- Enrollment
- 3,266
- Students per teacher
- 17:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Silver Spring, MD
Highland Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Highland Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 34/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 240048000850
👥 S:T ratio 57
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 8
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Highland Elementary earns 34/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 89% of Maryland schools.
- #29 of 31
- schools in Silver Spring · Resource Index
- 34
- Resource Index · Typical
- 10.8:1
- small classes for Maryland
- 68.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Highland Elementary has class sizes smaller than 89% of Maryland schools. Computed live against every Maryland school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Highland Elementary ranks #29 of 31 schools in Silver Spring, MD.
School address
District: Montgomery County Public Schools · Maryland
NCES ID 240048000850 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-5 students YoY
Highland Elementary held near 510 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-5 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 47.3 → 41.6 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-5 students YoY 240048000850 · Silver Spring, MD Other · MID · TRAD
509 enr · 10.8:1 · 68.0% lunch · RII 34
Nearest enrollment peer: Montgomery Blair High (3,266 students)
Highland Elementary held near 510 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-5 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 47.3 → 41.6 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Maryland schools → · Find another →
Highland Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Montgomery Bla
Montgomery Blair High
3,266 students
- Walter Johnson
Walter Johnson High
3,016 students
- Wheaton High
Wheaton High
2,794 students
- Gaithersburg H
Gaithersburg High
2,441 students
- Seneca Valley
Seneca Valley High
2,409 students
- This school 509
Highland Elementary
509 students
What this shows Highland Elementary reports 509 students on the CCD universe file.
How Highland Elementary compares
Highland Elementary held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Maryland and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Maryland | Maryland avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 10.8:1 | ▼ 26% | 14.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 68.0% | ▲ 39% | 49.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 509 | top 53% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
10.8:1
Leaner classes than 84% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
509
Bigger than 63% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
68.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 39% above the Maryland average of 49.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
10.8:1
students per teacher
- 26% below state mean
Top 11% in Maryland - lower ratio than 89% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
36.7%
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
$19,456
per pupil, district-wide
- above Maryland avg of $18,753
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 509 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
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
Hispanic or Latino 81.9%
White 5.9%
Asian 5.5%
African American 5.3%
Two or More 1.4%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 81.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 32.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 32.0, Highland Elementary is less mixed than the Maryland school average of 52.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Montgomery County Public Schools reports $19,456 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Highland Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montgomery Blair High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Walter Johnson High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Wheaton High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Gaithersburg High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Seneca Valley High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Highland Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 3,016
- Students per teacher
- 19.1:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
- Enrollment
- 2,794
- Students per teacher
- 17.8:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 2,441
- Students per teacher
- 14.4:1
- Resource Index
- 56/100
- Enrollment
- 2,409
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
Similar other schools in Silver Spring
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Joann Leleck at Broad Acres Elementary
Standard public school
756 students 10.8:1 students per teacher
Arcola Elementary
Standard public school
747 students 13.8:1 students per teacher
Burnt Mills Elementary
Standard public school
747 students 16.6:1 students per teacher
Greencastle Elementary
Standard public school
722 students 12.7:1 students per teacher
Sargent Shriver Elementary
Standard public school
697 students 10.4:1 students per teacher
Galway Elementary
Standard public school
695 students 11.4:1 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 (~509 students)
Frequently asked questions about Highland Elementary
How many students attend Highland Elementary?
Highland Elementary has 509 students enrolled. It is a public school in Silver Spring, MD. CCD year-over-year: 515 (2022-23) → 510 (2023-24), nearly flat (-5).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Highland Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Highland Elementary is 10.8:1, which is 26% lower than the Maryland average of 14.5:1 and 31% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Highland Elementary?
68.0% of students at Highland Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Maryland average of 49.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Highland Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Highland Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 81.9% of enrollment, in Silver Spring, MD.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Highland Elementary?
Highland Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 34/100 (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 Elementary rank among schools in Silver Spring?
By Resource Investment Index, Highland Elementary ranks #29 of 31 schools in Silver Spring, MD. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Silver Spring on the city page.
What other schools are in Montgomery County Public Schools?
Besides Highland Elementary, Montgomery County Public Schools also operates Montgomery Blair High (3,266 students), Walter Johnson High (3,016 students), and Wheaton High (2,794 students). See the Montgomery County Public Schools district page for the complete list.