Friendly Hills Elementary School
Joshua Tree, CA 92252-2741
Phone: (760) 366-3812
Fax: (760) 366-1061
District: Morongo Unified School District
GreatSchools Rating
public • Grades K-6 • 266 students
Friendly Hills Elementary School, located in Joshua Tree, California, serves grades K-6 in the Morongo Unified School District. It is among the few public elementary schools in California to receive a distinguished GreatSchools Rating of 8 out of 10.
Friendly Hills Elementary School is a public school located in Joshua Tree, CA. 266 students attend Friendly Hills Elementary School.
School Ratings
| Category | Rating | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Test Scores | 8/10 | The Test Score Rating examines how students at this school performed on standardized tests compared with other schools in the state. The Test Rating was created using 2025 California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) data from California Department of Education, and using 2025 California Science Test data from California Department of Education. |
| Student Growth | 8/10 | The Student Progress Rating measures whether students at this school are making academic progress over time based on student growth data provided by the Department of Education. Specifically, this rating looks at how much progress individual students have made on state assessments during the past year or more, how this performance aligns with expected progress based on a student growth model established by the state Department of Education, and how this school's growth data compares to other schools in the state. The Growth Rating was created using 2025 Student growth data from California Department of Education. |
Posted: October 13, 2023
Had a terrible experience here. Principle is a pompous individual with zero regard for the childrens experience at the school. Staff have failed to remain up to date on new educational and child development practices and has light parents to the extreme when concerns are articulated. Its a mess over there.
Posted: October 13, 2023
Posted: October 13, 2023
Posted: October 13, 2023
Posted: October 13, 2023
Posted: October 13, 2023
Posted: October 13, 2023
Posted: October 13, 2023
Posted: September 1, 2022
Posted: September 1, 2022
I don't know how it is nowadays,but I attended this school in 5th and 6th grade. I had a pretty okay experience. My brother went there years later through 6th grade (I think)
Posted: September 1, 2022
Posted: September 1, 2022
Posted: September 1, 2022
Posted: September 1, 2022
Posted: September 1, 2022
Posted: September 1, 2022
Posted: March 4, 2020
1-10...a 7. There is room for improvement but for this area, it's a good, solid school.
Posted: March 4, 2020
Up until this week, my 2nd grade was given homework that was tedious more than helpful and engaging but I like the new approach now.
Posted: March 4, 2020
My children have had great experience with teachers here...all seem to care and work hard.
Posted: March 4, 2020
Posted: March 4, 2020
I haven't really had to deal with the new principal this year but so far it seems just fine and that things are rolling along.
Posted: March 4, 2020
Posted: March 4, 2020
Well, my older son had an issue with bullying, was punched in the face, and there was a meeting with principal and teachers but would have liked to have had the parents of the other student and student in on the meeting.
Posted: September 27, 2017
We love this school. The teachers and staff are wonderful. My kids just love it.
Posted: September 27, 2017
Posted: September 27, 2017
Posted: September 27, 2017
Posted: September 27, 2017
Posted: September 27, 2017
Posted: September 27, 2017
Posted: July 27, 2017
I liked this school for my child overall. We never had an issue with administration and the events were great. However, I did feel the front office women, particularly Cindy in the front to be very rude, condescending and snooty on a few different occasions. She was very snippy and raised her voice at me on the phone and on more than a few occasions was abrupt and rude in person. If you can avoid her in the office, no other real complaints.
Posted: July 27, 2017
Posted: July 27, 2017
Posted: July 27, 2017
Posted: July 27, 2017
Posted: July 27, 2017
Posted: July 27, 2017
Posted: August 26, 2014
The best school in the area! My family moved to Yucca Valley due to my husbands job relocating us here. Our oldest was enrolled in the TK program last year and is currently in Kindergarten at Friendly Hills. We love the school! However, the draw back is their un-empathetic attitude towards our child's severe peanut allergy. Unfortunately, there is no "Peanut-Free" districts in the area so we have no choice but to make due. My biggest issue was the outside snack policy. In the student/parent handbook it lists appropriate snacks that can be brought it. No other snacks are allowed. However, teachers do not follow these guidelines and have whatever they want brought it with complete disregard to the rules/standards.
Posted: April 23, 2014
I highly recommend this school. We live on base and travel 22.9 miles (1 way) to get here (only because my son is in TK and they do not offer transportation). The staff is friendly and helpful. I also like that the principal is always visible, and accessible. There are numerous events and fun activities offered from garnering school spirit to after school activities. I can only attest to the TK program: transitional kindergarten, which my son attended 13'-14' school year. His teacher is awesome. She goes well above and beyond the given curriculum. My son's writing has vastly improved and knows all of his letters and the sounds associated. He knows how to write his numbers and can count to 100+. He is more than prepared to attend Kindergarten at an advanced level. If we are stationed back here, my son will be going to Friendly Hills.
Posted: August 22, 2013
The name of the school says it all. The staff are friendly, the campus is clean, the principal is very involve in motivating the students and the teachers are the best. It makes me wish i could go back to my elementary years. Love the parent group, everybody participates to make our kids education the best, we are a great community :).
Posted: January 26, 2012
I went to this school for 5 years. The teachers are wonderful and help the students do the best they can. The principal is nice and easy on the students, but also disciplines them justly. The staff encourages a friendly environment; and the office staff is so friendly. This school is so amazing, i have never seen a school like it. :)
Posted: May 28, 2011
I have worked a handful of schools over the years. Thus, I have worked with many staff members, many principals, and many parents. The principal at FHES is on top of it, organized, and is simply amazing. The teachers collaboratively work together always looking out for the students' best interests, and the parents are very supportive. This is an A+ school.
Posted: March 30, 2011
There are some teachers that have un-realistic expectations of their students, which make a for a stressful, and anxious environment. The over-all feeling of Friendly Hills is changing, and it's not going in a good direction- and it has nothing to do with budget issues. After 3 years of attending this school, we will not be going here next year.
Posted: July 21, 2008
Posted: January 25, 2007
Posted: January 25, 2007
Reviews provided by GreatSchools™
| # | Name | Type | City | State | Overall Rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Murray Lane | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Yucca valley | CA | 4.1 mi | |
| 2 | Shafter Avenue | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Yucca valley | CA | 8.4 mi | |
| 3 | Turtle Rock | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Twentynine Palms | CA | 15.8 mi |
| # | Name | City | State | Overall Rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Smoke Tree | Twentynine Palms | CA | 14.3 mi |
| Base | Distance |
|---|---|
| 29 Palms Marine Base | 16.9 mi. |
Refine Search
National Ad
