Highlands Elementary School
Spring Valley, CA 91977
Phone: (619) 668-5780
Fax: (619) 668-8320
District: La Mesa-Spring Valley School District
GreatSchools Rating
public • Grades KG,1,2,3,4,5 • 357 students
Highlands Elementary School, a public school located in Spring Valley, CA, serves grades K-5 in the La Mesa-Spring Valley School District.It has received a GreatSchools Rating of 7 out of 10, based on a variety of school quality measures.
Highlands Elementary School is a public school located in Spring Valley, CA. 357 students attend Highlands Elementary School.
School Ratings
| Category | Rating | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Test Scores | 5/10 | 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 | 9/10 | 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: April 18, 2026
Posted: April 18, 2026
Posted: April 18, 2026
Posted: April 18, 2026
Posted: April 18, 2026
Posted: April 18, 2026
Posted: April 18, 2026
Posted: April 18, 2026
We wish we would have known about Highlands sooner! When my son had a terrible experience at another school we ended up at Highlands with a short time left in his 5th grade year. The special education team was amazing and Ms. Pezone the principal went above and beyond to make sure my son was welcomed and cared for - she is amazing! I love how they gather on the lower field each morning to build community and on Fridays they have in person announcements with music and chants to show school spirit! We wish we would have sent him there sooner!
Posted: April 6, 2026
Posted: April 6, 2026
Posted: April 6, 2026
Posted: April 6, 2026
Posted: April 6, 2026
Posted: April 6, 2026
Posted: April 6, 2026
Posted: April 6, 2026
Highly recommend this school for your child. The children in this school always have amazing teachers that love doing their job, willing to help them, and the front office has amazing service with Ms. Diana being so great at answering phone calls and communicating with parents. Definitely recommend having your child being apart of this school.
Posted: February 12, 2026
Principal is horrible , front office staff is very very rude . Theyre pickup is also horrible , pickup staff is a joke (always have attitudes, especially the younger staff) no sense of common sense . Save your kids and send them to a better school . Kids have to gather in a "circle" on the field in the morning instead of being able to be dropped off in class and SAFE .. their whole system is just a joke , starting with the lame principal , who clearly doesnt have kids herself to understand us parents .
Posted: February 12, 2026
Posted: February 12, 2026
Posted: February 12, 2026
Posted: February 12, 2026
Posted: February 12, 2026
Posted: February 12, 2026
Posted: February 12, 2026
Posted: June 10, 2015
They are by far the best school my children have been in this district, the teachers and staff really care. They have an amazing special education program and your kids do not get " forgotten about". I wish I could give them 10 stars I had no idea when my son was placed here that this school would be so amazing but what a blessing it was!
Posted: May 15, 2015
We just moved into the area and I wanted to see what our "home school" looked like, so I took a tour. I was fully expecting to validate continuing taking my kids to their current school, 15 miles west. I left the tour completely conflicted and much, much less sure of that decision. * The principal herself took me on the tour and was very nice and genuine. * You could tell the teachers like their principal and the principal likes the teachers - a genuine respectful relationship exists. * The teachers I spoke with were openly friendly and welcoming. *The office staff was also kind and friendly to me, a stranger walking in off the street! * This is a clean and pretty campus - It doesn't have that underlying "grungy" feeling that exist on many/most schools. * There are grassy areas mixed in with the classrooms, with 2 open play areas on campus. * A nice, new and lovely play structure. * This is the prettiest school garden of any school garden I have ever seen! * The children that I saw were all kind and sweet. I would happily put my kindergartener in this school. Trying to decide whether to disrupt my older kids for next year, though!
Posted: September 13, 2013
Highlands is a wonderful community school. This is my child's 4th year at Highlands and it has been very good to us. The teachers are phenomenal! I can't imagine my child having better teachers anywhere! There is so much love and dedication given to the students at Highlands. My child is advanced in his learning and every year his teachers have made sure he is challenged in his studies, They have done a great job meeting his personal needs as a student. The PTA works hard to bring special events and activities to the students at Highlands. Over all we are very happy at Highlands and we are so happy that our child attends this special school. In the spring, the school gives tours for new students. Make sure you take a tour!
Posted: September 13, 2013
What a friendly school! The teachers are all very dedicated to their students. Every teacher we've had has an open door policy for parents. They also do their best to reach each child's academic needs. It's a very special school and I can't imagine a better staff anywhere!
Posted: June 16, 2013
I'm not sure why this school is rated so low. We have visited a lot of schools in the area, and Highlands was by far the best! There is a great sense of community at this school. The teachers, principal and staff are very accommodating and welcoming. I've never been turned down a visit to my kids classes. There is a good balance of hard work and fun. The staff works very hard to teach the kids and challenge them, preparing them for testing. They are also rewarded with award ceremonies recognizing not only academic achievements, but outstanding citizenship as well. The kids are constantly reminded of proper behavior, and how to be a Peacebuilder. I absolutely love this school, and disagree with the low rating it has received.
Reviews provided by GreatSchools™
| # | Name | Type | City | State | Overall Rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lakeview Village Apartments | Apartment Complex | Spring Valley | CA | 0.6 mi | |
| 2 | Jackson Pointe Townhomes | Condominium/Townhouse | Spring Valley | CA | 1.3 mi | |
| 3 | Jackson Pointe Townhomes | Condominium/Townhouse | Spring Valley | CA | 1.3 mi | |
| 4 | Canyon Run Apartments | Apartment Complex | El Cajon | CA | 5.5 mi | |
| 5 | Heritage at Otay Ranch | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Chula Vista | CA | 5.6 mi | |
| 6 | Del Cerro | Neighborhood/Subdivision | San Diego | CA | 6 mi | |
| 7 | Eastlake Greens | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Chula Vista | CA | 6.4 mi | |
| 8 | City Heights | Neighborhood/Subdivision | San Diego | CA | 7.3 mi | |
| 9 | Eastlake Vistas | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Chula Vista | CA | 7.3 mi | |
| 10 | Otay Ranch | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Chula Vista | CA | 7.5 mi | |
| 11 | Legacy Walk | Condominium/Townhouse | San Diego | CA | 7.6 mi | |
| 12 | The Summit at Eastlake | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Chula Vista | CA | 7.8 mi | |
| 13 | Eastlake Windingwalk | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Chula Vista | CA | 7.8 mi | |
| 14 | Cottage Lane | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Chula Vista | CA | 7.8 mi | |
| 15 | Santee Villas | Apartment Complex | Santee | CA | 8.1 mi |
| # | Name | City | State | Overall Rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rancho San Diego | El Cajon | CA | 2.7 mi | |
| 2 | East County of San Diego | La Mesa | CA | 3.3 mi | |
| 3 | El Cajon | El Cajon | CA | 4.2 mi | |
| 4 | Bonita | Chula Vista | CA | 5.7 mi | |
| 5 | Del Cerro | San Diego | CA | 6 mi | |
| 6 | Santee | Santee | CA | 7 mi | |
| 7 | Santee Trolley Square | Santee | CA | 7.1 mi | |
| 8 | Otay Ranch | Chula Vista | CA | 7.2 mi | |
| 9 | Kensington | San Diego | CA | 7.6 mi | |
| 10 | North Park | San Diego | CA | 8.6 mi |
| Base | Distance |
|---|---|
| San Diego Naval Base | 9.1 mi. |
| San Diego Naval Medical Center | 9.6 mi. |
| Coronado Naval Amphibious Base | 11.4 mi. |
| MCRD San Diego | 12.6 mi. |
| Miramar MCAS | 12.9 mi. |
| North Island NAS | 13.3 mi. |
| Naval Base Point Loma | 15.6 mi. |
| Camp Pendleton | 49 mi. |
