Enrollment
318
Kansas · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Topeka, KS
Highland Park Central
Federal NCES profile for Highland Park Central, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 36/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 201226001445
👥 S:T ratio 51
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 36
📋 Attendance 26
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Highland Park Central earns 36/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Kansas median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Kansas schools.
- #7 of 7
- elementary schools in Topeka · Resource Index
- 36
- Resource Index · Typical
- 12.2:1
- students per teacher
- 87.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Highland Park Central has class sizes near the Kansas median. Computed live against every Kansas school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Highland Park Central ranks #7 of 7 elementary schools in Topeka, KS.
School address
District: Topeka Public Schools · Kansas
NCES ID 201226001445 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
26.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
12.2:1
vs 13.8:1 Kansas avg
-12% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
87.0%
vs 42.7% Kansas avg
+104% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Highland Park Central compares with Kansas and U.S. medians
What stands out at Highland Park Central
Highland Park Central is a high-poverty, mid-sized elementary school in Topeka, Kansas, enrolling 318 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 12.2:1 puts it in the smaller third of Kansas schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need is high: 87.0% of students qualify for free meals, 104% above the Kansas average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
With 318 students, its enrollment sits close to the Kansas median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,346 scored Kansas schools.
Against 75 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #45.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (47%) and African American (21%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 69/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 318 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 29.6% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Discipline events run high: 92 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 318 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Among Topeka's elementary schools, it stands alongside Jay Shideler Elementary (492 students): Highland Park Central is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (12.2:1 vs 12:1).
Topeka Public Schools also operates Topeka High (1,578 students) and Topeka West High (971 students) alongside Highland Park Central.
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 Park Central compares
Highland Park Central on the metrics families compare, against Kansas and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Kansas | Kansas avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 12.2:1 | ▼ 12% | 13.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 87.0% | ▲ 104% | 42.7% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 318 | top 44% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.2:1
Leaner classes than 74% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
318
Bigger than 35% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
87.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 104% above the Kansas average of 42.7%
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
12.2:1
students per teacher
- 12% below state mean
Top 33% in Kansas - lower ratio than 67% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
29.6%
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
$16,138
per pupil, district-wide
- above Kansas avg of $15,487
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 318 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
67
in-school suspensions + 25 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 21.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 28.9 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
Hispanic or Latino 46.9%
African American 21.1%
White 15.7%
Two or More 14.8%
Asian 0.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 46.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 68.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 68.9, Highland Park Central is more mixed than the Kansas school average of 39.4.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Topeka Public Schools, which includes Highland Park Central.
$16,138
Per student
+4%
vs Kansas
Avg $15,487
-3%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 13.8%
State 72.4%
Federal 13.8%
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 Park Central Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Topeka High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Topeka West High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Highland Park High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Jardine Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Ross Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Highland Park Central's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,578
- Students per teacher
- 16.8:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 971
- Students per teacher
- 14.9:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 835
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 729
- Students per teacher
- 13.5:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 563
- Students per teacher
- 13.4:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
Similar elementary schools in Topeka
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Jay Shideler Elementary
Standard public school
492 students 12:1 students per teacher
Indian Hills Elementary
Standard public school
440 students 13.3:1 students per teacher
Northern Hills Elementary
Standard public school
408 students 13.6:1 students per teacher
West Indianola Elem
Standard public school
395 students 13.2:1 students per teacher
Elmont Elem
Standard public school
303 students 14.4:1 students per teacher
North Fairview
Standard public school
278 students 13.2:1 students per teacher
Similar elementary schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Kansas, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~318 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~12.2:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Highland Park Central's federal record.
- Compare Highland Park Central against another school. Compare schools
- Topeka Public Schools'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 Park Central
How many students attend Highland Park Central?
Highland Park Central has 318 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Topeka, KS.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Highland Park Central?
The student-teacher ratio at Highland Park Central is 12.2:1, which is 12% lower than the Kansas average of 13.8:1 and 22% 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 Park Central?
87.0% of students at Highland Park Central are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Kansas average of 42.7%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Highland Park Central?
The largest demographic group at Highland Park Central is Hispanic or Latino at 46.9% of enrollment, in Topeka, KS. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 68.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Highland Park Central?
Highland Park Central has a Resource Investment Index of 36/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Highland Park Central rank among elementary schools in Topeka?
By Resource Investment Index, Highland Park Central ranks #7 of 7 elementary schools in Topeka, KS. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Topeka on the city page.
Is Highland Park Central a good school?
Highland Park Central earns 36/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Kansas median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Kansas schools. 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 Topeka Public Schools?
Besides Highland Park Central, Topeka Public Schools also operates Topeka High (1,578 students), Topeka West High (971 students), and Highland Park High (835 students). See the Topeka Public Schools 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.