- Enrollment
- 929
- Students per teacher
- 20.2:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · San Mateo, CA
Highlands Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Highlands Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 41/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 063492005907
👥 S:T ratio 16
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 24
📋 Attendance 54
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Highlands Elementary earns 41/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #3 of 14
- elementary schools in San Mateo · Resource Index
- 41
- Resource Index · Typical
- 21.1:1
- students per teacher
- 17.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Highlands Elementary has class sizes near the California median. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Highlands Elementary ranks #3 of 14 elementary schools in San Mateo, CA.
School address
District: San Mateo-Foster City · California
NCES ID 063492005907 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-30 students YoY
Highlands Elementary shrank from 385 students in 2022-23 to 355 in 2023-24 (-7.8%).
Teacher FTE lost 18.0 → 16.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-30 students YoY 063492005907 · San Mateo, CA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
379 enr · 21.1:1 · 17.4% lunch · RII 41
Nearest enrollment peer: Bowditch Middle (929 students)
Highlands Elementary shrank from 385 students in 2022-23 to 355 in 2023-24 (-7.8%). Teacher FTE lost 18.0 → 16.8 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
- Bowditch Middl
Bowditch Middle
929 students
- Borel Middle
Borel Middle
903 students
- Bayside Academ
Bayside Academy
840 students
- Abbott Middle
Abbott Middle
721 students
- Foster City El
Foster City Elementary
624 students
- This school
Highlands Elementary
379 students
What this shows Highlands Elementary reports 379 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 | 21.1:1 | ▼ 2% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 17.4% | ▼ 69% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 379 | top 63% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
21.1:1
Leaner classes than 13% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
379
Bigger than 44% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
17.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 69% below the California average of 55.5%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
21.1:1
students per teacher
- 2% below state mean
Top 44% in California - lower ratio than 56% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
18.5%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$19,624
per pupil, district-wide
- above California avg of $18,665
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 379 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
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
Hispanic or Latino 28.5%
Asian 27.2%
White 24.5%
Two or More 17.9%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 1.3%
African American 0.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 28.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 75.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 75.3, Highlands Elementary is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for San Mateo-Foster City reports $19,624 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowditch Middle | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Borel Middle | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Bayside Academy | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Abbott Middle | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Foster City Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower 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
- 903
- Students per teacher
- 18.1:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 840
- Students per teacher
- 19.1:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 721
- Students per teacher
- 16.4:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 624
- Students per teacher
- 18.9:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Similar elementary schools in San Mateo
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Bayside Academy
Standard public school
840 students 19.1:1 students per teacher
Baywood Elementary
Standard public school
489 students 21.3:1 students per teacher
Laurel Elementary
Standard public school
469 students 19.5:1 students per teacher
College Park Elementary
Standard public school
431 students 23.9:1 students per teacher
Fiesta Gardens International Elementary
Standard public school
418 students 22:1 students per teacher
Parkside Montessori
Standard public school
418 students 27.9:1 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 (~379 students)
Frequently asked questions about Highlands Elementary
How many students attend Highlands Elementary?
Highlands Elementary has 379 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in San Mateo, CA. CCD year-over-year: 385 (2022-23) → 355 (2023-24), down 30.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Highlands Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Highlands Elementary is 21.1:1, which is 2% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 34% 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?
17.4% 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 28.5% of enrollment, in San Mateo, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 75.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Highlands Elementary?
Highlands Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 41/100 (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 Elementary rank among elementary schools in San Mateo?
By Resource Investment Index, Highlands Elementary ranks #3 of 14 elementary schools in San Mateo, 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 San Mateo on the city page.
What other schools are in San Mateo-Foster City?
Besides Highlands Elementary, San Mateo-Foster City also operates Bowditch Middle (929 students), Borel Middle (903 students), and Bayside Academy (840 students). See the San Mateo-Foster City district page for the complete list.