Enrollment
2,992
Arizona · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Gilbert, AZ
Highland High School
Federal NCES profile for Highland High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 34/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 040340000246
👥 S:T ratio 8
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 25
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Highland High School earns 34/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 90% of Arizona schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Arizona.
- #34 of 46
- schools in Gilbert · Resource Index
- 34
- Resource Index · Typical
- 23:1
- large classes for Arizona
- 10.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Highland High School has class sizes larger than 90% of Arizona schools. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Highland High School ranks #34 of 46 schools in Gilbert, AZ.
School address
District: Gilbert Unified District (4239) · Arizona
NCES ID 040340000246 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
130.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
23:1
vs 17:1 Arizona avg
+35% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
10.0%
vs 48.3% Arizona avg
-79% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Highland High School compares with Arizona and U.S. medians
What stands out at Highland High School
Highland High School is a lower-poverty, large combined-grade school in Gilbert, Arizona, enrolling 2,992 students.
Class loads run heavy: 23:1 is larger than about 90% of Arizona schools and 35% above the 17:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Comparatively few students face economic hardship here, 10.0% free-meal eligibility runs 79% below the Arizona average.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Arizona, bigger than 99% of state schools at 2,992 students.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 2,064 scored Arizona schools.
Against 36 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #9.
Its student body is led by White (67%) and Hispanic or Latino (20%) (diversity index 50/100).
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 374 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
The surrounding Gilbert Unified District (4239) spends $9,253 per pupil, 30% below the Arizona average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Gilbert's public schools, it stands alongside Williams Field High School (2,150 students): Highland High School is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (23:1 vs 21.9:1).
Gilbert Unified District (4239) also operates Gilbert High School (2,418 students) and Desert Ridge High (2,103 students) alongside Highland High 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 High School compares
Highland High School on the metrics families compare, against Arizona and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Arizona | Arizona avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 23:1 | ▲ 35% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 10.0% | ▼ 79% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 2,992 | top 1% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
23:1
Leaner classes than 8% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
2,992
Bigger than 99% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
10.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 79% below the Arizona average of 48.3%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
23:1
students per teacher
- 35% above state mean
Top 90% in Arizona - lower ratio than 10% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Funding equity
$9,253
per pupil, district-wide
- below Arizona avg of $13,145
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors8.0 FTE
Per 374 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
7
in-school suspensions + 145 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
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 67.4%
Hispanic or Latino 20.3%
Two or More 5.4%
Asian 3.6%
African American 1.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.9%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.6%
Largest group: White at 67.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 50.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 50.0, Highland High School is more mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
AP courses offered 22
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Gilbert Unified District (4239), which includes Highland High School.
$9,253
Per student
-30%
vs Arizona
Avg $13,145
-44%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 43.1%
State 44.8%
Federal 12.1%
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 High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gilbert High School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Desert Ridge High | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Campo Verde High School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Mesquite High School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Greenfield Junior High School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Highland High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,418
- Students per teacher
- 21.8:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 2,103
- Students per teacher
- 21.5:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 1,863
- Students per teacher
- 21.7:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 1,303
- Students per teacher
- 20:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 1,160
- Students per teacher
- 21.5:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
Similar other schools in Gilbert
4 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Williams Field High School
Standard public school
2,150 students 21.9:1 students per teacher
Gateway Pointe Elementary
Standard public school
685 students 16.7:1 students per teacher
Great Hearts Academies - Arete Prep
Standard public school
540 students
Learning Foundation and Performing Arts Gilbert
Standard public school
259 students
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Arizona, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~2,992 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~23:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Highland High School's federal record.
- Compare Highland High School against another school. Compare schools
- Gilbert Unified District (4239)'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 High School
How many students attend Highland High School?
Highland High School has 2,992 students enrolled. It is a public school in Gilbert, AZ.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Highland High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Highland High School is 23:1, which is 35% higher than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 46% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Highland High School?
10.0% of students at Highland High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Highland High School?
The largest demographic group at Highland High School is White at 67.4% of enrollment, in Gilbert, AZ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 50.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Highland High School?
Highland High School has a Resource Investment Index of 34/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, counselor availability. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Highland High School rank among schools in Gilbert?
By Resource Investment Index, Highland High School ranks #34 of 46 schools in Gilbert, AZ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Gilbert on the city page.
Is Highland High School a good school?
Highland High School earns 34/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 90% of Arizona schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Arizona. 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 Gilbert Unified District (4239)?
Besides Highland High School, Gilbert Unified District (4239) also operates Gilbert High School (2,418 students), Desert Ridge High (2,103 students), and Campo Verde High School (1,863 students). See the Gilbert Unified District (4239) 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.