- Enrollment
- 3,114
- Students per teacher
- 19:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Sugar Land, TX
Highlands El
Federal NCES profile for Highlands El, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 46/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 481965006255
👥 S:T ratio 47
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 67
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Highlands El earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Texas median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Texas schools.
- #4 of 16
- schools in Sugar Land · Resource Index
- 46
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.2:1
- students per teacher
- 36.7%
- 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 #4 of 16 schools in Sugar Land, TX.
School address
District: Fort Bend Isd · Texas
NCES ID 481965006255 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+22 students YoY
Highlands El held near 610 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+22 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 41.4 → 39.9 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+22 students YoY 481965006255 · Sugar Land, TX Other · MID · TRAD
541 enr · 13.2:1 · 36.7% lunch · RII 46
Nearest enrollment peer: William B Travis H S (3,114 students)
Highlands El held near 610 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+22 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 41.4 → 39.9 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
- William B Trav
William B Travis H S
3,114 students
- Lawrence E Elk
Lawrence E Elkins H S
2,848 students
- Ridge Point H
Ridge Point H S
2,816 students
- Stephen F Aust
Stephen F Austin H S
2,655 students
- Clements H S
Clements H S
2,641 students
- This school 541
Highlands El
541 students
What this shows Highlands El reports 541 students on the CCD universe file.
How Highlands El compares
Highlands El held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Texas and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Texas | Texas avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.2:1 | ▼ 10% | 14.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 36.7% | ▼ 41% | 61.9% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 541 | top 44% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.2:1
Leaner classes than 65% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
541
Bigger than 67% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
36.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 41% below the Texas average of 61.9%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
13.2:1
students per teacher
- 10% below state mean
Top 36% in Texas - lower ratio than 64% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
13.1%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$10,520
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 541 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Asian 28.8%
Hispanic or Latino 25.1%
White 23.7%
African American 16.3%
Two or More 5.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: Asian at 28.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 76.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 76.8, Highlands El is more mixed than the Texas school average of 44.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Fort Bend Isd reports $10,520 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| William B Travis H S | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lawrence E Elkins H S | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Ridge Point H S | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Stephen F Austin H S | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Clements H S | Larger | 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
- 2,848
- Students per teacher
- 20.8:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 2,816
- Students per teacher
- 17.6:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 2,655
- Students per teacher
- 22.5:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 2,641
- Students per teacher
- 19.4:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
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 (~541 students)
Frequently asked questions about Highlands El
How many students attend Highlands El?
Highlands El has 541 students enrolled. It is a public school in Sugar Land, TX. CCD year-over-year: 588 (2022-23) → 610 (2023-24), nearly flat (+22).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Highlands El?
The student-teacher ratio at Highlands El is 13.2:1, which is 10% lower than the Texas average of 14.7:1 and 16% 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?
36.7% 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 Asian at 28.8% of enrollment, in Sugar Land, TX. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 76.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Highlands El?
Highlands El has a Resource Investment Index of 46/100 (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 Sugar Land?
By Resource Investment Index, Highlands El ranks #4 of 16 schools in Sugar Land, TX. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Sugar Land on the city page.
What other schools are in Fort Bend Isd?
Besides Highlands El, Fort Bend Isd also operates William B Travis H S (3,114 students), Lawrence E Elkins H S (2,848 students), and Ridge Point H S (2,816 students). See the Fort Bend Isd district page for the complete list.