- Enrollment
- 438
- Students per teacher
- 13.7:1
- Resource Index
- 58/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Columbus, KS
Highland Elem
Federal NCES profile for Highland Elem, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 46/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 200507001340
👥 S:T ratio 35
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 48
📋 Attendance 71
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Highland Elem earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 83% of Kansas schools.
- #2 of 4
- public schools in Columbus · Resource Index
- 46
- Resource Index · Typical
- 16.3:1
- large classes for Kansas
- 52.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Highland Elem has class sizes larger than 83% of Kansas schools. Computed live against every Kansas school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Highland Elem ranks #2 of 4 public schools in Columbus, KS.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+6 students YoY
Highland Elem held near 136 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+6 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 8.4 → 10.3 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+6 students YoY 200507001340 · Columbus, KS Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
130 enr · 16.3:1 · 52.3% lunch · RII 46
Nearest enrollment peer: Columbus Junior High and High School (438 students)
Highland Elem held near 136 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+6 headcount). Teacher FTE added 8.4 → 10.3 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Kansas schools → · Find another →
Highland Elem in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Columbus Junio
Columbus Junior High and High School
438 students
- Central Elem
Central Elem
348 students
- Park Elem
Park Elem
208 students
- This school 130
Highland Elem
130 students
What this shows Highland Elem reports 130 students on the CCD universe file.
How Highland Elem compares
Highland Elem held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Kansas and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Kansas | Kansas avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 16.3:1 | ▲ 18% | 13.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 52.3% | ▲ 22% | 42.7% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 130 | top 79% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.3:1
Leaner classes than 36% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
130
Bigger than 13% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
52.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 22% above the Kansas average of 42.7%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
16.3:1
students per teacher
- 18% above state mean
Top 83% in Kansas - lower ratio than 17% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
11.5%
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
$14,603
per pupil, district-wide
- below Kansas avg of $15,788
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.5 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Programs
District finance for Columbus reports $14,603 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Highland Elem Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus Junior High and High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Central Elem | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Park Elem | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Highland Elem's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 348
- Students per teacher
- 24.9:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 208
- Students per teacher
- 17.3:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
Similar elementary schools in Columbus
1 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 (~130 students)
Frequently asked questions about Highland Elem
How many students attend Highland Elem?
Highland Elem has 130 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Columbus, KS. CCD year-over-year: 130 (2022-23) → 136 (2023-24), nearly flat (+6).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Highland Elem?
The student-teacher ratio at Highland Elem is 16.3:1, which is 18% higher than the Kansas average of 13.8:1 and 4% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Highland Elem?
52.3% of students at Highland Elem are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Kansas average of 42.7%.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Highland Elem?
Highland Elem has a Resource Investment Index of 46/100 (typical 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 Elem rank among public schools in Columbus?
By Resource Investment Index, Highland Elem ranks #2 of 4 public schools in Columbus, KS. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking.
What other schools are in Columbus?
Besides Highland Elem, Columbus also operates Columbus Junior High and High School (438 students), Central Elem (348 students), and Park Elem (208 students). See the Columbus district page for the complete list.