Highland Park Elementary School

Posted: September 5, 2025

We are super fans of Highland Park. We’ve been here since 2020 and couldn’t have landed in a better spot for our kids. The principal, Katie Peña, is one of the most impressive humans I’ve ever met, let alone a remarkable principal. It’s a fabulous public school with an incredible spirit. Teachers stay for the entirety of their careers, many of them are former HP students themselves, and that’s the sign of a warm and nurturing environment if I’ve ever seen one. I hope this school is here for many more generations of public-school Austinites to come.

Posted: September 5, 2025

Posted: September 5, 2025

Posted: September 5, 2025

Posted: September 5, 2025

Posted: September 5, 2025

Posted: September 5, 2025

Posted: September 5, 2025

Posted: August 23, 2024

I am very surprised by the number of positive reviews given my family's experience and the experience of other families I know. And we are not the problem. My kids have thrived at schools since (moved elementary schools for one and middle school for the other). I think the review stating that some families have a different experience is accurate. If you are a PTA mom who has the time to befriend the principal and the teachers, then your child will likely have the more pleasant teachers and your family will be trusted should you seek assistance. Bullying is tolerated at a really outrageous level - given the experience of one of my children and that of friends' children and anecdotal stories. Some really insane gas lighting occurred by teachers towards my child in the most absurd of situations.
A plus is the curriculum was impressive and engaging.
I wish I had given my children different elementary experiences.

Posted: August 23, 2024

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Posted: November 9, 2023

We have been at HP for 6 years with 2 kids. I think the best part about HP is the leadership, the Principal truly cares and is very competent and it trickles down. We had one instance where a kid was being slightly bullied (very minor) and we requested a meeting and the response was very impressive. The PTA and parent support is outstanding.

Public schools are hard, there are many challenges. I think that became more evident after COVID. This school is as well run and cared for as I think anyone can possibly hope for. There are even a fair number of alum who now teach there! The only knock on it is the age and condition of the school itself.

Posted: November 9, 2023

Posted: November 9, 2023

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Posted: February 13, 2023

I most agree with the latest review. I am not surprised there are some glowing reviews because the PTA moms are in deep with the school and their kids get choice teachers and choice treatment. Each grade we’ve gone through has a mixed bag of great to really rude teachers. The students are entitled. As noted in one review, bullying is tolerated and hardly handled from what I can tell. We are considering moving next year, which is a shame because we lived in this neighborhood for the elementary school. I wonder if things have just recently gone downhill or if the student population and parents have changed since covid. Not friendly. Oh and I know of several parents who say 504 plans barely looked at or enforced. This matters to us because we may have one by summer from our child.

Posted: February 13, 2023

Posted: August 22, 2019

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Posted: August 22, 2019

Posted: August 22, 2019

Posted: August 22, 2019

Great community of teachers and educators. Parents are highly involved and contribute positively to the school by creating additional resources. A great learning environment for all kids from high performing to those who need more assistance. Feels like the level of attention you would get at a private school, but brings the benefit of the diversity and resources of a public school.

Posted: January 26, 2018

The teachers at this school are highly supported by leadership, are highly trained and competent in their subjects, and morale is excellent.

Posted: January 26, 2018

My children feel that they can "be themselves" at HP. The Social Emotional Learning program is strong on this campus and well-supported through the school counselor's excellent lessons in classrooms and further support from teachers.

Posted: January 26, 2018

Principal Pena is one of the best principals I have encountered in public ed. She leads with grace, and creates a very pleasant school climate and learning environment. She answers parent questions, and seems to have an excellent relationship with teachers, support staff, and the children.

Posted: January 26, 2018

We transferred from our neighborhood school because we were disappointed that there were no/very limited enrichment opportunities and supports for children who learn differently/at a different speed at our previous school. I cannot be vocal enough about how HP has changed education for our bright daughter and has truly changed the life of my family. Learning differences are addressed in a number of ways, including on a macro level (ability-grouped classes) and the micro level (targeted and meaningful enrichment for the outlier kids who need it). The class grouping has been most transformative for my daughter, who now feels like she "fits in" in her classrooms and feels open to explore and learn at the rate she is comfortable with.

Posted: January 26, 2018

Strong SEL program, strong support from school counselor, high behavioral expectations and positive behavior supports in the school, as well as thoughtfully-implemented tools such as the playground buddy bench and accessible services for students who need help.

Posted: January 26, 2018

Posted: January 26, 2018

As I've stated in the other sections, this school has been truly transformative for my bright daughter. My son just began here, and we are nothing but hopeful and expectant of amazing experiences for him as well.

Posted: July 17, 2017

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Posted: July 17, 2017

Amazing school! My two boys attended Highland Park and LOVED it!! Excellent programs, teachers who actually care about the kids and want to teach them. Outstanding parents who care a lot about their own kids, the school, and are always willing to help. Combination of excellent leadership, very high parent participation, and dedicated teachers makes Highland Park an amazing school.

Posted: November 24, 2016

Posted: November 24, 2016

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Posted: November 24, 2016

I don't feel like it's too much, but it helps with practicing the stuff that can only be learned through repetition.

Posted: November 24, 2016

Our child moved to Highland Park after we were disappointed with the prestigious private school we'd been at for 2 years. We had heard nothing but good things about HP, so we decided to try it out. We were blown away! HP is an amazing school! The community is so fun and homey, just like what I had hoped for my child. The community is large, but the way the school is organized makes everything run so smoothly. The teachers have all been wonderful and the separate classes for different abilities has been great. The children don't seem very aware of the differences and it's not made to be competitive. We have been so happy with the school and so glad we took the leap of faith.

Posted: January 1, 2014

Both of my kids have attended Highland Park since kindergarten and we have been EXCEEDINGLY pleased with the quality of education, amazing, caring teachers and the social atmosphere. We love, love, love this school. Our children have made great, solid friends, had a lot of fun and are very happy. Our middle school admissions officer told us that children from Highland Park are among the best prepared for middle school. I rarely write a review online, but am disappointed to see so many negative reviews and felt the need to provide my own candid input. No school is perfect, but HP is probably about at close as you could ask for, public or private. Because of the parent involvement, the school offers many benefits of a private school without the cost of tuition. I think this school should be STRONGLY considered by all.

Posted: June 7, 2012

If you read many of these reviews about Highland Park, you really pick up on the bitterness around the PTA and Fundraising. The PTA does raise a lot of money. Money which pays for positions that AISD won't fund. We currently pay for Technology teacher, Spanish teacher and a part time Reading specialist. We've help fund the Writing Without Tears program, the Math Attuned program and Fluency Centers. Plus we give money to grades to support them and enrichment fees for children who can't afford them. All which every kid in the school has access to. I don't agree that the PTA is cliquish. We BEG for help on a regular basis. Do we try to do too much? Maybe! As far as the academics go, I do agree with some of the other reviews. I have had a child in the high group, the medium and now a 504 kid. If you have a child with any kind of learning disability, this is the place to go! The high kids get great support too. In my experience, the middle kids can get missed. There are some some fantastic teachers and some that should leave. I have found that to be true at most schools. Even private. Overall, it really is a great public school! Just finished my 14th year at HP and still appreciate it

Posted: June 3, 2012

We've been extremely happy with the education our student is receiving at HP. Academics are very strong at HP--students average top 98% in standardized tests. Teachers assign projects beginning in K and students must learn to budget their time from an early age. Students also receive homework beginning in 1st but quantity does not seem over the top. The principal's blog provides details about each grade during the year. There may be a bit too much emphasis on raising money, at times all the events feel like a shake down, but we are thankful our school has the resources to support its teachers. We might consider pairing with another school, perhaps one that is minority-majority, on a community project to expose our kids to populations rich in other ways.

Posted: March 20, 2012

While I agree with some of the reviews about the cliquish feeling within the PTA (I felt that way, too), I have found as I have gotten to know people over the past 7 years at the school that the people in the PTA now are more inclusive than they seem. My advice would be to for volunteers to approach the PTA president if there is a committee or an event. It seems they are always trying to fill positions. The PTA does do a bunch of fundraising, but it also buys educational materials for the kids, supports the library and specials classes, supports the teachers, etc. I feel like that PTA support is what makes our kids breathe a little easier when standardized tests come around. The teachers don't have to teach to the test because they have other materials to use to teach the foundation kids need. As for academics, I have mixed feelings. It seems that the kids who are placed in the middle classes are not challenged enough. My child in the highest classes was challenged more. For the most part, I feel the kids get a good education. They do some great, really fun projects.

Posted: February 22, 2011

I love all the teachers that I have worked with as a parent. I don't like the entitlement of those who pay moeny for private parking spots and then are rude to other parents - in front of the children. Doesn't teach the children good values - and the PTA doesn't seem to mind as long as it brings in money. They sell parking spots, they sell passes so children can cut in line to games during Hoot. I don't understand how this reinforces any good values whatsoever. My parents attended Hoot and were mortified. Reviews are based on the lack of leadership of the principal and the PTA to practice what they preach.

Posted: February 21, 2011

This school is over-rated. It may have been great once, but that was some time ago. The principal has no idea what is happening in the classroom and seems out of touch. The "grouping by ability" is a joke as my son has experienced it first hand. He's never been challenged in 3 years and is bored in class most of the time. Teaching quality in my experience has been poor - I've seen lots of preference issues which other reviewers have already mentioned. They are correct. There is way too much emphasis on parent funding of special events. The school should be focused on the learning aspect. I am now looking at private schools.