- Enrollment
- 2,128
- Students per teacher
- 20.5:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Las Cruces, NM
Highland Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Highland Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 41/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 350150000702
👥 S:T ratio 38
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 30
📋 Attendance 28
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Highland Elementary earns 41/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 72% of New Mexico schools.
- #11 of 25
- schools in Las Cruces · Resource Index
- 41
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.6:1
- large classes for New Mexico
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Highland Elementary has class sizes larger than 72% of New Mexico schools. Computed live against every New Mexico school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Highland Elementary ranks #11 of 25 schools in Las Cruces, NM.
School address
District: Las Cruces Public Schools · New Mexico
NCES ID 350150000702 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-20 students YoY
Highland Elementary held near 724 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-20 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 45.0 → 46.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-20 students YoY 350150000702 · Las Cruces, NM Other · MID · TRAD
704 enr · 15.6:1 · 100.0% lunch · RII 41
Nearest enrollment peer: Organ Mountain High School (2,128 students)
Highland Elementary held near 724 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-20 headcount). Teacher FTE added 45.0 → 46.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · New Mexico schools → · Find another →
Highland Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Organ Mountain
Organ Mountain High School
2,128 students
- Centennial Hig
Centennial High School
1,713 students
- Las Cruces Hig
Las Cruces High
1,703 students
- Mayfield High
Mayfield High
1,327 students
- Camino Real Mi
Camino Real Middle
933 students
- This school 704
Highland Elementary
704 students
What this shows Highland Elementary reports 704 students on the CCD universe file.
How Highland Elementary compares
Highland Elementary held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs New Mexico and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs New Mexico | New Mexico avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.6:1 | ▲ 11% | 14:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 24% | 80.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 704 | top 9% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.6:1
Leaner classes than 41% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
704
Bigger than 80% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
100.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 24% above the New Mexico average of 80.8%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
15.6:1
students per teacher
- 11% above state mean
Top 72% in New Mexico - lower ratio than 28% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
28.7%
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
$14,613
per pupil, district-wide
- below New Mexico avg of $19,381
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 352 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
3
in-school suspensions + 11 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 74.1%
White 18.0%
Two or More 3.6%
Asian 2.0%
African American 1.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.7%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 74.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 41.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 41.7, Highland Elementary is about as mixed as the New Mexico school average of 39.8.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Las Cruces Public Schools reports $14,613 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Organ Mountain High School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Centennial High School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Las Cruces High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Mayfield High | Larger | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| Camino Real Middle | Larger | Similar 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
- 1,713
- Students per teacher
- 18.6:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 1,703
- Students per teacher
- 17.4:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
- Enrollment
- 1,327
- Students per teacher
- 16.2:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 933
- Students per teacher
- 17.3:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
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 (~704 students)
Frequently asked questions about Highland Elementary
How many students attend Highland Elementary?
Highland Elementary has 704 students enrolled. It is a public school in Las Cruces, NM. CCD year-over-year: 744 (2022-23) → 724 (2023-24), nearly flat (-20).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Highland Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Highland Elementary is 15.6:1, which is 11% higher than the New Mexico average of 14:1 and 1% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Highland Elementary?
100.0% of students at Highland Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the New Mexico average of 80.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Highland Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Highland Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 74.1% of enrollment, in Las Cruces, NM.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Highland Elementary?
Highland Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 41/100 (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 Las Cruces?
By Resource Investment Index, Highland Elementary ranks #11 of 25 schools in Las Cruces, NM. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Las Cruces on the city page.
What other schools are in Las Cruces Public Schools?
Besides Highland Elementary, Las Cruces Public Schools also operates Organ Mountain High School (2,128 students), Centennial High School (1,713 students), and Las Cruces High (1,703 students). See the Las Cruces Public Schools district page for the complete list.