- Enrollment
- 1,019
- Students per teacher
- 18.2:1
- Resource Index
- 55/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Fort Thomas, KY
Highlands Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Highlands Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 54/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 210204001400
👥 S:T ratio 35
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 28
📋 Attendance 83
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Highlands Middle School earns 54/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Kentucky median.
- #2 of 5
- public schools in Fort Thomas · Resource Index
- 54
- Resource Index · Higher
- 16.3:1
- students per teacher
- 7.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Highlands Middle School has class sizes near the Kentucky median. Computed live against every Kentucky school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Highlands Middle School ranks #2 of 5 public schools in Fort Thomas, KY.
School address
District: Fort Thomas Independent · Kentucky
NCES ID 210204001400 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+1 students YoY
Highlands Middle School held near 733 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+1 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 44.5 → 46.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+1 students YoY 210204001400 · Fort Thomas, KY Middle · MID · TRAD
717 enr · 16.3:1 · 7.1% lunch · RII 54
Nearest enrollment peer: Highlands High School (1,019 students)
Highlands Middle School held near 733 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+1 headcount). Teacher FTE added 44.5 → 46.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Kentucky schools → · Find another →
Highlands Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Highlands High
Highlands High School
1,019 students
- This school
Highlands Middle School
717 students
- Moyer Elementa
Moyer Elementary School
565 students
- Woodfill Eleme
Woodfill Elementary School
444 students
- Johnson Elemen
Johnson Elementary School
425 students
What this shows Highlands Middle School reports 717 students on the CCD universe file.
How Highlands Middle School compares
Highlands Middle School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Kentucky and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Kentucky | Kentucky avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 16.3:1 | ▲ 7% | 15.2:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 7.1% | ▼ 88% | 59.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 717 | top 15% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.3:1
Leaner classes than 36% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
717
Bigger than 81% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
7.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 88% below the Kentucky average of 59.2%
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
16.3:1
students per teacher
- 7% above state mean
Top 68% in Kentucky - lower ratio than 32% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
6.8%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
Funding equity
$12,975
per pupil, district-wide
- below Kentucky avg of $14,362
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 359 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
35
in-school suspensions + 41 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 4.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 10.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 89.4%
Two or More 4.3%
Hispanic or Latino 3.2%
African American 2.0%
Asian 1.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: White at 89.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 19.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 19.7, Highlands Middle School is less mixed than the Kentucky school average of 34.5.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Fort Thomas Independent reports $12,975 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Highlands Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highlands High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Moyer Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Woodfill Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Johnson Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Highlands Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 565
- Students per teacher
- 18.2:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 444
- Students per teacher
- 15.3:1
- Resource Index
- 53/100
- Enrollment
- 425
- Students per teacher
- 16.3:1
- Resource Index
- 54/100
Nationwide middle 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 (~717 students)
Frequently asked questions about Highlands Middle School
How many students attend Highlands Middle School?
Highlands Middle School has 717 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Fort Thomas, KY. CCD year-over-year: 732 (2022-23) → 733 (2023-24), nearly flat (+1).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Highlands Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Highlands Middle School is 16.3:1, which is 7% higher than the Kentucky average of 15.2:1 and 4% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Highlands Middle School?
7.1% of students at Highlands Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Kentucky average of 59.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Highlands Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Highlands Middle School is White at 89.4% of enrollment, in Fort Thomas, KY.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Highlands Middle School?
Highlands Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 54/100 (higher 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 Middle School rank among public schools in Fort Thomas?
By Resource Investment Index, Highlands Middle School ranks #2 of 5 public schools in Fort Thomas, KY. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Fort Thomas on the city page.
What other schools are in Fort Thomas Independent?
Besides Highlands Middle School, Fort Thomas Independent also operates Highlands High School (1,019 students), Moyer Elementary School (565 students), and Woodfill Elementary School (444 students). See the Fort Thomas Independent district page for the complete list.