- Enrollment
- 626
- Students per teacher
- 16.9:1
- Resource Index
- 54/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Downers Grove, IL
Highland Elem School
Federal NCES profile for Highland Elem School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 62/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 171254001509
👥 S:T ratio 36
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 81
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Highland Elem School earns 62/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 79% of Illinois schools.
- #7 of 11
- schools in Downers Grove · Resource Index
- 62
- Resource Index · Higher
- 16:1
- large classes for Illinois
- 352
- students enrolled
Highland Elem School has class sizes larger than 79% of Illinois schools. Computed live against every Illinois school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Highland Elem School ranks #7 of 11 schools in Downers Grove, IL.
School address
District: Downers Grove Gsd 58 · Illinois
NCES ID 171254001509 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-27 students YoY
Highland Elem School shrank from 393 students in 2022-23 to 366 in 2023-24 (-6.9%).
Teacher FTE held 22.4 → 22.4 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-27 students YoY 171254001509 · Downers Grove, IL Other · SMALL · TRAD
352 enr · 16:1 · RII 62
Nearest enrollment peer: Herrick Middle School (626 students)
Highland Elem School shrank from 393 students in 2022-23 to 366 in 2023-24 (-6.9%). Teacher FTE held 22.4 → 22.4 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Illinois schools → · Find another →
Highland Elem School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Herrick Middle
Herrick Middle School
626 students
- Lester Elem Sc
Lester Elem School
531 students
- O Neill Middle
O Neill Middle School
403 students
- Hillcrest Elem
Hillcrest Elem School
382 students
- Kingsley Elem
Kingsley Elem School
359 students
- This school
Highland Elem School
352 students
What this shows Highland Elem School reports 352 students on the CCD universe file.
How Highland Elem School compares
Highland Elem School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Illinois and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Illinois | Illinois avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 16:1 | ▲ 14% | 14:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Enrollment | 352 | top 54% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16:1
Leaner classes than 38% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
352
Bigger than 40% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Staffing depth
16:1
students per teacher
- 14% above state mean
Top 79% in Illinois - lower ratio than 21% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
7.7%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
Funding equity
$20,037
per pupil, district-wide
- above Illinois avg of $18,196
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 78.1%
Hispanic or Latino 10.2%
Asian 5.4%
Two or More 4.5%
African American 1.7%
Largest group: White at 78.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 37.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 37.4, Highland Elem School is about as mixed as the Illinois school average of 38.9.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Downers Grove Gsd 58 reports $20,037 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Highland Elem School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Herrick Middle School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| Lester Elem School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| O Neill Middle School | Similar size | No free-lunch data | Lower S:T ratio |
| Hillcrest Elem School | Similar size | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| Kingsley Elem School | Similar size | No free-lunch data | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Highland Elem School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 531
- Students per teacher
- 18.3:1
- Resource Index
- 63/100
- Enrollment
- 403
- Students per teacher
- 14.4:1
- Resource Index
- 57/100
- Enrollment
- 382
- Students per teacher
- 15.9:1
- Resource Index
- 65/100
- Enrollment
- 359
- Students per teacher
- 12.4:1
- Resource Index
- 70/100
Similar other schools in Downers Grove
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Lester Elem School
Standard public school
531 students 18.3:1 students per teacher
Hillcrest Elem School
Standard public school
382 students 15.9:1 students per teacher
Kingsley Elem School
Standard public school
359 students 12.4:1 students per teacher
Fairmount Elem School
Standard public school
342 students 17.1:1 students per teacher
Pierce Downer Elem School
Standard public school
337 students 16:1 students per teacher
Indian Trail Elem School
Standard public school
325 students 11.6:1 students per teacher
Nationwide other 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 (~352 students)
Frequently asked questions about Highland Elem School
How many students attend Highland Elem School?
Highland Elem School has 352 students enrolled. It is a public school in Downers Grove, IL. CCD year-over-year: 393 (2022-23) → 366 (2023-24), down 27.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Highland Elem School?
The student-teacher ratio at Highland Elem School is 16:1, which is 14% higher than the Illinois average of 14:1 and 2% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Highland Elem School?
The largest demographic group at Highland Elem School is White at 78.1% of enrollment, in Downers Grove, IL.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Highland Elem School?
Highland Elem School has a Resource Investment Index of 62/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Highland Elem School rank among schools in Downers Grove?
By Resource Investment Index, Highland Elem School ranks #7 of 11 schools in Downers Grove, IL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Downers Grove on the city page.
What other schools are in Downers Grove Gsd 58?
Besides Highland Elem School, Downers Grove Gsd 58 also operates Herrick Middle School (626 students), Lester Elem School (531 students), and O Neill Middle School (403 students). See the Downers Grove Gsd 58 district page for the complete list.