- Enrollment
- 1,847
- Students per teacher
- 19.6:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Huntsville, AL
Highlands Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Highlands Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 37/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 010180000630
👥 S:T ratio 22
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 26
📋 Attendance 30
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Highlands Elementary School earns 37/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 78% of Alabama schools.
- #20 of 29
- schools in Huntsville · Resource Index
- 37
- Resource Index · Typical
- 19.5:1
- large classes for Alabama
- 78.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Highlands Elementary School has class sizes larger than 78% of Alabama schools. Computed live against every Alabama school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Highlands Elementary School ranks #20 of 29 schools in Huntsville, AL.
School address
District: Huntsville City · Alabama
NCES ID 010180000630 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+9 students YoY
Highlands Elementary School held near 380 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+9 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 19.8 → 24.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+9 students YoY 010180000630 · Huntsville, AL Other · SMALL · TRAD
370 enr · 19.5:1 · 78.2% lunch · RII 37
Nearest enrollment peer: Virgil Grissom High School (1,847 students)
Highlands Elementary School held near 380 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+9 headcount). Teacher FTE added 19.8 → 24.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Alabama schools → · Find another →
Highlands Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Virgil Grissom
Virgil Grissom High School
1,847 students
- Huntsville Hig
Huntsville High School
1,807 students
- Providence Ele
Providence Elementary
1,152 students
- Goldsmithschif
Goldsmithschiffman Elementary
935 students
- Columbia High
Columbia High School
916 students
- This school 370
Highlands Elementary School
370 students
What this shows Highlands Elementary School reports 370 students on the CCD universe file.
How Highlands Elementary School compares
Highlands Elementary School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Alabama and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Alabama | Alabama avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 19.5:1 | ▲ 10% | 17.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 78.2% | ▲ 33% | 58.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 370 | top 70% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19.5:1
Leaner classes than 18% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
370
Bigger than 43% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
78.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 33% above the Alabama average of 58.8%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
19.5:1
students per teacher
- 10% above state mean
Top 78% in Alabama - lower ratio than 22% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
28.1%
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
$13,146
per pupil, district-wide
- below Alabama avg of $13,538
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 370 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 22 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 6.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 70.5%
Hispanic or Latino 17.6%
Two or More 4.9%
White 4.3%
Asian 1.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: African American at 70.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 46.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 46.7, Highlands Elementary School is more mixed than the Alabama school average of 42.5.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Huntsville City reports $13,146 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Highlands Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virgil Grissom High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Huntsville High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Providence Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Goldsmithschiffman Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Columbia High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Highlands Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,807
- Students per teacher
- 18.3:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 1,152
- Students per teacher
- 24.5:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 935
- Students per teacher
- 18:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 916
- Students per teacher
- 17.3:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
Similar other schools in Huntsville
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Providence Elementary
Standard public school
1,152 students 24.5:1 students per teacher
Mt Carmel Elementary School
Standard public school
638 students 17.2:1 students per teacher
Central School
Standard public school
610 students 16.1:1 students per teacher
Monrovia Elementary School
Standard public school
600 students 21.4:1 students per teacher
Blossomwood Elementary School
Standard public school
596 students 16.1:1 students per teacher
Riverton Elementary School
Standard public school
596 students 19.2:1 students per teacher
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 (~370 students)
Frequently asked questions about Highlands Elementary School
How many students attend Highlands Elementary School?
Highlands Elementary School has 370 students enrolled. It is a public school in Huntsville, AL. CCD year-over-year: 371 (2022-23) → 380 (2023-24), nearly flat (+9).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Highlands Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Highlands Elementary School is 19.5:1, which is 10% higher than the Alabama average of 17.7:1 and 24% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Highlands Elementary School?
78.2% of students at Highlands Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Alabama average of 58.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Highlands Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Highlands Elementary School is African American at 70.5% of enrollment, in Huntsville, AL.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Highlands Elementary School?
Highlands Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 37/100 (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 School rank among schools in Huntsville?
By Resource Investment Index, Highlands Elementary School ranks #20 of 29 schools in Huntsville, AL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Huntsville on the city page.
What other schools are in Huntsville City?
Besides Highlands Elementary School, Huntsville City also operates Virgil Grissom High School (1,847 students), Huntsville High School (1,807 students), and Providence Elementary (1,152 students). See the Huntsville City district page for the complete list.