Highland Park Elementary

Highland Park
Elementary
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Highland Park Elementary School
Highland Park Elementary School/About

About

Highland Park Elementary

Highland Park Elementary is an inclusive, equitable community of students, staff and families which fosters authentic relationships. We respect the whole child, focus on the joy of learning and grow empathetic agents of change capable of pursuing diverse and fulfilling life choices.

Mission

HP Commits to:

Empowering and inspiring each member of our diverse community

Collaborating on both academic and behavioral data with a relentless student-centered focus

Endowing our students with the social intelligence necessary to build successful, sustaining relationships

Providing social and emotional support to ensure our students feel safe and respected

Our Community

Highland Park Elementary is home to a diverse population of students.  We are a Title I school which means we are provided additional funding annually in support of the socio-economic diversity of the population we serve.  Title funding is based upon the number of students who qualify for Free & Reduced Price Lunch.  Approximately 59% of our students qualify for Free & Reduced Price Lunch.

Because of our diversity, Highland Park offers a variety of services and programs to meet the needs of all learners.  Outside of our general education program, where teachers differentiate instruction to meet the needs of all students, we also provide services for students who qualify for Special Education. Lastly, many students we serve at Highland Park are English Language Learners for whom additional services are offered as well. 

Highland Park’s History

In 1913 Highland Park started in a one-room portable as an approved annex of South Park School. There were 16 students in grades 1-6. By 1919 the school had increased to eight one-room portables with a population of 290 students. With a steadily increasing student population, the need for a “real” school was obvious and district architect Floyd Naramore was asked to begin the design for a new school. The new building was completed in 1921, and 7th and 8th grades were added.

Because of community growth, the student population during the ‘40’s and ‘50’s kept increasing and in 1952 the 7th and 8th graders were transferred to the newly-built Denny Junior High School.  As a K-6 school the enrollment continued to rise.  By the early 1960’s Highland Park had become the largest K-6 grade school in the entire state and had to use 19 portables to house 45% of the school’s population.  In 1963 the school hit its peak enrollment of 1,182 pupils.

By the late 1980’s it was becoming evident that the original Highland Park school building was showing it’s age.  With the addition of computers, electric typewriters, copiers, laminators, etc. the electrical wiring was no longer adequate.  The 60+-year-old heating and ventilation systems became outdated, and lack of space became an issue for all the extra support staff (counselors, therapists, etc.)  Fortunately voters approved an initiative in 1994 that allowed the School District to proceed with a program to rebuild/remodel 13 schools.  Highland Park was one of the 13. 

For a year and a half Highland Park was housed at the old E.C. Hughes building while the old school was demolished and a new 71,200-square-foot building was erected.  School resumed in the new building in the fall of 1999.

History buffs will enjoy seeing the historic showcase (with doors made from two windows of the old school).  It houses memorabilia saved from the old school and sits beneath a large picture of the original building.

Our Programs and Services

Academic Programs…

  • National Science Foundation inquiry-based science curriculum for all students, K-5
  • Special Education (Resource Room)
  • After School Clubs to reinforce specific interests (on hold TBD)
  • Learning Resource Center(library) with over 17,000 books
  • Instrumental Music for grades 4 & 5
  • Full-day kindergartens
  • School-wide Title I
  • On site PreSchool Program through City of Seattle

Special Services

Student Intervention Team (SIT) that supports staff on issues of student academic and/or behavioral progress and includes…

  • half-time nurse
  • psychologist (part time)
  • speech therapist (part time)
  • occupational therapist (part time)
  • Full time Family Support Worker on site
  • Active PTA Group
  • Computers in every classroom
  • Full-size, well-equipped gym
  • Fully equipped kitchen where all meals are prepared on-site
  • Large asphalt playground attached to grass playfield of city park
  • Greenhouse