- Enrollment
- 2,413
- Students per teacher
- 22.6:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Palm Harbor, FL
Highland Lakes Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Highland Lakes Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 47/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 120156002884
👥 S:T ratio 53
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 10
📋 Attendance 55
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Highland Lakes Elementary School earns 47/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 90% of Florida schools.
- #1 of 6
- schools in Palm Harbor · Resource Index
- 47
- Resource Index · Typical
- 11.8:1
- small classes for Florida
- 38.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Highland Lakes Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 90% of Florida schools. Computed live against every Florida school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Highland Lakes Elementary School ranks #1 of 6 schools in Palm Harbor, FL.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-61 students YoY
Highland Lakes Elementary School shrank from 529 students in 2022-23 to 468 in 2023-24 (-11.5%).
Teacher FTE lost 38.0 → 33.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-61 students YoY 120156002884 · Palm Harbor, FL Other · SMALL · TRAD
449 enr · 11.8:1 · 38.6% lunch · RII 47
Nearest enrollment peer: Palm Harbor University High (2,413 students)
Highland Lakes Elementary School shrank from 529 students in 2022-23 to 468 in 2023-24 (-11.5%). Teacher FTE lost 38.0 → 33.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Florida schools → · Find another →
Highland Lakes Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Palm Harbor Un
Palm Harbor University High
2,413 students
- Largo High Sch
Largo High School
2,058 students
- East Lake High
East Lake High School
1,980 students
- Dixie M. Holli
Dixie M. Hollins High School
1,934 students
- St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg High School
1,736 students
- This school 449
Highland Lakes Elementary School
449 students
What this shows Highland Lakes Elementary School reports 449 students on the CCD universe file.
How Highland Lakes Elementary School compares
Highland Lakes Elementary School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Florida and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Florida | Florida avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 11.8:1 | ▼ 34% | 17.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 38.6% | ▼ 26% | 52.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 449 | top 66% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.8:1
Leaner classes than 77% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
449
Bigger than 55% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
38.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 26% below the Florida average of 52.0%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
11.8:1
students per teacher
- 34% below state mean
Top 10% in Florida - lower ratio than 90% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
18.0%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$12,514
per pupil, district-wide
- above Florida avg of $12,081
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 449 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
3
in-school suspensions + 3 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 71.0%
Hispanic or Latino 14.5%
Two or More 6.0%
African American 5.6%
Asian 2.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: White at 71.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 46.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 46.7, Highland Lakes Elementary School is less mixed than the Florida school average of 52.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Pinellas reports $12,514 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Highland Lakes Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palm Harbor University High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Largo High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| East Lake High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Dixie M. Hollins High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| St. Petersburg High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Highland Lakes Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,058
- Students per teacher
- 22.6:1
- Resource Index
- 20/100
- Enrollment
- 1,980
- Students per teacher
- 19.6:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 1,934
- Students per teacher
- 20.8:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 1,736
- Students per teacher
- 22.8:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
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 (~449 students)
Frequently asked questions about Highland Lakes Elementary School
How many students attend Highland Lakes Elementary School?
Highland Lakes Elementary School has 449 students enrolled. It is a public school in Palm Harbor, FL. CCD year-over-year: 529 (2022-23) → 468 (2023-24), down 61.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Highland Lakes Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Highland Lakes Elementary School is 11.8:1, which is 34% lower than the Florida average of 17.8:1 and 25% 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 Lakes Elementary School?
38.6% of students at Highland Lakes Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Florida average of 52.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Highland Lakes Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Highland Lakes Elementary School is White at 71.0% of enrollment, in Palm Harbor, FL.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Highland Lakes Elementary School?
Highland Lakes Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 47/100 (typical 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 Lakes Elementary School rank among schools in Palm Harbor?
By Resource Investment Index, Highland Lakes Elementary School ranks #1 of 6 schools in Palm Harbor, FL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Palm Harbor on the city page.
What other schools are in Pinellas?
Besides Highland Lakes Elementary School, Pinellas also operates Palm Harbor University High (2,413 students), Largo High School (2,058 students), and East Lake High School (1,980 students). See the Pinellas district page for the complete list.