic and pleasant and welcoming. We moved from another Plano ISD school district and I believe
... Read more that the level of the curriculum at this school is superior to the previous one (and that one had an exemplary rating as well). Read less
Posted by a parent on 02/22/08
We selected our new home based on the PISD reputation and Hightower's exemplary rating. The rating has since lowered and we are disappointed in the quality of instruction. The teachers are young and have few years exp. at best. This school is so committed to its rating and stats that the students
... Read more suffer. My 1st and 2nd grade children bring home work sheets requiring mutliplication to complete - math concepts the teachers do not cover in grades 1 or 2. They simply rely on the parents to teach this math. Sure we play an important role - but the teachers have to do their part as well. They are not covering material - rather they focus almost entirely on the state TAKS test. Read less
Posted by a parent on 04/30/07
I think that this school could be better. I don't feel the warmth and welcoming atmosphere I was expecting. The first day I introduced my son to the principal, she said, 'hello'. Not 'welcome to Hightower.' that would have been more appropriate in my opinion. Teachers - the ones we have had do
... Read more not have the experience I would like. If you are a working mom - forget about PTA, they cater to stay at home moms. Read less
Posted by a parent on 04/09/07
Teachers definitely not what they used to be. Note that the ESOL teacher Ms. Teng is superior.
... Read moreRead less
My daughter went to Hightower for k-5. She loved it! So did I, the teachers are nice and have a good reputation. The best thing about this school is that everyone is welcoming and inviting! Her little brother has a learning disability, and he needs special tutoring. So, my daudher thought that Hightower
... Read more would be the perfect school for him. We are now moving close to the school in a few weeks. Read less
*The resources listed are programs that the institution is staffed to support. Staffing for a program does not guarantee that it will be offered. This content is provided by the institution and may be incomplete. The institution may offer programs not listed here. Please contact the school directly for additional details.
Advanced Placement
AP classes are college-level classes offered at the high school level. Once a student completes an AP class and passes a final comprehensive examination conducted by the College Board, the student earns college credit for the course. AP classes are specific and not to be confused with other higher-level classes such as honors classes.
Before/After School
"Extended day" programs where the school day is extended before and after school to accommodate working parents. These programs should not be confused with common after school clubs or athletic activities.
Gifted and Talented
A school system may identify 10% to 15% or more of its student population as gifted and talented. A brief description of each area of giftedness or talent as defined by the Office of Gifted and Talented:
general intellectual ability or talent - high intelligence test score (usually two standard deviations above the mean), and high levels of vocabulary, memory, abstract work knowledge and abstract reasoning;
specific academic aptitude or talent in one area such as mathematics or language arts;
creative and productive thinking, the ability to produce new ideas;
leadership ability, the ability to direct individuals or groups to a common decision or action;
visual and performing arts, special talents in visual art, music, dance, drama, or other related studies;
psychomotor ability, such as practical, spatial, mechanical, and physical skills.
Vocation/Technical Curriculum
Vocational and/or technical courses offered within a comprehensive school, usually a senior high school.
Special Education Classes
A school or program within a school that provides services and training to students with moderate to severe mental and/or physical disabilities.
Adult Education Classes
Programs offering GED or equivalent courses for adults within regular schools, whether classes are held during evening or daytime schedules.
English as Second Language
English language classes for students whose first language is not English.
Plano schools — Hightower Elementary School is located at 2601 Decator Dr, Plano TX 75093. 2601 Decator Dr is in the Preston Ridge neighborhood and 75093 ZIP code in Plano, TX The school district for Hightower Elementary School is the Plano Independent School District. Hightower Elementary School is a Public school that serves grade levels K - 5.
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Parent Reviews
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Test Score Ratings
Test score ratings are based on the most recent standardized test results reported by this state. These ratings may help
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this school scored better than 70% of the students in the state on the same tests. We have indicated below which tests
were used in calculating these ratings. Other factors should be considered when comparing schools, including teacher
experience, academic programs, extracurricular activities, resources for special needs students, etc. These ratings are
not provided by the state Department of Education, which may have their own rating systems.
Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity
