The top reported proficiency rate is 68% in English language arts. The lowest is 60% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Highland Park Elementary
Highland Park Elementary sits in the southeast portion of Gilbert, a large, fast-growing suburban community that has transformed from a farming town into a sprawling collection of master-planned subdivisions. The school serves students from pre-kindergarten through sixth grade as part of the Gilbert Unified School District. Gilbert itself is a primarily residential suburb of Phoenix; its growth over recent decades has been explosive, and while the pace has moderated, the town continues to add housing and population. Most travel is by car, with some pedestrian-oriented amenities concentrated in the Heritage District downtown. The top local employer is the school district itself, meaning many families in the attendance zone have a direct stake in how the schools operate.
The available state assessment data covers the 2024-2025 school year and shows a pattern of solid academic performance. In math, proficiency rates across grades three through six all landed at or above the midpoint of the state's scale, and in English language arts, results were notably stronger, with every grade level exceeding a majority of students meeting the bar. Science results for fifth graders were also strong. When placed against other districts in Maricopa County, the school's overall proficiency index sits in the top quartile. This is a straightforward strength; families looking for a school where students are, on average, performing well relative to the county will find that here.
Enrollment is substantial for an elementary school serving pre-K through sixth grade. The student body is predominantly white, with a large Hispanic minority present as the next-largest group; smaller shares of students identify as two or more races, Asian, Black, Native American, or Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander. The data does not include counts for students with Individualized Education Programs or English learners, and the share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price meals was also absent. A family wanting to know about special education staffing or the percentage of students learning English would need to ask the school directly.
The school is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet, and no Title I status was reported. The campus is located on a residential street in an established part of the city, near a major arterial road. Gilbert Unified itself has been operating under financial constraint; a maintenance and operations override request failed at the ballot box for the third consecutive time in 2023, and a bond measure also fell. The district responded by cutting some teaching positions through attrition and reducing school-site discretionary budgets. This fiscal picture is known publicly and worth noting, as it may affect class sizes and resource levels at individual school sites over time.
The broader community context is one of growth and development. Gilbert has added population at a rapid clip for decades, and the housing market reflects that demand. Home values in the area sit well above the state median, and rents are also elevated. The local economy is anchored by education, healthcare, and a handful of large employers in defense and professional services. The town's parks system is extensive, and the Heritage District offers a compact civic core, but most daily errands and commutes require a car.
What is missing from the picture. There is no chronic absenteeism data, no discipline information, and no staffing ratios. The school does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to report. A parent considering Highland Park would benefit from speaking with the school about class sizes after the district's recent budget adjustments, and about what supports are available for students who need extra help. The assessment picture is encouraging, but the absence of student support data and the district's recent funding challenges are pieces that families should press on if they want the full view.
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