Highland Park Boro School District

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.

Highland Park, New Jersey - 4 schools

An equity score of 59/100 ranks Highland Park Boro School District #206 of 587 districts in New Jersey (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $24,994 per pupil, Highland Park Boro School District ranks #276 of 649 New Jersey districts by per-pupil spending (New Jersey districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

1,598
Total Enrollment
4
Schools
$24,994
Per-Pupil Spending
High, Elementary
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Highland Park Boro School District operates 4 public schools serving 1,598 students, placing it among the smallest districts in New Jersey. The school portfolio breaks down into 1 high, 1 elementary, 1 middle, 1 combined schools, a small enough portfolio that most families will interact with nearly every campus in the district at some point. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Middlesex County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $24,994 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the upper half of 649 New Jersey districts by per-pupil spending. See how New Jersey compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 64.8% local, 27.6% state, and 7.6% federal, a local-revenue-heavy mix that leaves the district more exposed to property-tax swings and local ballot measures than state-funded peers. The district's equity score is 59/100, ranked #206 of 587 in New Jersey against a state average of 50, notably more even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 4 schools offering Advanced Placement (18 AP courses district-wide), a 306.1:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 28.1% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 33.2% Hispanic or Latino, 31.7% White, 16.8% Asian across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Bartle Elementary School, with a diversity index of 75.0/100.

Its largest campus is Highland Park High School, enrolling 493 students (31% of the district's total enrollment).

Highland Park High School accounts for 30.9% of all Highland Park Boro School District student enrollment

That dominant concentration means Highland Park Boro School District-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: high. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Highland Park Boro School District student-counselor ratio is 306:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment, districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Variation between sub-units within Highland Park Boro School District is typically wider than the Highland Park Boro School District-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Highland Park Boro School District chronic absenteeism rate is 28.1% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason, illness, family obligations, or disengagement Variation between sub-units within Highland Park Boro School District is typically wider than the Highland Park Boro School District-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

7.6%
Federal
27.6%
State
64.8%
Local

Funding Equity

59
Equity Score
206 / 587
State Rank
50
State Average

This district has moderate funding equity. There may be room to improve funding diversity or resource allocation.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 4 schools in Highland Park Boro School District.

White 31.7%
Hispanic or Latino 33.2%
African American 10.8%
Asian 16.8%
Multiracial 6.8%
Other 0.6%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 74.2/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Highland Park Boro School District's schools, above the New Jersey average of 51.2.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Bartle Elementary School 75.0
  2. 2 Irving Primary School 74.4
  3. 3 Highland Park High School 73.9
  4. 4 Highland Park Middle School 73.5

Programs & Resources

1 / 4
Schools with AP
18 AP courses total
306.1:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
28.1%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Highland Park Boro School District

School Enrollment
Highland Park High School
493
Bartle Elementary School
405
Highland Park Middle School
349
Irving Primary School
326

How Highland Park Boro School District Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The New Jersey districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Buena Regional School District Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Keansburg School District Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Swedesboro-Woolwich School District Similar size Lower spending Less locally funded
Waldwick School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Warren Hills Regional School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to Highland Park Boro School District's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in New Jersey

Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Compare Highland Park Boro School District

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Newark Public School District →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Highland Park Boro School District?

Highland Park Boro School District has 4 schools, including 1 high, 1 elementary, 1 middle, 1 combined. Total enrollment is 1,598 students.

How much does Highland Park Boro School District spend per student?

Highland Park Boro School District spends $24,994 per student. The district has an equity score of 59/100, ranking #206 in New Jersey.

What is the demographic composition of Highland Park Boro School District?

Highland Park Boro School District students are 33.2% Hispanic or Latino, 31.7% White, 16.8% Asian, 10.8% African American, averaged across 4 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Highland Park Boro School District?

Highland Park Boro School District has an equity score of 59/100, ranking #206 out of 587 districts in New Jersey.