School Town of Highland

Highland, Indiana — 6 schools

3,007
Total Enrollment
6
Schools
$12,883
Per-Pupil Spending
Elementary, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

School Town of Highland operates 6 public schools serving 3,007 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Indiana. The school portfolio breaks down into 3 elementary, 1 high, 1 middle, 1 other schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 3,165 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Lake County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $12,883 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, which aggregates every revenue and spending line reported under federal accounting standards. The funding mix is 26.5% local, 62.8% state, and 10.7% federal — a breakdown that matters because districts leaning heavily on local revenue are more exposed to property-tax swings, while higher federal shares typically track Title I concentration. Average teacher compensation clocks in at $53,398 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 29/100, ranked #323 of 373 in Indiana against a state average of 50 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 6 schools offering Advanced Placement (9 AP courses district-wide), a 341.6:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 21.6% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 45.6% White, 37.4% Hispanic or Latino, 11.3% African American across the district's schools.

Highland High School accounts for 30.7% of all School Town of Highland student enrollment

That concentration — well above the 8.4% national median for largest-entity share — means School Town of Highland-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

School Town of Highland school enrollment varies 3.3× across entities

School Town of Highland school enrollment ranges from 290 students (lowest) to 971 students (highest), a spread of 681 students. That relatively narrow ratio reflects an unusually homogeneous campus portfolio — most districts have a wider mix of school sizes. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

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

School Town of Highland student-counselor ratio is 342:1 — 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 School Town of Highland is typically wider than the School Town of Highland-aggregate figure suggests.

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

School Town of Highland chronic absenteeism rate is 21.6% — 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 School Town of Highland is typically wider than the School Town of Highland-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Where does the funding come from?

10.7%
Federal
62.8%
State
26.5%
Local

Funding Equity

29
Equity Score
323 / 373
State Rank
50
State Average

This district scores below average on funding equity. High reliance on local revenue or lower spending may contribute.

Local Rent Costs

Fair Market Rents in Lake County county, where this district is located.

$959
Studio/mo
$1,082
1 BR/mo
$1,317
2 BR/mo
$1,612
3 BR/mo
$1,744
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$53,398
Average annual teacher salary

Source: NCES CCD F-33 (Finance Survey).

Teacher salary data from NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 6 schools in School Town of Highland.

White 45.6%
Hispanic or Latino 37.4%
African American 11.3%
Asian 2.1%
Multiracial 3.5%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

1 / 6
Schools with AP
9 AP courses total
341.6:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
21.6%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in School Town of Highland

School Enrollment
Highland High School
971
Highland Middle School
774
Southridge Elementary School
439
Judith Morton Johnston Elementary
383
Allen J Warren Elementary School
308
Mildred Merkley Elementary School
290

Nearby Districts in Indiana

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

Fort Wayne Community Schools
28,612 students · 50 schools · $15,804/pupil
Compare vs School Town of Highland →
Indianapolis Public Schools
22,027 students · 57 schools · $26,790/pupil
Compare vs School Town of Highland →
Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp
21,739 students · 40 schools · $13,917/pupil
Compare vs School Town of Highland →
Hamilton Southeastern Schools
21,612 students · 22 schools · $13,097/pupil
Compare vs School Town of Highland →
MSD Lawrence Township
16,414 students · 17 schools · $14,366/pupil
Compare vs School Town of Highland →

Compare School Town of Highland

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

Compare vs Fort Wayne Community Schools →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in School Town of Highland?

School Town of Highland has 6 schools, including 1 high, 1 middle, 3 elementary, 1 other. Total enrollment is 3,007 students.

How much does School Town of Highland spend per student?

School Town of Highland spends $12,883 per student. The district has an equity score of 29/100, ranking #323 in Indiana.

What is the average teacher salary in School Town of Highland?

The average teacher salary in School Town of Highland is $53,398 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near School Town of Highland?

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Lake County County is $N/A/month (2026). This affects housing affordability for families in the district.

What is the demographic composition of School Town of Highland?

School Town of Highland students are 45.6% White, 37.4% Hispanic or Latino, 11.3% African American, 2.1% Asian, averaged across 6 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for School Town of Highland?

School Town of Highland has an equity score of 29/100, ranking #323 out of 373 districts in Indiana. This score measures resource distribution fairness across schools in the district.

Federal data Last updated 2026 Free public data

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