- Enrollment
- 1,987
- Students per teacher
- 20.9:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
High school (grades 9-12) · North Highlands, CA
Highlands High
Federal NCES profile for Highlands High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 29/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 060133201988
👥 S:T ratio 24
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 22
📋 Attendance 1
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Highlands High earns 29/100 on the Resource Investment Index, even as it posts class sizes smaller than 73% of California schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #2 of 3
- high schools in North Highlands · Resource Index
- 29
- Resource Index · Lower
- 19:1
- small classes for California
- 76.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Highlands High has class sizes smaller than 73% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Highlands High ranks #2 of 3 high schools in North Highlands, CA.
School address
District: Twin Rivers Unified · California
NCES ID 060133201988 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+10 students YoY
Highlands High held near 754 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+10 headcount).
Teacher FTE held 41.8 → 42.1 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+10 students YoY 060133201988 · North Highlands, CA High · MID · TRAD
778 enr · 19:1 · 76.7% lunch · RII 29
Nearest enrollment peer: Grant Union High (1,987 students)
Highlands High held near 754 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+10 headcount). Teacher FTE held 41.8 → 42.1 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Highlands High in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Grant Union Hi
Grant Union High
1,987 students
- Rio Linda High
Rio Linda High
1,594 students
- Foothill High
Foothill High
1,417 students
- Smythe Academy
Smythe Academy of Arts and Sciences
1,091 students
- Las Palmas Ele
Las Palmas Elementary
1,001 students
- This school 778
Highlands High
778 students
What this shows Highlands High reports 778 students on the CCD universe file.
How Highlands High compares
Highlands High 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 | 19:1 | ▼ 12% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 76.7% | ▲ 38% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 778 | top 18% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19:1
Leaner classes than 20% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
778
Bigger than 84% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
76.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 38% 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
19:1
students per teacher
- 12% below state mean
Top 27% in California - lower ratio than 73% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
39.8%
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
$19,272
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
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 389 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 109 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 14.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 52.3%
White 16.8%
African American 11.3%
Two or More 9.4%
Asian 8.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 1.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 52.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 66.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 66.9, Highlands High is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
AP courses offered 2
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Twin Rivers Unified reports $19,272 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Highlands High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grant Union High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Rio Linda High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Foothill High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Smythe Academy of Arts and Sciences | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Las Palmas Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Highlands High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,594
- Students per teacher
- 19.4:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 1,417
- Students per teacher
- 26.2:1
- Resource Index
- 19/100
- Enrollment
- 1,091
- Students per teacher
- 23.7:1
- Resource Index
- 19/100
- Enrollment
- 1,001
- Students per teacher
- 25.7:1
- Resource Index
- 10/100
Similar high schools in North Highlands
2 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Nationwide high 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 (~778 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~19:1)
Frequently asked questions about Highlands High
How many students attend Highlands High?
Highlands High has 778 students enrolled. It is a high school in North Highlands, CA. CCD year-over-year: 744 (2022-23) → 754 (2023-24), nearly flat (+10).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Highlands High?
The student-teacher ratio at Highlands High is 19:1, which is 12% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 21% 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 High?
76.7% of students at Highlands High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Highlands High?
The largest demographic group at Highlands High is Hispanic or Latino at 52.3% of enrollment, in North Highlands, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 66.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Highlands High?
Highlands High has a Resource Investment Index of 29/100 (lower 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 High rank among high schools in North Highlands?
By Resource Investment Index, Highlands High ranks #2 of 3 high schools in North Highlands, CA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in North Highlands on the city page.
What other schools are in Twin Rivers Unified?
Besides Highlands High, Twin Rivers Unified also operates Grant Union High (1,987 students), Rio Linda High (1,594 students), and Foothill High (1,417 students). See the Twin Rivers Unified district page for the complete list.