- Enrollment
- 1,696
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Waterloo, IA
Highland Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Highland Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 44/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 193048001970
👥 S:T ratio 50
🌟 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 School earns 44/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 73% of Iowa schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Iowa schools.
- #3 of 8
- schools in Waterloo · Resource Index
- 44
- Resource Index · Typical
- 12.4:1
- small classes for Iowa
- 75.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Highland Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 73% of Iowa schools. Computed live against every Iowa school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Highland Elementary School ranks #3 of 8 schools in Waterloo, IA.
School address
District: Waterloo Comm School District · Iowa
NCES ID 193048001970 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-15 students YoY
Highland Elementary School held near 462 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-15 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 36.6 → 37.4 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-15 students YoY 193048001970 · Waterloo, IA Other · SMALL · TRAD
448 enr · 12.4:1 · 75.9% lunch · RII 44
Nearest enrollment peer: West High School (1,696 students)
Highland Elementary School held near 462 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-15 headcount). Teacher FTE added 36.6 → 37.4 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Iowa schools → · Find another →
Highland Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- West High Scho
West High School
1,696 students
- East High Scho
East High School
1,016 students
- Hoover Middle
Hoover Middle School
848 students
- Kittrell Eleme 576
Kittrell Elementary School
576 students
- Expo Alternati 561
Expo Alternative Learning Center
561 students
- This school 448
Highland Elementary School
448 students
What this shows Highland Elementary School reports 448 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 Iowa and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Iowa | Iowa avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 12.4:1 | ▼ 16% | 14.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 75.9% | ▲ 109% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 448 | top 26% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.4:1
Leaner classes than 72% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
448
Bigger than 55% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
75.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 109% above the Iowa average of 36.4%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
12.4:1
students per teacher
- 16% below state mean
Top 27% in Iowa - lower ratio than 73% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
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
$14,490
per pupil, district-wide
- above Iowa avg of $13,441
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
4
in-school suspensions + 15 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 4.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 29.2%
White 28.1%
African American 25.7%
Two or More 13.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 3.1%
Asian 0.7%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 29.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 75.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 75.1, Highland Elementary School is more mixed than the Iowa school average of 33.8.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Waterloo Comm School District reports $14,490 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| West High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| East High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Hoover Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Kittrell Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Expo Alternative Learning Center | Larger | Similar 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
- 1,016
- Students per teacher
- 17.2:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 848
- Students per teacher
- 15.1:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 576
- Students per teacher
- 12.3:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 561
- Students per teacher
- 17:1
- Resource Index
- 55/100
Similar other schools in Waterloo
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Kittrell Elementary School
Standard public school
576 students 12.3:1 students per teacher
Expo Alternative Learning Center
Alternative education program
561 students 17:1 students per teacher
Lowell Elementary School
Standard public school
538 students 12.8:1 students per teacher
Orange Elementary School
Standard public school
518 students 14:1 students per teacher
Fred Becker Elementary School
Standard public school
501 students 14.3:1 students per teacher
Lincoln Elementary School
Standard public school
463 students 12.2:1 students per teacher
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 (~448 students)
Frequently asked questions about Highland Elementary School
How many students attend Highland Elementary School?
Highland Elementary School has 448 students enrolled. It is a public school in Waterloo, IA. CCD year-over-year: 477 (2022-23) → 462 (2023-24), nearly flat (-15).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Highland Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Highland Elementary School is 12.4:1, which is 16% lower than the Iowa average of 14.8:1 and 21% 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?
75.9% of students at Highland Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Iowa average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Highland Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Highland Elementary School is Hispanic or Latino at 29.2% of enrollment, in Waterloo, IA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 75.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Highland Elementary School?
Highland Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 44/100 (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 School rank among schools in Waterloo?
By Resource Investment Index, Highland Elementary School ranks #3 of 8 schools in Waterloo, IA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Waterloo on the city page.
What other schools are in Waterloo Comm School District?
Besides Highland Elementary School, Waterloo Comm School District also operates West High School (1,696 students), East High School (1,016 students), and Hoover Middle School (848 students). See the Waterloo Comm School District district page for the complete list.