Enrollment
216
Alabama · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Gadsden, AL
Highland Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Highland Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 45/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 010138000503
👥 S:T ratio 42
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 57
📋 Attendance 11
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Highland Elementary School earns 45/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 88% of Alabama schools.
- #5 of 11
- schools in Gadsden · Resource Index
- 45
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.4:1
- small classes for Alabama
- 61.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Highland Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 88% of Alabama schools. Computed live against every Alabama school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Highland Elementary School ranks #5 of 11 schools in Gadsden, AL.
School address
District: Etowah County · Alabama
NCES ID 010138000503 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
15.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
14.4:1
vs 17.7:1 Alabama avg
-19% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
61.8%
vs 58.8% Alabama avg
+5% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Highland Elementary School compares with Alabama and U.S. medians
What stands out at Highland Elementary School
Highland Elementary School is a higher-need, small combined-grade school in Gadsden, Alabama, enrolling 216 students.
Classes run notably small here: at 14.4:1, Highland Elementary School is leaner than roughly 88% of Alabama schools and 19% under the state's 17.7:1 norm, more adult attention per pupil than most peers.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 61.8% lands close to the Alabama typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
This is a small campus: fewer students than 91% of Alabama schools, with 216 enrolled.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 1,365 scored Alabama schools.
Against 126 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #60.
Its student body is predominantly White (86% of enrollment) (diversity index 26/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 216 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 35.6% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 18.3% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 1 expulsion at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Gadsden's public schools, it stands alongside Adams Elementary School (433 students): Highland Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (14.4:1 vs 17.3:1).
Etowah County also operates Southside High School (825 students) and John S Jones Elementary School (745 students) alongside Highland Elementary 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 Elementary School compares
Highland Elementary School on the metrics families compare, against Alabama and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Alabama | Alabama avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14.4:1 | ▼ 19% | 17.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 61.8% | ▲ 5% | 58.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 216 | top 91% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.4:1
Leaner classes than 53% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
216
Bigger than 21% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
61.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 5% above the Alabama average of 58.8%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
14.4:1
students per teacher
- 19% below state mean
Top 12% in Alabama - lower ratio than 88% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
35.6%
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
$10,738
per pupil, district-wide
- below Alabama avg of $12,491
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 216 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 5 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
White 85.6%
Two or More 7.9%
African American 3.2%
Hispanic or Latino 2.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%
Largest group: White at 85.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 25.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 25.9, Highland Elementary School is less mixed than the Alabama school average of 42.5.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Etowah County, which includes Highland Elementary School.
$10,738
Per student
-14%
vs Alabama
Avg $12,491
-35%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 16.7%
State 64.9%
Federal 18.3%
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 Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southside High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| John S Jones Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Rainbow Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Hokes Bluff Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Southside Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Highland Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 825
- Students per teacher
- 19.6:1
- Resource Index
- 20/100
- Enrollment
- 745
- Students per teacher
- 16.2:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 634
- Students per teacher
- 19.8:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 610
- Students per teacher
- 17.4:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 585
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
Similar other schools in Gadsden
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Adams Elementary School
Standard public school
433 students 17.3:1 students per teacher
W E Striplin Elementary School
Standard public school
400 students 20:1 students per teacher
Floyd Elementary School
Standard public school
384 students 24:1 students per teacher
Gaston High School
Standard public school
380 students 21.1:1 students per teacher
Eura Brown Elementary School
Standard public school
340 students 16.2:1 students per teacher
Gaston Elementary School
Standard public school
290 students 18.1:1 students per teacher
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Alabama, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~216 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Highland Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Highland Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Etowah County'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 Elementary School
How many students attend Highland Elementary School?
Highland Elementary School has 216 students enrolled. It is a public school in Gadsden, AL.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Highland Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Highland Elementary School is 14.4:1, which is 19% lower than the Alabama average of 17.7:1 and 8% 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 School?
61.8% of students at Highland Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Alabama average of 58.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Highland Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Highland Elementary School is White at 85.6% of enrollment, in Gadsden, AL.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Highland Elementary School?
Highland Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 45/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Highland Elementary School rank among schools in Gadsden?
By Resource Investment Index, Highland Elementary School ranks #5 of 11 schools in Gadsden, AL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Gadsden on the city page.
Is Highland Elementary School a good school?
Highland Elementary School earns 45/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 88% of Alabama 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 Etowah County?
Besides Highland Elementary School, Etowah County also operates Southside High School (825 students), John S Jones Elementary School (745 students), and Rainbow Middle School (634 students). See the Etowah County district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.