- Enrollment
- 1,059
- Students per teacher
- 24.6:1
- Resource Index
- 20/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Spring Valley, CA
Highlands Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Highlands Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 18/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 062025002429
👥 S:T ratio 25
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Highlands Elementary earns 18/100 on the Resource Investment Index, even as it posts class sizes smaller than 74% of California schools.
- #2 of 11
- elementary schools in Spring Valley · Resource Index
- 18
- Resource Index · Lower
- 18.8:1
- small classes for California
- 62.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Highlands Elementary has class sizes smaller than 74% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Highlands Elementary ranks #2 of 11 elementary schools in Spring Valley, CA.
School address
District: La Mesa-Spring Valley · California
NCES ID 062025002429 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-50 students YoY
Highlands Elementary shrank from 496 students in 2022-23 to 446 in 2023-24 (-10.1%).
Teacher FTE lost 19.0 → 16.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-50 students YoY 062025002429 · Spring Valley, CA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
357 enr · 18.8:1 · 62.1% lunch · RII 18
Nearest enrollment peer: La Mesa Arts Academy (1,059 students)
Highlands Elementary shrank from 496 students in 2022-23 to 446 in 2023-24 (-10.1%). Teacher FTE lost 19.0 → 16.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Highlands Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- La Mesa Arts A
La Mesa Arts Academy
1,059 students
- Parkway Sports
Parkway Sports and Health Science Academy
897 students
- Sci Tech Engr
Sci Tech Engr Arts and Math Acad at La Presa
800 students
- Murdock Elemen
Murdock Elementary
608 students
- Spring Valley
Spring Valley Academy
597 students
- This school 357
Highlands Elementary
357 students
What this shows Highlands Elementary reports 357 students on the CCD universe file.
How Highlands Elementary compares
Highlands Elementary is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 18.8:1 | ▼ 13% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 62.1% | ▲ 12% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 357 | top 67% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.8:1
Leaner classes than 21% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
357
Bigger than 41% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
62.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 12% above the California average of 55.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
18.8:1
students per teacher
- 13% below state mean
Top 26% in California - lower ratio than 74% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
70.0%
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
$16,770
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $18,665
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
2
in-school suspensions + 18 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 66.3%
White 15.4%
African American 7.3%
Two or More 7.3%
Asian 3.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 66.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 52.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 52.5, Highlands Elementary is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
District finance for La Mesa-Spring Valley reports $16,770 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Highlands Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Mesa Arts Academy | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Parkway Sports and Health Science Academy | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Sci Tech Engr Arts and Math Acad at La Presa | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Murdock Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Spring Valley Academy | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Highlands Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 897
- Students per teacher
- 30.9:1
- Resource Index
- 21/100
- Enrollment
- 800
- Students per teacher
- 25:1
- Resource Index
- 10/100
- Enrollment
- 608
- Students per teacher
- 27.6:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
- Enrollment
- 597
- Students per teacher
- 28.4:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
Similar elementary schools in Spring Valley
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Sci Tech Engr Arts and Math Acad at La Presa
Standard public school
800 students 25:1 students per teacher
Kempton Street Literacy Academy
Standard public school
480 students 19.2:1 students per teacher
College Preparatory Middle
Standard public school
397 students 20.9:1 students per teacher
Bancroft Elementary
Standard public school
391 students 24.4:1 students per teacher
Sweetwater Springs Elementary
Standard public school
378 students 22.2:1 students per teacher
La Presa Elementary
Standard public school
346 students 23.1:1 students per teacher
Nationwide elementary 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 (~357 students)
Frequently asked questions about Highlands Elementary
How many students attend Highlands Elementary?
Highlands Elementary has 357 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Spring Valley, CA. CCD year-over-year: 496 (2022-23) → 446 (2023-24), down 50.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Highlands Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Highlands Elementary is 18.8:1, which is 13% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 20% higher 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 Elementary?
62.1% of students at Highlands Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Highlands Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Highlands Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 66.3% of enrollment, in Spring Valley, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 52.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Highlands Elementary?
Highlands Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 18/100 (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 Elementary rank among elementary schools in Spring Valley?
By Resource Investment Index, Highlands Elementary ranks #2 of 11 elementary schools in Spring Valley, CA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Spring Valley on the city page.
What other schools are in La Mesa-Spring Valley?
Besides Highlands Elementary, La Mesa-Spring Valley also operates La Mesa Arts Academy (1,059 students), Parkway Sports and Health Science Academy (897 students), and Sci Tech Engr Arts and Math Acad at La Presa (800 students). See the La Mesa-Spring Valley district page for the complete list.