6558 Kemp Way
North Highlands, CA 95660

My time at Highlands High School was an absolute nightmare from start to finish. I cannot fathom how this institution continues to function as an educational establishment, given the deplorable conditions and lackluster approach to academics and student well-being.First and foremost, the facilities at Highlands High School are utterly appalling. The classrooms are dilapidated and poorly maintained, with leaking roofs and faulty heating systems. The school's so-called "technology" is ancient, often malfunctioning, and severely limited in its capabilities. It's as if the administration couldn't care less about creating a conducive learning environment for its students.The teaching staff is equally disappointing. Many of the teachers lack passion, dedication, and, most importantly, the ability to effectively impart knowledge to their students. Instead of inspiring minds, they seem to be going through the motions, ticking boxes without any regard for the actual education of their pupils. Grading is inconsistent, and constructive feedback is practically non-existent.Furthermore, the extracurricular activities and sports programs are laughable. The school barely offers any options for students to explore their interests and talents outside the classroom. The few clubs that do exist are poorly organized, poorly attended, and seem like mere tokens to maintain the illusion of a well-rounded education.What's worse is the evident lack of support for students facing academic or personal challenges. The guidance counselors are unresponsive and fail to provide adequate guidance in navigating the tumultuous teenage years. It's distressing to see students who need help the most being brushed aside or ignored altogether.One of the most significant problems with Highlands High School is its alarming lack of attention to bullying and overall student safety. Instances of bullying are rampant and go largely unchecked by the staff. This toxic environment hampers the learning experience and negatively impacts the mental and emotional well-being of vulnerable students.Moreover, the administration's communication with parents is abysmal. They seem to operate in a secretive bubble, leaving parents clueless about important school matters and events. It's a disservice to both students and parents, who deserve to be actively involved in their child's educational journey.I would go on but This review system is limiting me to a certain number of characters.

The only good thing about this school is Nancy, who is a sweetheart. If your child is Autistic/in special Ed, I would advise strongly against attending this school. There’s no bathroom in the kindergarten classroom, fidgets are used in a reward/punishment way,” behavior charts” are used (which are not beneficial for ASD kids), parents are NEVER allowed in the classroom, ABA therapy is pushed on parents instead of addressing issues within the class (ABA is abusive and vehemently spoken out against by the autistic community), the teacher has trouble recalling details about your child and it seems like most the supervising is done by the constantly rotating paras. My son was “lost” several times in the few months he attended Allison when he eloped. They are NOT sensory friendly and will not make any exception for these needs (ie, flip flops with straps instead of shoes, constant access to fidgets, etc). The special Ed classroom doesn’t have its own playground or its own bathroom, and there’s kids of different ages from k-2nd all in one class. Paras change frequently, and are the ones blamed for “losing” a child when they elope. There’s zero opportunity for parents to be involved in the class, there’s no holiday celebrations and kids can’t even dress up for Halloween. My kiddo would cry constantly about being bullied in his special ed classroom by other kids. I pulled my child out after a few months. Every child deserves so much more than what this school offers. The special education department should have more education about autism and the harms of ABA and its practices - and be careful to not use such tactics in class. Paras shouldn’t be constantly changing. Parents should be able to observe their child in class. Bathrooms/bathroom breaks should be frequently provided- and the absence of this resulted in my child soiling himself & then being blamed for “holding it too long”. ASD kids often don’t recognize body cues and forget to use the restroom, which means the adult needs to be on top of bathroom reminders and availability.

Children play on roof of school, teachers name call and physically harmed my child, acedemics are very poor and there is no behavioral implement plan in place. The kids are locked in by a tall chain link fence with no playground or incentives.