- Enrollment
- 3,175
- Students per teacher
- 27.9:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Palmdale, CA
Highland High
Federal NCES profile for Highland High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 19/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 060282009515
👥 S:T ratio 1
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 32
📋 Attendance 11
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Highland High earns 19/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 78% of California schools. It is also one of the largest schools in California.
- #3 of 4
- high schools in Palmdale · Resource Index
- 19
- Resource Index · Lower
- 24.8:1
- large classes for California
- 53.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Highland High has class sizes larger than 78% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Highland High ranks #3 of 4 high schools in Palmdale, CA.
School address
District: Antelope Valley Union High · California
NCES ID 060282009515 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-12 students YoY
Highland High held near 2,778 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-12 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 109.4 → 111.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-12 students YoY 060282009515 · Palmdale, CA High · LARGE · TRAD
2,706 enr · 24.8:1 · 53.2% lunch · RII 19
Nearest enrollment peer: Quartz Hill High (3,175 students)
Highland High held near 2,778 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-12 headcount). Teacher FTE added 109.4 → 111.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Highland High in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Quartz Hill Hi
Quartz Hill High
3,175 students
- This school
Highland High
2,706 students
- Lancaster High
Lancaster High
2,688 students
- Eastside High
Eastside High
2,631 students
- William J. (Pe
William J. (Pete) Knight High
2,349 students
- Palmdale High
Palmdale High
2,208 students
What this shows Highland High reports 2,706 students on the CCD universe file.
How Highland High compares
Highland High held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 24.8:1 | ▲ 15% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 53.2% | ▼ 4% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 2,706 | top 1% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
24.8:1
Leaner classes than 5% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
2,706
Bigger than 99% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
53.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 4% below the California average of 55.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
24.8:1
students per teacher
- 15% above state mean
Top 78% in California - lower ratio than 22% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
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
$15,960
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $18,665
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors8.0 FTE
Per 338 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
4
in-school suspensions + 166 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 6.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 18 expulsions.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 67.9%
African American 16.4%
White 7.2%
Two or More 4.6%
Asian 3.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 67.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 50.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 50.4, Highland High is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
AP courses offered 16
District finance for Antelope Valley Union High reports $15,960 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Highland High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quartz Hill High | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lancaster High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Eastside High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| William J. (Pete) Knight High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Palmdale High | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Highland High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,688
- Students per teacher
- 24.9:1
- Resource Index
- 18/100
- Enrollment
- 2,631
- Students per teacher
- 25.3:1
- Resource Index
- 18/100
- Enrollment
- 2,349
- Students per teacher
- 19.9:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 2,208
- Students per teacher
- 21:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
Similar high schools in Palmdale
3 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Nationwide high 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 (~2,706 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~24.8:1)
Frequently asked questions about Highland High
How many students attend Highland High?
Highland High has 2,706 students enrolled. It is a high school in Palmdale, CA. CCD year-over-year: 2,790 (2022-23) → 2,778 (2023-24), nearly flat (-12).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Highland High?
The student-teacher ratio at Highland High is 24.8:1, which is 15% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 58% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Highland High?
53.2% of students at Highland High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Highland High?
The largest demographic group at Highland High is Hispanic or Latino at 67.9% of enrollment, in Palmdale, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 50.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Highland High?
Highland High has a Resource Investment Index of 19/100 (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 High rank among high schools in Palmdale?
By Resource Investment Index, Highland High ranks #3 of 4 high schools in Palmdale, CA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Palmdale on the city page.
What other schools are in Antelope Valley Union High?
Besides Highland High, Antelope Valley Union High also operates Quartz Hill High (3,175 students), Lancaster High (2,688 students), and Eastside High (2,631 students). See the Antelope Valley Union High district page for the complete list.