Compare Hightower Elementary School with Skaggs Elementary School

Hightower Elementary School performed excellent to earn a State accountability rating of A (90-100) based on three domains: student achievement, school progress and closing the gaps. Scores are scaled from 0 to 100 to align with letter grades. The school scored 93 in student achievement, 92 in school progress and 94 in closing performance gaps. It scored 93 overall in post-secondary readiness, a broad term that refers to student preparedness to undertake multiple pathways after graduation, or specifically, their preparedness for college education.

On the other hand, Skaggs Elementary School also performed excellent to earn a State accountability rating of A. The school posted 95 in student achievement, 96 in school progress, 100 in closing performance gaps and 97 overall in post-secondary readiness.

A distinction designation acknowledges districts and campuses for outstanding achievement based on the outcomes of several performance indicators. Distinction designations are awarded for achievement in several areas and are based on performance relative to a group of campuses of similar type, size, grade span, and student demographics.

It is in this area where the two schools differ. Hightower Elementary School’s four out of seven distinctions are in Reading/English Language Arts (ELA), Mathematics, Science and post-secondary. Skaggs Elementary School's six out of seven distinctions are in Reading/English Language Arts (ELA), Mathematics, Science, post-secondary, with 25% student progress and 25% closing performance gaps.

Based on Racial/Ethnic Groups, Whites or Caucasians comprise the biggest group at Hightower Elementary School. They make up for 40.09% of student population, followed by Asians (24.15%), Hispanics (18.91%), African Americans (10.02%), Two or More Races (6.61%) and Native Americans (0.23%).

At Skaggs Elementary School, Asians are the biggest group, comprising 62.68% of student population, followed by Whites or Caucasians (17.03%), Hispanics (8.70%), African Americans (5.80%) and Two or More Races (5.80%). There is no Native Americans student in the school.

Based on household incomes, Hightower Elementary School’s economically disadvantaged students is slightly higher at 25.74% compared to 19.20% at Skaggs Elementary School.

In terms of Limited English Proficiency (LEP), a term used in the United States that refers to a person who is not fluent in the English Language, mainly because it is not their native language, Hightower Elementary School has a significantly higher number of English Language Learners comprising 18.00% of its student population compared to 17.75% at Skaggs Elementary School.

In addition, Hightower Elementary School has 17.31% bilingual students, 7.74% are in the gifted and talented program, while 15.03% are in the special education program. This stacks up against Skaggs Elementary School with 18.12% bilingual students, 28.99% gifted and talented students and 12.68% students in the special education program.

38 teachers employed at Hightower Elementary School have been teaching in the school for an average of about 7.7 years with individual teaching experience averaging 10.4 years. The 27 teachers at Skaggs Elementary School have been serving the school for an average of 9.4 years with individual teaching experience averaging 10.8 years.

Of its teaching staff, Hightower Elementary School has one teacher only serving the school for over 30 years, has three teachers serving the school for 20-30 years, 12 teachers have worked for 11-20 years, eight teachers have worked for 6-10 years, while 11 teachers have been serving the school for over 1-5 years, including three beginning teachers. Skaggs Elementary School has one teacher only serving the school for over 30 years, has two teachers serving the school for 20-30 years, ten teachers have worked for 11-20 years, four teachers have worked for 6-10 years, while nine teachers have been serving the school for over 1-5 years, including two beginning teachers.

In both schools, female teachers outnumber the male teachers. At Hightower Elementary School there are 36 female teachers and one male teacher only. Of its teaching staff, seven special education teachers are being assisted by seven teachers aides or paraprofessionals. In addition to its teaching staff, the school has two staff members in the school administration department and three more working as school support staff.

On the other hand, Skaggs Elementary School has an all-female teaching staff. Of its teaching staff, six special education teachers are being assisted by 11 teachers aides or paraprofessionals. In addition to its teaching staff, the school has two staff members in the school administration department and four more working as school support staff.