- Enrollment
- 1,347
- Students per teacher
- 13.9:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Ephrata, PA
Highland El Sch
Federal NCES profile for Highland El Sch, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 49/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 420927002570
👥 S:T ratio 44
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 12
📋 Attendance 69
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Highland El Sch earns 49/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Pennsylvania median.
- #4 of 4
- elementary schools in Ephrata · Resource Index
- 49
- Resource Index · Higher
- 14.1:1
- students per teacher
- 45.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Highland El Sch has class sizes near the Pennsylvania median. Computed live against every Pennsylvania school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Highland El Sch ranks #4 of 4 elementary schools in Ephrata, PA.
School address
District: Ephrata Area Sd · Pennsylvania
NCES ID 420927002570 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-2 students YoY
Highland El Sch held near 466 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-2 headcount).
Teacher FTE held 31.5 → 31.6 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-2 students YoY 420927002570 · Ephrata, PA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
438 enr · 14.1:1 · 45.7% lunch · RII 49
Nearest enrollment peer: Ephrata Shs (1,347 students)
Highland El Sch held near 466 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-2 headcount). Teacher FTE held 31.5 → 31.6 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Pennsylvania schools → · Find another →
Highland El Sch in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Ephrata Shs
Ephrata Shs
1,347 students
- Ephrata Ms
Ephrata Ms
601 students
- Ephrata Interm
Ephrata Intermediate Sch
568 students
- This school 438
Highland El Sch
438 students
- Clay El Sch 377
Clay El Sch
377 students
- Fulton El Sch 297
Fulton El Sch
297 students
What this shows Highland El Sch reports 438 students on the CCD universe file.
How Highland El Sch compares
Highland El Sch held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Pennsylvania and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14.1:1 | ▲ 4% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 45.7% | ▼ 21% | 58.1% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 438 | top 53% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.1:1
Leaner classes than 56% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
438
Bigger than 53% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
45.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 21% below the Pennsylvania average of 58.1%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
14.1:1
students per teacher
- 4% above state mean
Top 64% in Pennsylvania - lower ratio than 36% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
12.6%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$17,692
per pupil, district-wide
- below Pennsylvania avg of $18,725
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 438 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 6 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 78.3%
Hispanic or Latino 14.2%
Two or More 4.8%
Asian 1.6%
African American 0.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%
Largest group: White at 78.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 36.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 36.4, Highland El Sch is about as mixed as the Pennsylvania school average of 37.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Ephrata Area Sd reports $17,692 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Highland El Sch Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ephrata Shs | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Ephrata Ms | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Ephrata Intermediate Sch | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Clay El Sch | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Fulton El Sch | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Highland El Sch's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 601
- Students per teacher
- 11.3:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
- Enrollment
- 568
- Students per teacher
- 13.9:1
- Resource Index
- 56/100
- Enrollment
- 377
- Students per teacher
- 13:1
- Resource Index
- 55/100
- Enrollment
- 297
- Students per teacher
- 11.9:1
- Resource Index
- 56/100
Similar elementary schools in Ephrata
3 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
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 (~438 students)
Frequently asked questions about Highland El Sch
How many students attend Highland El Sch?
Highland El Sch has 438 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Ephrata, PA. CCD year-over-year: 468 (2022-23) → 466 (2023-24), nearly flat (-2).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Highland El Sch?
The student-teacher ratio at Highland El Sch is 14.1:1, which is 4% higher than the Pennsylvania average of 13.6:1 and 10% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Highland El Sch?
45.7% of students at Highland El Sch are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Pennsylvania average of 58.1%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Highland El Sch?
The largest demographic group at Highland El Sch is White at 78.3% of enrollment, in Ephrata, PA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Highland El Sch?
Highland El Sch has a Resource Investment Index of 49/100 (higher 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 Highland El Sch rank among elementary schools in Ephrata?
By Resource Investment Index, Highland El Sch ranks #4 of 4 elementary schools in Ephrata, PA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Ephrata on the city page.
What other schools are in Ephrata Area Sd?
Besides Highland El Sch, Ephrata Area Sd also operates Ephrata Shs (1,347 students), Ephrata Ms (601 students), and Ephrata Intermediate Sch (568 students). See the Ephrata Area Sd district page for the complete list.