- Enrollment
- 1,141
- Students per teacher
- 20:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Columbia Heights, MN
Highland Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Highland Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 38/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 270951000398
👥 S:T ratio 31
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 13
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Highland Elementary earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 70% of Minnesota schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Minnesota schools.
- #2 of 5
- schools in Columbia Heights · Resource Index
- 38
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.2:1
- large classes for Minnesota
- 68.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Highland Elementary has class sizes larger than 70% of Minnesota schools. Computed live against every Minnesota school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Highland Elementary ranks #2 of 5 schools in Columbia Heights, MN.
School address
District: Columbia Heights Public School Dist · Minnesota
NCES ID 270951000398 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+0 students YoY
Highland Elementary held near 512 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+0 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 31.1 → 32.3 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+0 students YoY 270951000398 · Columbia Heights, MN Other · MID · TRAD
534 enr · 17.2:1 · 68.2% lunch · RII 38
Nearest enrollment peer: Columbia Heights Senior High (1,141 students)
Highland Elementary held near 512 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+0 headcount). Teacher FTE added 31.1 → 32.3 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Minnesota schools → · Find another →
Highland Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Columbia Heigh
Columbia Heights Senior High
1,141 students
- Columbia Acade
Columbia Academy
719 students
- Valley View El
Valley View Elementary
568 students
- This school
Highland Elementary
534 students
- North Park Sch 433
North Park School for Innovation
433 students
- Early Childhoo 74
Early Childhood
74 students
What this shows Highland Elementary reports 534 students on the CCD universe file.
How Highland Elementary compares
Highland Elementary held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Minnesota and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Minnesota | Minnesota avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.2:1 | ▲ 9% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 68.2% | ▲ 59% | 42.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 534 | top 23% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.2:1
Leaner classes than 29% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
534
Bigger than 66% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
68.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 59% above the Minnesota average of 42.8%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
17.2:1
students per teacher
- 9% above state mean
Top 70% in Minnesota - lower ratio than 30% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
35.0%
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
$15,617
per pupil, district-wide
- below Minnesota avg of $15,919
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
39
in-school suspensions + 9 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 7.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 9.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 51.1%
African American 23.0%
White 15.4%
Two or More 5.1%
Asian 4.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.6%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 51.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 65.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 65.7, Highland Elementary is more mixed than the Minnesota school average of 42.8.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Columbia Heights Public School Dist reports $15,617 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia Heights Senior High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Columbia Academy | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Valley View Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| North Park School for Innovation | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Early Childhood | Smaller | Lower economic need | Lower 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
- 719
- Students per teacher
- 18.9:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 568
- Students per teacher
- 17.8:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 433
- Students per teacher
- 18.8:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 74
- Students per teacher
- 12.3:1
- Resource Index
- 59/100
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 (~534 students)
Frequently asked questions about Highland Elementary
How many students attend Highland Elementary?
Highland Elementary has 534 students enrolled. It is a public school in Columbia Heights, MN. CCD year-over-year: 512 (2022-23) → 512 (2023-24), nearly flat (+0).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Highland Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Highland Elementary is 17.2:1, which is 9% higher than the Minnesota average of 15.8:1 and 10% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Highland Elementary?
68.2% of students at Highland Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Minnesota average of 42.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Highland Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Highland Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 51.1% of enrollment, in Columbia Heights, MN. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 65.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Highland Elementary?
Highland Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 38/100 (typical 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 Elementary rank among schools in Columbia Heights?
By Resource Investment Index, Highland Elementary ranks #2 of 5 schools in Columbia Heights, MN. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Columbia Heights on the city page.
What other schools are in Columbia Heights Public School Dist?
Besides Highland Elementary, Columbia Heights Public School Dist also operates Columbia Heights Senior High (1,141 students), Columbia Academy (719 students), and Valley View Elementary (568 students). See the Columbia Heights Public School Dist district page for the complete list.