- Enrollment
- 1,981
- Students per teacher
- 19.2:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Sanford, NC
Highland Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Highland Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 32/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 370201002630
👥 S:T ratio 44
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 15
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Highland Elementary earns 32/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the North Carolina median.
- #7 of 9
- elementary schools in Sanford · Resource Index
- 32
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14:1
- students per teacher
- 49.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Highland Elementary has class sizes near the North Carolina median. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Highland Elementary ranks #7 of 9 elementary schools in Sanford, NC.
School address
District: Harnett County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370201002630 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+3 students YoY
Highland Elementary held near 894 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+3 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 61.8 → 62.9 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+3 students YoY 370201002630 · Sanford, NC Elementary · MID · TRAD
854 enr · 14:1 · 49.4% lunch · RII 32
Nearest enrollment peer: Overhills High (1,981 students)
Highland Elementary held near 894 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+3 headcount). Teacher FTE added 61.8 → 62.9 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Highland Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Overhills High
Overhills High
1,981 students
- Harnett Centra
Harnett Central High
1,522 students
- Western Harnet
Western Harnett High
1,324 students
- Triton High
Triton High
1,274 students
- Benhaven Eleme
Benhaven Elementary
1,065 students
- This school
Highland Elementary
854 students
What this shows Highland Elementary reports 854 students on the CCD universe file.
How Highland Elementary compares
Highland Elementary held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs North Carolina and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs North Carolina | North Carolina avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14:1 | ▼ 11% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 49.4% | ▼ 25% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 854 | top 15% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14:1
Leaner classes than 57% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
854
Bigger than 87% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
49.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 25% below the North Carolina average of 66.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
14:1
students per teacher
- 11% below state mean
Top 35% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 65% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
44.5%
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
$10,877
per pupil, district-wide
- below North Carolina avg of $12,294
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 427 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 35 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 4.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 44.7%
Hispanic or Latino 27.9%
African American 18.0%
Two or More 7.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.9%
Asian 0.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: White at 44.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 68.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 68.4, Highland Elementary is more mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Harnett County Schools reports $10,877 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overhills High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Harnett Central High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Western Harnett High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Triton High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Benhaven Elementary | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar 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
- 1,522
- Students per teacher
- 18.6:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 1,324
- Students per teacher
- 18.1:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 1,274
- Students per teacher
- 17.9:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 1,065
- Students per teacher
- 15:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
Similar elementary schools in Sanford
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Wb Wicker Elementary
Standard public school
588 students 14.7:1 students per teacher
J Glenn Edwards Elementary
Standard public school
587 students 15.1:1 students per teacher
Greenwood Elementary
Standard public school
571 students 13.9:1 students per teacher
Tramway Elementary
Standard public school
559 students 13.6:1 students per teacher
Deep River Elementary
Standard public school
557 students 15.1:1 students per teacher
Bt Bullock Elementary
Standard public school
511 students 13.8:1 students per teacher
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 (~854 students)
Frequently asked questions about Highland Elementary
How many students attend Highland Elementary?
Highland Elementary has 854 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Sanford, NC. CCD year-over-year: 891 (2022-23) → 894 (2023-24), nearly flat (+3).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Highland Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Highland Elementary is 14:1, which is 11% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 11% 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?
49.4% of students at Highland Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Highland Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Highland Elementary is White at 44.7% of enrollment, in Sanford, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 68.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Highland Elementary?
Highland Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 32/100 (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 elementary schools in Sanford?
By Resource Investment Index, Highland Elementary ranks #7 of 9 elementary schools in Sanford, NC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Sanford on the city page.
What other schools are in Harnett County Schools?
Besides Highland Elementary, Harnett County Schools also operates Overhills High (1,981 students), Harnett Central High (1,522 students), and Western Harnett High (1,324 students). See the Harnett County Schools district page for the complete list.