Highlands Intermediate School

There’s a lot I like about this middle school, but there’s a lot to be desired as well. I’ll try to cover all bases in this review.
They successfully integrate 7^th graders from seven (I think) complex area elementary schools, then feed the 8^th graders into Pearl City High School. With only two years at Highlands, students don’t have long to make an indelible mark on teachers, the campus, and the culture of the school. The Principal, Amy Martinson, has been there for nearly 10-​years and has a firm understanding of who the teachers are, what their strengths are, and where the opportunities lay. This works for Highlands, but can also work against it in typical long-​tenured principal scenarios. Ms. Martinson, however, seems to embrace change, ensuring smartboards for most classrooms, iPads for most teachers, aquaponics gardens, and robotics teams. STEM related emphasis will win me over all the time.
The campus is in mostly good condition. I’m confident it’s an uphill battle when you’re dealing with a bunch of 7^th and 8^th graders (mostly, the boys) who believe they’ve got newfound freedoms because the parents aren’t on the campus as much as elementary school. This is why you’ll find periodic graffitti, trash, dirty bathrooms, and messy bulletin boards. That said, the school makes a pretty honorable attempt at cleaning up after the kids.
I don’t have the good fortune of knowing most of the teachers, unlike my experience at my kids’ elementary school. The teachers I do know/​did meet seem to be first class. I’m especially fond of my son’s science, math, and English teachers (Ms. Lin, Mr. Yamashita, and Ms. Mumau, respectively). They treat my son with respect, but have high expectations for him and grade him accordingly. That’s all I can ask for. If anything, either he really is that smart, or they’re not giving him enough homework. Somehow, he’s always telling me, ‘no homework.’ Hmmm, suspicious.
When something bad happens on campus, the school has been good about sending letters to parents in a timely manner. There have been a few examples, so I won’t bore you with the details. However, my son came home last week and told me there were nine (9) fights at school that day (something about ‘National Fight Day’), yet we didn’t get anything from the school. That concerns me.
The great news is my son tells me he never feels intimidated, or bullied on campus. For the most part, he says he really enjoys attending the school, that’s a big relief on my part!
Situated up on the hills of Pearl City, on Honolaulea Street, it’s got lots of traffic surrounding the campus in the morning drop-​off hour (7:00am to 8:00am). After that, it’s awesome sauce picking kids up.
The PTA leaves much to be desired (even though I’m on the board, I’m not impressed), but the School Community Council has great depth and experience in helping the school. This helps the principal in a big way.
All-​in-​all, I’m happy with Pearl Highlands Middle School (but could be happier)!