- Enrollment
- 983
- Students per teacher
- 27.3:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Saugus, CA
Highlands Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Highlands Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 42/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 063597006155
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 55
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Highlands Elementary earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 92% of California schools.
- #5 of 7
- elementary schools in Saugus · Resource Index
- 42
- Resource Index · Typical
- 27.8:1
- large classes for California
- 21.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Highlands Elementary has class sizes larger than 92% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Highlands Elementary ranks #5 of 7 elementary schools in Saugus, CA.
School address
District: Saugus Union · California
NCES ID 063597006155 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+22 students YoY
Highlands Elementary held near 583 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+22 headcount).
Teacher FTE held 24.0 → 24.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+22 students YoY 063597006155 · Saugus, CA Elementary · MID · TRAD
666 enr · 27.8:1 · 21.4% lunch · RII 42
Nearest enrollment peer: West Creek Academy (983 students)
Highlands Elementary held near 583 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+22 headcount). Teacher FTE held 24.0 → 24.0 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
- West Creek Aca
West Creek Academy
983 students
- Mountainview E
Mountainview Elementary
917 students
- Plum Canyon El
Plum Canyon Elementary
876 students
- Bridgeport Ele
Bridgeport Elementary
866 students
- Emblem Academy
Emblem Academy
810 students
- This school
Highlands Elementary
666 students
What this shows Highlands Elementary reports 666 students on the CCD universe file.
How Highlands Elementary compares
Highlands Elementary held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 27.8:1 | ▲ 29% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 21.4% | ▼ 61% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 666 | top 26% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
27.8:1
Leaner classes than 3% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
666
Bigger than 78% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
21.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 61% 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
27.8:1
students per teacher
- 29% above state mean
Top 92% in California - lower ratio than 8% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
18.0%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$14,043
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $18,665
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 2 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 60.5%
White 26.4%
Asian 5.3%
Two or More 5.0%
African American 2.9%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 60.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 55.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 55.8, Highlands Elementary is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Saugus Union reports $14,043 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Creek Academy | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Mountainview Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Plum Canyon Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Bridgeport Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Emblem Academy | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar 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
- 917
- Students per teacher
- 25.5:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 876
- Students per teacher
- 29.2:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 866
- Students per teacher
- 28.9:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 810
- Students per teacher
- 27:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
Similar elementary schools in Saugus
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Mountainview Elementary
Standard public school
917 students 25.5:1 students per teacher
Plum Canyon Elementary
Standard public school
876 students 29.2:1 students per teacher
Emblem Academy
Standard public school
810 students 27:1 students per teacher
Rosedell Elementary
Standard public school
660 students 27.5:1 students per teacher
James Foster Elementary
Standard public school
508 students 29.9:1 students per teacher
Santa Clarita Elementary
Standard public school
254 students 25.4:1 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 (~666 students)
Frequently asked questions about Highlands Elementary
How many students attend Highlands Elementary?
Highlands Elementary has 666 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Saugus, CA. CCD year-over-year: 561 (2022-23) → 583 (2023-24), nearly flat (+22).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Highlands Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Highlands Elementary is 27.8:1, which is 29% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 77% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Highlands Elementary?
21.4% 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 60.5% of enrollment, in Saugus, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 55.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Highlands Elementary?
Highlands Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 42/100 (typical 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 Saugus?
By Resource Investment Index, Highlands Elementary ranks #5 of 7 elementary schools in Saugus, 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 Saugus on the city page.
What other schools are in Saugus Union?
Besides Highlands Elementary, Saugus Union also operates West Creek Academy (983 students), Mountainview Elementary (917 students), and Plum Canyon Elementary (876 students). See the Saugus Union district page for the complete list.