Enrollment
616
Illinois · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Elgin, IL
Highland Elem School
Federal NCES profile for Highland Elem School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 31/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 171371001680
👥 S:T ratio 37
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 27
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Highland Elem School earns 31/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 79% of Illinois schools.
- #5 of 14
- schools in Elgin · Resource Index
- 31
- Resource Index · Lower
- 15.8:1
- large classes for Illinois
- 616
- 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 #5 of 14 schools in Elgin, IL.
School address
Teachers (FTE)
40.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.8:1
vs 14:1 Illinois avg
+13% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Highland Elem School compares with Illinois and U.S. medians
What stands out at Highland Elem School
Highland Elem School is a mid-sized combined-grade school in Elgin, Illinois, enrolling 616 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 15.8:1 puts it in the larger third of Illinois schools by student-teacher ratio.
Enrollment of 616 puts it in the larger third of Illinois schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 3,845 scored Illinois schools.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (78%) and African American (9%) (diversity index 38/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 29.2% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Among Elgin's public schools, it stands alongside Country Trails Elem (751 students): Highland Elem School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (15.8:1 vs 17:1).
Sd U-46 also operates South Elgin High School (2,665 students) and Elgin High School (2,576 students) alongside Highland Elem School.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Highland Elem School compares
Highland Elem School on the metrics families compare, against Illinois and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Illinois | Illinois avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.8:1 | ▲ 13% | 14:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Enrollment | 616 | top 19% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.8:1
Leaner classes than 41% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
616
Bigger than 74% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Staffing depth
15.8:1
students per teacher
- 13% 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
29.2%
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
$17,947
per pupil, district-wide
- above Illinois avg of $17,042
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 + 4 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
Enrollment 616 Top 19% in Illinois - larger than 81% of 3,845 state schools
Teachers (FTE) 40.0
Students per teacher 15.8:1 +13% vs state
Free-lunch eligible -
NCES ID 171371001680
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 77.9%
African American 9.1%
White 6.3%
Two or More 4.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.9%
Asian 0.6%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 77.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 37.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 37.9, Highland Elem School is about as mixed as the Illinois school average of 38.9.
Programs & staff
Counselors (FTE) 0.0
Discipline & special education
Chronically absent 29.2%
In-school suspensions 0
Out-of-school suspensions 4
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Sd U-46, which includes Highland Elem School.
$17,947
Per student
+5%
vs Illinois
Avg $17,042
+8%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 43.9%
State 48.7%
Federal 7.5%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Highland Elem School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Elgin High School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| Elgin High School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Larkin High School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Bartlett High School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| Streamwood High School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher 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
- 2,665
- Students per teacher
- 16.5:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 2,576
- Students per teacher
- 18:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 2,174
- Students per teacher
- 17.6:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 2,037
- Students per teacher
- 15.5:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
- Enrollment
- 1,890
- Students per teacher
- 17.5:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
Similar other schools in Elgin
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Country Trails Elem
Standard public school
751 students 17:1 students per teacher
Lords Park Elem School
Standard public school
655 students 22.9:1 students per teacher
Coleman Elem School
Standard public school
641 students 16.8:1 students per teacher
Prairie View Grade School
Standard public school
615 students 18.6:1 students per teacher
Huff Elem School
Standard public school
577 students 16.8:1 students per teacher
Century Oaks Elem School
Standard public school
542 students 19.4:1 students per teacher
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Highland Elem School's federal record.
- Compare Highland Elem School against another school. Compare schools
- Sd U-46's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Highland Elem School
How many students attend Highland Elem School?
Highland Elem School has 616 students enrolled. It is a public school in Elgin, IL.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Highland Elem School?
The student-teacher ratio at Highland Elem School is 15.8:1, which is 13% higher than the Illinois average of 14:1 and 1% 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 Hispanic or Latino at 77.9% of enrollment, in Elgin, IL.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Highland Elem School?
Highland Elem School has a Resource Investment Index of 31/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Highland Elem School rank among schools in Elgin?
By Resource Investment Index, Highland Elem School ranks #5 of 14 schools in Elgin, IL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Elgin on the city page.
Is Highland Elem School a good school?
Highland Elem School earns 31/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 79% of Illinois schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Sd U-46?
Besides Highland Elem School, Sd U-46 also operates South Elgin High School (2,665 students), Elgin High School (2,576 students), and Larkin High School (2,174 students). See the Sd U-46 district page for the complete list.