- Enrollment
- 766
- Students per teacher
- 22.5:1
- Resource Index
- 17/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Hazel Crest, IL
Highlands Elem School
Federal NCES profile for Highlands Elem School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 21/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 172472002677
👥 S:T ratio 4
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 28
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Highlands Elem School earns 21/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 98% of Illinois schools.
- #4 of 4
- schools in Hazel Crest · Resource Index
- 21
- Resource Index · Lower
- 23.9:1
- large classes for Illinois
- 311
- students enrolled
Highlands Elem School has class sizes larger than 98% of Illinois schools. Computed live against every Illinois school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Highlands Elem School ranks #4 of 4 schools in Hazel Crest, IL.
School address
District: Prairie-Hills Esd 144 · Illinois
NCES ID 172472002677 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-37 students YoY
Highlands Elem School shrank from 327 students in 2022-23 to 290 in 2023-24 (-11.3%).
Teacher FTE added 13.0 → 16.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-37 students YoY 172472002677 · Hazel Crest, IL Other · SMALL · TRAD
311 enr · 23.9:1 · RII 21
Nearest enrollment peer: Prairie-Hills Junior High School (766 students)
Highlands Elem School shrank from 327 students in 2022-23 to 290 in 2023-24 (-11.3%). Teacher FTE added 13.0 → 16.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Illinois schools → · Find another →
Highlands Elem School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Prairie-Hills
Prairie-Hills Junior High School
766 students
- Mae Jemison Sc
Mae Jemison School
368 students
- This school
Highlands Elem School
311 students
- Markham Park E 292
Markham Park Elem School
292 students
- Chateaux Schoo 249
Chateaux School
249 students
- Fieldcrest Ele 217
Fieldcrest Elem School
217 students
What this shows Highlands Elem School reports 311 students on the CCD universe file.
How Highlands Elem School compares
Highlands Elem School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Illinois and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Illinois | Illinois avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 23.9:1 | ▲ 71% | 14:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Enrollment | 311 | top 62% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
23.9:1
Leaner classes than 7% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
311
Bigger than 34% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Staffing depth
23.9:1
students per teacher
- 71% above state mean
Top 98% in Illinois - lower ratio than 2% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
28.6%
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
$19,068
per pupil, district-wide
- above Illinois avg of $18,196
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 90.0%
Hispanic or Latino 6.8%
Two or More 2.6%
White 0.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: African American at 90.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 18.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 18.5, Highlands Elem School is less mixed than the Illinois school average of 38.9.
Programs
District finance for Prairie-Hills Esd 144 reports $19,068 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Highlands Elem School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prairie-Hills Junior High School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| Mae Jemison School | Similar size | No free-lunch data | Lower S:T ratio |
| Markham Park Elem School | Similar size | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Chateaux School | Similar size | No free-lunch data | Lower S:T ratio |
| Fieldcrest Elem School | Smaller | No free-lunch data | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Highlands Elem School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 368
- Students per teacher
- 16.7:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 292
- Students per teacher
- 26.5:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 249
- Students per teacher
- 17.8:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
- Enrollment
- 217
- Students per teacher
- 12.8:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
Similar other schools in Hazel Crest
3 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
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 (~311 students)
Frequently asked questions about Highlands Elem School
How many students attend Highlands Elem School?
Highlands Elem School has 311 students enrolled. It is a public school in Hazel Crest, IL. CCD year-over-year: 327 (2022-23) → 290 (2023-24), down 37.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Highlands Elem School?
The student-teacher ratio at Highlands Elem School is 23.9:1, which is 71% higher than the Illinois average of 14:1 and 52% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Highlands Elem School?
The largest demographic group at Highlands Elem School is African American at 90.0% of enrollment, in Hazel Crest, IL.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Highlands Elem School?
Highlands Elem School has a Resource Investment Index of 21/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Highlands Elem School rank among schools in Hazel Crest?
By Resource Investment Index, Highlands Elem School ranks #4 of 4 schools in Hazel Crest, IL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking.
What other schools are in Prairie-Hills Esd 144?
Besides Highlands Elem School, Prairie-Hills Esd 144 also operates Prairie-Hills Junior High School (766 students), Mae Jemison School (368 students), and Markham Park Elem School (292 students). See the Prairie-Hills Esd 144 district page for the complete list.