• Hightower Elementary School

  • Hightower Building Facade

  • Catherine Kelly

    Principal

  • Contact Campus

    Phone: (469) 752-1800
    Fax: (469) 752-1801
    Address: 
    2601 Decator Drive
    Plano, TX 75093

  • Achievements

    • Education Results Partnership Honor Roll School– 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19
    • 2018 Texas Education Agency Distinction Designations:
      • Academic Achievement in Mathematics
      • Academic Achievement in English Language Arts/ Reading
      • Academic Achievement in Science
      • Top 25%: Comparative Academic Growth
      • Top 25%: Comparative Closing the Gaps
      • Post- Secondary Readiness
    • Texas State Exemplary school
    • Texas Business and Education Coalition Honor Roll School 2010,2011
    • Counseling Excellence
    • District Elementary Teacher of the Year winner – 2002, 2010
    • District Excellence in Teaching award
    • NCEA Just for Kids Higher Performing school
    • Plano ISD Education Foundation Grants to Educators winners
    • Presidential Academic awards
    • District PTA Reflections winners
    • Metroplex Children's Choir participants
    • Plano Children's Choir
    • OAKE National Choir
    • District and Regional Science Fair winners
    • PTA Diversity award
    • Silver awards for Arts in Education
    • Silver Award Parent Education
    • Bronze Award Membership Campaign winner

    Campus Programs

    • Plano Academic Creative Education (PACE) for identified gifted and talented students
    • English as a Second Language (ESL)
    • Intervention and Enrichment time
    • Multi-Sensory Reading Intervention
    • Cafeteria Cops
    • Fit Fest; Senior Reunion
    • One Book One School
    • LEGO Robotics
    • STEAM event
    • Cultural Diversity Day
    • Veterans Day Program
    • Book Character Parade
    • Break-Out Boxes
    • Collin County Adventure Camp (fifth grade)
    • President’s Award for Educational Excellence (fifth-grade)
    • John and Myrtle Hightower Humanitarian Award
    • PASAR (after school childcare)
    • Science Fair
    • Spelling Bee
    • Tiger TV
    • LEGO Robotics
    • Red Ribbon Week
    • Friendship Week
    • Reflections

    Parent Involvement Opportunities

    • PTA; volunteers
    • School-Based Improvement Committee (SBIC)
    • Parenting classes
    • YO packets
    • Newsletters
    • Reflections
    • Field Day
    • Bike Rodeo
    • Family picnic
    • School Store
    • Cultural Arts programs
    • Yearbook
    • Book Fair
    • Lunch with Someone Special
    • Collin County Adventure Camp (fifth-grade)
    • Bank Day
    • Box tops / labels
    • Mentoring

    Community/Business Partnerships

    • Chick-fil-A
    • Corner Bakery
    • Jason’s Deli
    • North Dallas Bank.
  • History of Hightower

    John F. Hightower

    Portrait of Mr. Hightower.

    Hightower honors longtime Plano ISD educator John Freeman Hightower, who came to Plano in 1956 as a biology science teacher. As a young man, he had attended college at Huston-Tillotson College; he earned his master's degree in administration from Texas Southern University. Later on, he earned his doctorate from the University of North Texas and the University of California in Sacramento. He married  Dr. Myrtle Hightower, a teacher and counselor for the PISD schools.

    Hightower was named principal of Fred Douglass High School in 1964, making him an important figure in the removal of segregation from Plano schools. He was counselor and, afterwards, director of Special Services from 1976-84. Hightower was then selected as Plano's first coordinator of ethnic relations, a position he held until retiring in 1986. His honors include Plano Citizen of the Year for 1978.

    Hightower Elementary opened for the fall of 1998. 

     

    Dr. Myrtle Hightower

    Portrait of Dr. Myrtle Hightower.Dr. Hightower began her career and her history of community service in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She held many positions in education in Oklahoma including Dean of Women at her alma mater, Langston University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in English. Dr. Hightower also earned a Master of Teaching degree from Northeastern State University and a PhD from the University of Cincinnati.

    Dr. Hightower worked in Plano ISD for many years as a teacher and counselor. She has served on many committees and boards throughout Plano and has been honored with numerous awards. To name a few, she was selected as one of Plano ISD's 100 Heros, she is a Collin College Living Legacy and a recipient of the Texas Hero for Children Award. Along with her late husband John, Dr. Hightower has long been a resounding voice within this community.