- Enrollment
- 1,956
- Students per teacher
- 25.4:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Kennewick, WA
Highlands Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Highlands Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 62/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 530393000603
👥 S:T ratio 35
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 50
📋 Attendance 92
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Highlands Middle School earns 62/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Washington median.
- #1 of 5
- middle schools in Kennewick · Resource Index
- 62
- Resource Index · Higher
- 16.2:1
- students per teacher
- 77.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Highlands Middle School has class sizes near the Washington median. Computed live against every Washington school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Highlands Middle School ranks #1 of 5 middle schools in Kennewick, WA.
School address
District: Kennewick School District · Washington
NCES ID 530393000603 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-27 students YoY
Highlands Middle School held near 723 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-27 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 46.1 → 44.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-27 students YoY 530393000603 · Kennewick, WA Middle · MID · TRAD
745 enr · 16.2:1 · 77.6% lunch · RII 62
Nearest enrollment peer: Kamiakin High School (1,956 students)
Highlands Middle School held near 723 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-27 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 46.1 → 44.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Washington schools → · Find another →
Highlands Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Kamiakin High
Kamiakin High School
1,956 students
- Kennewick High
Kennewick High School
1,921 students
- Southridge Hig
Southridge High School
1,612 students
- Chinook Middle
Chinook Middle School
950 students
- Desert Hills M
Desert Hills Middle School
906 students
- This school 745
Highlands Middle School
745 students
What this shows Highlands Middle School reports 745 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 Washington and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Washington | Washington avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 16.2:1 | ▼ 8% | 17.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 77.6% | ▲ 72% | 45.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 745 | top 13% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.2:1
Leaner classes than 36% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
745
Bigger than 83% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
77.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 72% above the Washington average of 45.0%
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
16.2:1
students per teacher
- 8% below state mean
Top 49% in Washington - lower ratio than 51% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
3.2%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
Below 5%, comfortably under the pre-pandemic national baseline for chronic absenteeism.
Funding equity
$15,202
per pupil, district-wide
- below Washington avg of $20,912
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 248 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
5
in-school suspensions + 102 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 14.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 9 expulsions.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 59.8%
White 33.6%
Two or More 3.9%
African American 1.2%
Asian 0.9%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.5%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 59.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 52.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 52.8, Highlands Middle School is about as mixed as the Washington school average of 53.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Kennewick School District reports $15,202 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kamiakin High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Kennewick High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Southridge High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Chinook Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Desert Hills Middle School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher 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
- 1,921
- Students per teacher
- 24.9:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 1,612
- Students per teacher
- 22.4:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 950
- Students per teacher
- 22.6:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 906
- Students per teacher
- 21.6:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
Similar middle schools in Kennewick
1 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
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 (~745 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~16.2:1)
Frequently asked questions about Highlands Middle School
How many students attend Highlands Middle School?
Highlands Middle School has 745 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Kennewick, WA. CCD year-over-year: 750 (2022-23) → 723 (2023-24), nearly flat (-27).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Highlands Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Highlands Middle School is 16.2:1, which is 8% lower than the Washington average of 17.6:1 and 3% 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 Middle School?
77.6% of students at Highlands Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Washington average of 45.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Highlands Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Highlands Middle School is Hispanic or Latino at 59.8% of enrollment, in Kennewick, WA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 52.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Highlands Middle School?
Highlands Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 62/100 (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 middle schools in Kennewick?
By Resource Investment Index, Highlands Middle School ranks #1 of 5 middle schools in Kennewick, WA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Kennewick on the city page.
What other schools are in Kennewick School District?
Besides Highlands Middle School, Kennewick School District also operates Kamiakin High School (1,956 students), Kennewick High School (1,921 students), and Southridge High School (1,612 students). See the Kennewick School District district page for the complete list.