- Enrollment
- 1,974
- Students per teacher
- 14.7:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Cedar Hill, TX
Highlands El
Federal NCES profile for Highlands El, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 38/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 481323006374
👥 S:T ratio 44
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 16
📋 Attendance 23
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Highlands El earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Texas median.
- #8 of 9
- schools in Cedar Hill · Resource Index
- 38
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14:1
- students per teacher
- 75.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Highlands El has class sizes near the Texas median. Computed live against every Texas school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Highlands El ranks #8 of 9 schools in Cedar Hill, TX.
School address
District: Cedar Hill Isd · Texas
NCES ID 481323006374 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-52 students YoY
Highlands El shrank from 488 students in 2022-23 to 436 in 2023-24 (-10.7%).
Teacher FTE lost 30.9 → 30.3 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-52 students YoY 481323006374 · Cedar Hill, TX Other · SMALL · TRAD
419 enr · 14:1 · 75.4% lunch · RII 38
Nearest enrollment peer: Cedar Hill H S (1,974 students)
Highlands El shrank from 488 students in 2022-23 to 436 in 2023-24 (-10.7%). Teacher FTE lost 30.9 → 30.3 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Texas schools → · Find another →
Highlands El in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Cedar Hill H S
Cedar Hill H S
1,974 students
- Waterford Oaks 521
Waterford Oaks El
521 students
- Cedar Hill Col 520
Cedar Hill Collegiate Prep
520 students
- Bessie Coleman 488
Bessie Coleman Middle
488 students
- Lakeridge El 466
Lakeridge El
466 students
- This school 419
Highlands El
419 students
What this shows Highlands El reports 419 students on the CCD universe file.
How Highlands El compares
Highlands El is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Texas and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Texas | Texas avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14:1 | ▼ 5% | 14.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 75.4% | ▲ 22% | 61.9% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 419 | top 61% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14:1
Leaner classes than 57% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
419
Bigger than 50% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
75.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 22% above the Texas average of 61.9%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
14:1
students per teacher
- 5% below state mean
Top 47% in Texas - lower ratio than 53% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
30.8%
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
$11,107
per pupil, district-wide
- below Texas avg of $14,348
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 419 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
7
in-school suspensions + 30 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 8.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 70.2%
African American 26.5%
Two or More 1.9%
White 1.0%
Asian 0.5%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 70.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 43.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 43.6, Highlands El is about as mixed as the Texas school average of 44.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Cedar Hill Isd reports $11,107 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Highlands El Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Hill H S | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Waterford Oaks El | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Cedar Hill Collegiate Prep | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Bessie Coleman Middle | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Lakeridge El | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Highlands El's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 521
- Students per teacher
- 19.3:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 520
- Students per teacher
- 17.9:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 488
- Students per teacher
- 12.8:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 466
- Students per teacher
- 16.1:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
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 (~419 students)
Frequently asked questions about Highlands El
How many students attend Highlands El?
Highlands El has 419 students enrolled. It is a public school in Cedar Hill, TX. CCD year-over-year: 488 (2022-23) → 436 (2023-24), down 52.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Highlands El?
The student-teacher ratio at Highlands El is 14:1, which is 5% lower than the Texas average of 14.7:1 and 11% 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 Highlands El?
75.4% of students at Highlands El are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Texas average of 61.9%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Highlands El?
The largest demographic group at Highlands El is Hispanic or Latino at 70.2% of enrollment, in Cedar Hill, TX.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Highlands El?
Highlands El has a Resource Investment Index of 38/100 (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 Highlands El rank among schools in Cedar Hill?
By Resource Investment Index, Highlands El ranks #8 of 9 schools in Cedar Hill, TX. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Cedar Hill on the city page.
What other schools are in Cedar Hill Isd?
Besides Highlands El, Cedar Hill Isd also operates Cedar Hill H S (1,974 students), Waterford Oaks El (521 students), and Cedar Hill Collegiate Prep (520 students). See the Cedar Hill Isd district page for the complete list.