- Enrollment
- 442
- Students per teacher
- 20.1:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Saint Paul, MN
Higher Ground Academy
Federal NCES profile for Higher Ground Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 26/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 270014002719Charter school
👥 S:T ratio 30
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 43
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Higher Ground Academy earns 26/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 72% of Minnesota schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Minnesota schools.
- #19 of 26
- elementary schools in Saint Paul · Resource Index
- 26
- Resource Index · Lower
- 17.5:1
- large classes for Minnesota
- 94.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Higher Ground Academy has class sizes larger than 72% of Minnesota schools. Computed live against every Minnesota school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Higher Ground Academy ranks #19 of 26 elementary schools in Saint Paul, MN.
School address
District: Higher Ground Academy · Minnesota
NCES ID 270014002719 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-46 students YoY
Higher Ground Academy shrank from 573 students in 2022-23 to 527 in 2023-24 (-8.0%).
Teacher FTE lost 30.4 → 29.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-46 students YoY 270014002719 · Saint Paul, MN Elementary · MID · CHARTER
525 enr · 17.5:1 · 94.8% lunch · RII 26
Nearest enrollment peer: Higher Ground Secondary Academy (442 students)
Higher Ground Academy shrank from 573 students in 2022-23 to 527 in 2023-24 (-8.0%). Teacher FTE lost 30.4 → 29.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Minnesota schools → · Find another →
How Higher Ground Academy compares
Higher Ground Academy is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Minnesota and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Minnesota | Minnesota avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.5:1 | ▲ 11% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 94.8% | ▲ 121% | 42.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 525 | top 23% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.5:1
Leaner classes than 27% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
525
Bigger than 65% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
94.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 121% above the Minnesota average of 42.8%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
17.5:1
students per teacher
- 11% above state mean
Top 72% in Minnesota - lower ratio than 28% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
22.9%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$14,282
per pupil, district-wide
- below Minnesota avg of $15,919
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 525 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
6
in-school suspensions + 42 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 9.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 93.5%
White 5.7%
Asian 0.8%
Largest group: African American at 93.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 12.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 12.2, Higher Ground Academy is less mixed than the Minnesota school average of 42.8.
Programs
District finance for Higher Ground Academy reports $14,282 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Higher Ground Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Higher Ground Secondary Academy | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Higher Ground Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
Nationwide elementary schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~525 students)
Frequently asked questions about Higher Ground Academy
How many students attend Higher Ground Academy?
Higher Ground Academy has 525 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Saint Paul, MN. CCD year-over-year: 573 (2022-23) → 527 (2023-24), down 46.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Higher Ground Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Higher Ground Academy is 17.5:1, which is 11% higher than the Minnesota average of 15.8:1 and 11% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Higher Ground Academy?
94.8% of students at Higher Ground Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Minnesota average of 42.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Higher Ground Academy?
The largest demographic group at Higher Ground Academy is African American at 93.5% of enrollment, in Saint Paul, MN.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Higher Ground Academy?
Higher Ground Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 26/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Higher Ground Academy rank among elementary schools in Saint Paul?
By Resource Investment Index, Higher Ground Academy ranks #19 of 26 elementary schools in Saint Paul, MN. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Saint Paul on the city page.
What other schools are in Higher Ground Academy?
Besides Higher Ground Academy, Higher Ground Academy also operates Higher Ground Secondary Academy (442 students). See the Higher Ground Academy district page for the complete list.