- Enrollment
- 3,421
- Students per teacher
- 21.4:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Mesa, AZ
Highland Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Highland Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 31/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 040497001073
👥 S:T ratio 38
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 14
📋 Attendance 3
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Highland Elementary School earns 31/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Arizona median.
- #47 of 70
- schools in Mesa · Resource Index
- 31
- Resource Index · Lower
- 15.4:1
- students per teacher
- 32.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Highland Elementary School has class sizes near the Arizona median. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Highland Elementary School ranks #47 of 70 schools in Mesa, AZ.
School address
District: Mesa Unified District (4235) · Arizona
NCES ID 040497001073 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+7 students YoY
Highland Elementary School held near 711 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+7 headcount).
Teacher FTE held 42.2 → 42.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+7 students YoY 040497001073 · Mesa, AZ Other · MID · TRAD
648 enr · 15.4:1 · 32.0% lunch · RII 31
Nearest enrollment peer: Mountain View High School (3,421 students)
Highland Elementary School held near 711 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+7 headcount). Teacher FTE held 42.2 → 42.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arizona schools → · Find another →
Highland Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Mountain View
Mountain View High School
3,421 students
- Red Mountain H
Red Mountain High School
3,379 students
- Mesa High Scho
Mesa High School
3,233 students
- Westwood High
Westwood High School
3,135 students
- Dobson High Sc
Dobson High School
2,284 students
- This school 648
Highland Elementary School
648 students
What this shows Highland Elementary School reports 648 students on the CCD universe file.
How Highland Elementary School compares
Highland Elementary School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Arizona and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Arizona | Arizona avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.4:1 | ▼ 9% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 32.0% | ▼ 34% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 648 | top 25% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.4:1
Leaner classes than 43% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
648
Bigger than 77% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
32.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 34% below the Arizona average of 48.3%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
15.4:1
students per teacher
- 9% below state mean
Top 39% in Arizona - lower ratio than 61% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
38.7%
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
$12,121
per pupil, district-wide
- below Arizona avg of $13,502
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.5 FTE
Per 432 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
4
in-school suspensions + 7 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 57.9%
Hispanic or Latino 27.2%
African American 6.8%
Two or More 5.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.8%
Asian 0.5%
Largest group: White at 57.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 58.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 58.3, Highland Elementary School is more mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Mesa Unified District (4235) reports $12,121 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Highland Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain View High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Red Mountain High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Mesa High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Westwood High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Dobson High School | Larger | Higher 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
- 3,379
- Students per teacher
- 20.4:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 3,233
- Students per teacher
- 19.5:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 3,135
- Students per teacher
- 18.4:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 2,284
- Students per teacher
- 19.5:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
Similar other schools in Mesa
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Eastmark High School
Standard public school
1,889 students 23.6:1 students per teacher
Sequoia Choice School Arizona Distance Learning School
Standard public school
1,711 students
Silver Valley Elementary
Standard public school
1,384 students 22.7:1 students per teacher
Astravo Online Academy
Standard public school
849 students
Eagleridge Enrichment Program
Standard public school
694 students 63.1:1 students per teacher
American Leadership Academy Virtual
Standard public school
660 students
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 (~648 students)
Frequently asked questions about Highland Elementary School
How many students attend Highland Elementary School?
Highland Elementary School has 648 students enrolled. It is a public school in Mesa, AZ. CCD year-over-year: 704 (2022-23) → 711 (2023-24), nearly flat (+7).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Highland Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Highland Elementary School is 15.4:1, which is 9% lower than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 2% 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?
32.0% of students at Highland Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Highland Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Highland Elementary School is White at 57.9% of enrollment, in Mesa, AZ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 58.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Highland Elementary School?
Highland Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 31/100 (lower 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 School rank among schools in Mesa?
By Resource Investment Index, Highland Elementary School ranks #47 of 70 schools in Mesa, AZ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Mesa on the city page.
What other schools are in Mesa Unified District (4235)?
Besides Highland Elementary School, Mesa Unified District (4235) also operates Mountain View High School (3,421 students), Red Mountain High School (3,379 students), and Mesa High School (3,233 students). See the Mesa Unified District (4235) district page for the complete list.