Harvard Elementary School in Houston

Category	Rating	Details
Test Scores	10/10	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 State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) data from Texas Education Agency.
Student Growth	10/10	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 Percentage of students meeting growth target data from Texas Education Agency.

Posted: February 16, 2023

The sense of community among students is great. And I really love that. I knock it down a star just because I feel teachers could be more engaged with parents on a one-on-one level to really hone in on how to make our kids flourish. I do understand that teachers are spread very thin, but I do feel like more attention to each student by means of the parents would help so much more. But it takes actually meeting with parents. We had a zoom session that was 15 minutes and it seemed so forced for the teacher. No desire to connect with me, the parent. Again, this is my only gripe and teacher is still great to my little. All in all, its a wonderful school and I hope to keep my child here!

Posted: February 16, 2023

Posted: December 9, 2021

Like many others, I had older children who attended Harvard. It is definitely not the same school. My child is in second grade. There are so many behavior problems in his class. The admin try to cover it up like nothing is wrong. The academics are average. Nothing special that you cant find at another school. I don't even think they have any extracurricular activities any more. Don't expect a speedy response when you email teachers and admin.

Ugh. I hope something changes.

Posted: December 9, 2021

Posted: June 21, 2021

I was so nervous sending my kinder student in this pandemic year and was filled with anxiety, but boy, he ended the year as happy as a clam, with deep friendships and a huge love of learning. So thankful to his incredible teacher, friends and the wonderful community. It ended up being such a great year. Walking to school with so many friends is also such a bonus!

Posted: June 21, 2021

Posted: July 31, 2020

Weve had an amazing experience at Harvard! Our son just finish Kindergarten and is entering first grade. He loves it, and we are very happy there! The PTA is amazing!

Posted: July 31, 2020

Posted: November 23, 2019

Harvard is amazing. The teachers truly know your child and how to best guide them. They go above and beyond to provide support and communication. My child loves going to school and being surrounded by so many neighborhood kids. The parental involvement is some of the best I've ever seen. They engage so much, allow for so much extra educational tools, trips, programs and even start their own foundations to provide special things like the brand new outdoor gardening centers. Love the focus on STEM and IB. My child is thriving and can't wait to go to school on Mondays!

Posted: November 23, 2019

Posted: June 12, 2019

The school is a shell of its former self.

Posted: June 12, 2019

The tales I would hear about behavior were outrageous. It doesnt seem as if its managed well at all.

Posted: June 12, 2019

Posted: December 22, 2018

Some are, however there are past teachers weve had that are lacking so bad. All were hired from Mrs. Alaniz.

Posted: December 22, 2018

I cant tell who is really running the show. Is it Principal Alaniz or Principal Clark. Ms. Clark is the person who takes the lead in every event it seems, while Alaniz is sidelined.
Either way, the school lacks true leadership. As a parent I feel the ladies are winging it in terms of leadership. They are constantly changing rules and procedures, even in the middle of the year!! Its hard to keep up. Leadership is very manic right now.

Posted: December 22, 2018

The counselor left the school.
My child tells Bullies just get talked to by someone in the office and the school calls it a day.

Posted: December 22, 2018

Not what I expected. Its only getting worse.

Posted: December 22, 2018

The school is not on the same page with homework. My kids have two different homework assignments. One has none and the other has math and reading.

Posted: May 9, 2018

Harvard is definitely not what it use to be from when my older child attended school. There has been many changes, but I can honestly say they have not all been good changes. I agree with other reviewers, the administration is not the strongest. I see no consistency with anything.

Posted: May 9, 2018

This school is AMAZING! I have a first grade student here and she loves to wake up every day and come to school. She loves all of her teachers and continues to learn and grow. The administration is always active and thats very rare to find in a school. I look forward to the bright future my daughter has here!

Posted: May 9, 2018

Harvard it's a great school in a great community. Great leadership team and staff.

Posted: May 9, 2018

They encourage and push students to go above and beyond their capacity. Its incredible to see them grow academically.

Posted: May 9, 2018

I have a child attending 5th grade and i can not complain. Each year has been great, my daughter loves the school and is sad to leave. The teacher has helped her succeed. Also i love the front office staff they are the sweetest and always have a smile. The administrative team have helped me at all times and are so professional yet so caring.

Posted: May 9, 2018

My experience at Harvard is excellent, from the moment I attended the magnet tour to coming and volunteering . I have two children attending Harvard and they love the school and their teachers. Good job to the administrative team.

Posted: May 2, 2018

Mrs. Alaniz and Ms. Clark still have a lot to learn about running a school effectively. Beginning with parent communication. Event notices go home late, as well as important information. many parents have to reach out to the front office for dates and information.

Secondly, both administrators have let behavior go unchecked. Negative behavior is at an all time high. Im seriously in shock with what they allow to happen at the school.

there has been many times I have visited the school to see one child constantly in administrative care. I honestly wonder if this student is receiving the most appropriate education being out of the classroom.

The teachers however are keeping the school afloat despite the weak leadership.

Posted: May 2, 2018

I would have to say our experience has been so awful due to the lack of poor leadership from Mrs. Alaniz and Ms.Clark!!!. Were so disappointed.

Posted: May 2, 2018

Posted: May 1, 2018

Ms. Alaniz and Ms. Clark does not support their teachers. They do not allow them to grow in a grade level. Teachers are constantly being moved to different grade levels each year. Parents do not know what to expect anymore.

Also, they do not know how to control discipline at their school. Nor do they know how to support children with special needed.

Lastly, parent communication is absolutely terrible!!

Posted: May 1, 2018

The past two years have not been a pleasant experience with Ms. Alaniz and Ms. Clark as leaders.

Posted: May 1, 2018

Mrs. Alaniz constantly flip flops on the home work policy. She sides with one parent one week (gives too little) then agrees with another parent the next (teachers give too much)

Posted: May 1, 2018

The veteran teachers are effective because they have experience from their former principal. The new teachers are constantly being moved to different grade levels ever year, they cant build experience in their grade.

Posted: March 6, 2018

The teachers are very good at teaching - my son is in kindergarden and already reading comic books without help. The principle, Mrs. Alaniz, is very visible - helping with dropoff and pickup in the morning, available by phone and returns calls, attending neighborhood events. The PTA does a lot to raise money for additional equipment, field trips, and community events. This is a very active school - much more like a private-school community.

Posted: March 6, 2018

Posted: June 27, 2016

I am seeing a serious decline in leadership at Harvard Elementary ever since former principal Kevin Beringer retired.

Our new school principal Mrs. Alaniz has failed (in my opinion) to uphold his strong communication skills with staff and parents alike. In addition, the buzz around the school is that she completely fails in being present and attentive to her teachers. They are the last of the bunch to find out what is happening in their school and on their grade level, which is completely disheartening. This negligence has brought over a dozen teachers to move to other schools, resign, or forced into early retirement.

With so many great teachers gone and the entire leadership staff gone I am sad for our once great school and our loving students who deserve a principal who will AT LEAST pronounce their last name correctly during awards day. She does not know our last names because she is not PRESENT. She does not interact with our students. Ms. Alaniz would rather scold a custodian in front of parents then go into a classroom and read a picture book to the kids to get to know them.

I also fear who she will replace Mrs. Moore and Ms. Cole with. We clearly do not need anymore individuals with qualities like Ms. Alaniz running our school.

Posted: May 4, 2016

Harvard is an excellent elementary school with teachers who care about the development of their students and get to know their students, not just focusing on high test scores. IB curriculum is a plus. Since it is a STEM magnet, technology, PE, music, math and science are the auxiliary classes. First rate teachers. Many excellent after school clubs are offered including choir, student council, honor society, track, engineering, robotics, coding, name that book, multimedia and early birds (running) in the mornings. Warm and nice environment for kids of elementary age.

Posted: December 20, 2015

My daughter is 4 years old. She is in the pre-k pals program. She has been going to this school since she was 3. She is speech delayed. Since she has been here it has been a blessing. The teachers she have are very patient and always looking how to make learning easier for them. I am very happy we are attending this school and grateful for the teachers in the pals program for doing an awesome job.

Posted: December 20, 2015

Posted: April 20, 2015

Harvard elementary is a good school but it could be better if principal and teachers kept their educator hats on instead of trying to meet the numbers. I have 2 kids going to this school. As another reviewer pointed out, caters to mainstream students - if you are above or below, you will not receive the support you need. No art, music or sports/physical education. No GT instruction. Also agree that teachers do not like to help resolve student conflicts and discipline tends to be administered without objectivity - probably because there are no job accountabilities or guidelines for this.

Posted: November 6, 2014

Harvard is a very good school for mainstream students who don't need much extra attention. In my experience, children with special abilities or special needs tend to be overlooked and fall through the cracks. In addition, I found the IB program and the Vanguard instruction to be rather underwhelming. The language instruction in particular is a joke. After several years of instruction my child doesn't know the most basic Spanish vocabulary words. If your neighborhood middle school is your school of choice, Harvard will be a perfectly adequate elementary school for you. If you'd like to send your child to Lanier or TH Rogers, you will want to choose ROE or Travis instead. Harvard doesn't really prepare students for the rigors of a Vanguard middle school.

Posted: March 30, 2014

I'm a fifth grade student and LOVE this school. They have kind teachers who help you with anything needed and have many after school programs that you can attend for fun!! This school is an IB school with students who care and get good grades. If help is ever needed you can talk to the teacher about it and he/ she will handle it. If your child ever deals with bullying the teacher and principal will handle it giving the bully a punishment. The principal here is always on top of his game making sure everything is in order. This school is amazing!!!!! All of the teachers here are highly educated and so are we (the students) we have many projects, but they are always fun and the teachers give you a reasonable amount of time to do them. We don't get too much homework and go over everything in class. Everything is very organized as well. We have a tech lad, a P.E room, a music room, a library,an art room, a math room,and a science room. We are always learning new things and get help if we don't understand. I highly recommend this school for all those parents out there. You won't regret it !!!!!

Posted: February 22, 2014

Great school-- very caring, wonderful teachers, both grade level and auxiliary. Would recommend to anyone looking for a first rate elementary school.

Posted: October 24, 2013

Harvard Elementary is a gem of a school! The teachers are all very caring, progressive thinkers, who are encouraged by Mr. Beringer, the schools Principal, to seek out and learn new innovative and technological ways to teach in the classroom and keep the students engaged. A well rounded internationally broad educational experience is foremost at this little school. Thank you for a wonderful experience watching my child grow and learn.

Posted: October 24, 2013

Mr. Beringer, Harvard Elementary's school Principal, runs a tight ship at this school, which is why it has succeeded in its effort to become an IB World School, with major improvements in test scores over the past five years. Our child enjoys learning and is eager to come to school with children who are just as enthusiastic about learning. I would encourage all parents who work or have worked internationally to give your child an IB World School Harvard Elementary education.

Posted: August 9, 2013

Harvard is a wonderful IB school with great teachers, friendly staff and an amazing principal! Our daughter had an awesome Kindergarten there.

Posted: July 26, 2013

Harvard Elementary has been such a great school over the years, that I applied to have my children attend there, and drive eight miles through heavy traffic every morning to get them there on time. As for parents complaining, I would state that most of those parents want teachers and the school to raise their children do to a busy lifestyle. Harvard teaches children to be independent, handle conflict, and be productive citizens. My child was very-well prepared for middle school GT.

Posted: January 15, 2013

My son was being bullied his teacher told teachers did not get involved. Kids had to learn conflict resolution My son started coming home more withdrawn, physically hurt without any action from his teacher. Other parents who had similar issues told me they advised their children to physically defend themselves. Inventor/science fairs are poorly structured, left unclear to both student & parent making them difficult to navigate. I doubt the material is taught to students&often leaves the parents w/the bulk of work & little understanding as to what is expected. When attempts are made to discuss with teachers they seem equally clueless & pass blame to the teacher responsible for that project. I rarely receive graded work only report cards/progress reports. This makes it difficult to know what to work on with my child. This leaves me the expense of tutoring & the hope that my child is learning from his tutor. This school teaches to the center of the class. Doesnt help the struggling kids & keeps gifted students from reaching their potential teachers dont work as a unit with parents for students The themes & IB attitudes are great in theory but not applied/practiced.

Posted: November 3, 2012

About poorly thought out discipline, I disagree. Education starts at home and we shouldn't blame teachers for children's misbehavior. Dig in deeper, maybe there is an issue at home the child is trying to deal with or possibly bulling at home/school, or even stress, but don't blame somebody else when you are not an involved parent with the teachers or concerned staff members. Speaking for Hispanics, we tend to feel more welcomed when there's more talking, but other cultures are different and in the U.S. we all have to learn to play by the rules ---respect and appreciate the dynamics in diversity. IB attitudes should teach all of us something to apply. Teaching is not an easy job. That's why a lot has to do with passion!!!!We should support our teachers and not look at them as daily babysitters. Education is suffering enough and if it wasn't for Principal Beringer 's great leadership, the teachers' extra kids in class, PTA members trying to get extra funds, and parental involvement, our children wouldn't have such 7 out of 10 score. I fully support the Harvard staff and wish them a successful year!

#	Name	Type	City	State	Distance
1	Estates at Memorial Heights	Apartment Complex	Houston	TX	1.4 mi
2	IMT Kingwood	Apartment Complex	Kingwood	TX	21.2 mi
3	Kingwood	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Humble	TX	23.5 mi
4	Ravello at Tuscan Lakes	Apartment Complex	League City	TX	28.4 mi

Harvard Elementary School

Houston, TX 77007

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Harvard Elementary School

Houston, TX 77007

School Ratings

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