- Enrollment
- 1,635
- Students per teacher
- 18.4:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Appleton, WI
Highlands Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Highlands Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 37/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 550039000055
👥 S:T ratio 60
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 17
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Highlands Elementary earns 37/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 90% of Wisconsin schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Wisconsin schools.
- #15 of 20
- schools in Appleton · Resource Index
- 37
- Resource Index · Typical
- 9.9:1
- small classes for Wisconsin
- 62.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Highlands Elementary has class sizes smaller than 90% of Wisconsin schools. Computed live against every Wisconsin school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Highlands Elementary ranks #15 of 20 schools in Appleton, WI.
School address
District: Appleton Area School District · Wisconsin
NCES ID 550039000055 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-31 students YoY
Highlands Elementary shrank from 530 students in 2022-23 to 499 in 2023-24 (-5.8%).
Teacher FTE added 42.8 → 48.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-31 students YoY 550039000055 · Appleton, WI Other · SMALL · TRAD
417 enr · 9.9:1 · 62.5% lunch · RII 37
Nearest enrollment peer: North High (1,635 students)
Highlands Elementary shrank from 530 students in 2022-23 to 499 in 2023-24 (-5.8%). Teacher FTE added 42.8 → 48.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Wisconsin schools → · Find another →
Highlands Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- North High
North High
1,635 students
- East High
East High
1,238 students
- West High
West High
1,024 students
- Madison Middle
Madison Middle
929 students
- Einstein Middl
Einstein Middle
851 students
- This school 417
Highlands Elementary
417 students
What this shows Highlands Elementary reports 417 students on the CCD universe file.
How Highlands Elementary compares
Highlands Elementary is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Wisconsin and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Wisconsin | Wisconsin avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 9.9:1 | ▼ 31% | 14.4:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 62.5% | ▲ 62% | 38.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 417 | top 31% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
9.9:1
Leaner classes than 89% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
417
Bigger than 50% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
62.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 62% above the Wisconsin average of 38.5%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
9.9:1
students per teacher
- 31% below state mean
Top 10% in Wisconsin - lower ratio than 90% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
41.2%
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
$13,085
per pupil, district-wide
- below Wisconsin avg of $15,645
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 417 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
10
in-school suspensions + 4 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 3.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 41.0%
Asian 28.8%
Hispanic or Latino 16.1%
Two or More 8.2%
African American 5.0%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: White at 41.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 71.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 71.4, Highlands Elementary is more mixed than the Wisconsin school average of 35.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Appleton Area School District reports $13,085 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| North High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| East High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| West High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Madison Middle | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Einstein Middle | Larger | Lower 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
- 1,238
- Students per teacher
- 14.9:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 1,024
- Students per teacher
- 13.1:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 929
- Students per teacher
- 19.8:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
- Enrollment
- 851
- Students per teacher
- 23.6:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
Similar other schools in Appleton
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Wisconsin Connections Academy
Standard public school
743 students 35.4:1 students per teacher
Appleton Community 4k
Standard public school
672 students 21.7:1 students per teacher
Huntley Elementary
Standard public school
570 students 13.9:1 students per teacher
Houdini Elementary
Standard public school
501 students 13.9:1 students per teacher
Ferber Elementary
Standard public school
499 students 12.8:1 students per teacher
Mckinley Elementary
Standard public school
380 students 10.3:1 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 (~417 students)
Frequently asked questions about Highlands Elementary
How many students attend Highlands Elementary?
Highlands Elementary has 417 students enrolled. It is a public school in Appleton, WI. CCD year-over-year: 530 (2022-23) → 499 (2023-24), down 31.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Highlands Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Highlands Elementary is 9.9:1, which is 31% lower than the Wisconsin average of 14.4:1 and 37% lower 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?
62.5% of students at Highlands Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Wisconsin average of 38.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Highlands Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Highlands Elementary is White at 41.0% of enrollment, in Appleton, WI. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 71.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Highlands Elementary?
Highlands Elementary 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 rank among schools in Appleton?
By Resource Investment Index, Highlands Elementary ranks #15 of 20 schools in Appleton, WI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Appleton on the city page.
What other schools are in Appleton Area School District?
Besides Highlands Elementary, Appleton Area School District also operates North High (1,635 students), East High (1,238 students), and West High (1,024 students). See the Appleton Area School District district page for the complete list.