- Enrollment
- 3,033
- Students per teacher
- 17:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Plano, TX
Hightower El
Federal NCES profile for Hightower El, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 51/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 483510007836
👥 S:T ratio 50
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 10
📋 Attendance 74
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Hightower El earns 51/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 73% of Texas schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Texas schools.
- #14 of 29
- elementary schools in Plano · Resource Index
- 51
- Resource Index · Higher
- 12.4:1
- small classes for Texas
- 19.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Hightower El has class sizes smaller than 73% of Texas schools. Computed live against every Texas school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Hightower El ranks #14 of 29 elementary schools in Plano, TX.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-46 students YoY
Hightower El shrank from 477 students in 2022-23 to 431 in 2023-24 (-9.6%).
Teacher FTE lost 36.7 → 34.6 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-46 students YoY 483510007836 · Plano, TX Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
448 enr · 12.4:1 · 19.5% lunch · RII 51
Nearest enrollment peer: Plano East Sr H S (3,033 students)
Hightower El shrank from 477 students in 2022-23 to 431 in 2023-24 (-9.6%). Teacher FTE lost 36.7 → 34.6 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Texas schools → · Find another →
Hightower El in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Plano East Sr
Plano East Sr H S
3,033 students
- Plano West Sen
Plano West Senior H S
2,559 students
- Plano Sr H S
Plano Sr H S
2,267 students
- Shepton H S
Shepton H S
1,360 students
- Jasper H S
Jasper H S
1,301 students
- This school 448
Hightower El
448 students
What this shows Hightower El reports 448 students on the CCD universe file.
How Hightower El compares
Hightower El is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Texas and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Texas | Texas avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 12.4:1 | ▼ 16% | 14.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 19.5% | ▼ 68% | 61.9% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 448 | top 57% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.4:1
Leaner classes than 72% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
448
Bigger than 55% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
19.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 68% below the Texas average of 61.9%
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
12.4:1
students per teacher
- 16% below state mean
Top 27% in Texas - lower ratio than 73% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
10.3%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$11,384
per pupil, district-wide
- below Texas avg of $14,348
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 448 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
6
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 37.7%
Asian 22.1%
Hispanic or Latino 17.4%
African American 12.5%
Two or More 10.3%
Largest group: White at 37.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 75.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 75.3, Hightower El is more mixed than the Texas school average of 44.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Plano Isd reports $11,384 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Hightower El Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plano East Sr H S | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Plano West Senior H S | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Plano Sr H S | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Shepton H S | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Jasper H S | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Hightower El's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,559
- Students per teacher
- 17.2:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 2,267
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 1,360
- Students per teacher
- 14.8:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 1,301
- Students per teacher
- 17.6:1
- Resource Index
- 54/100
Nationwide elementary 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 (~448 students)
Frequently asked questions about Hightower El
How many students attend Hightower El?
Hightower El has 448 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Plano, TX. CCD year-over-year: 477 (2022-23) → 431 (2023-24), down 46.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Hightower El?
The student-teacher ratio at Hightower El is 12.4:1, which is 16% lower than the Texas average of 14.7:1 and 21% 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 Hightower El?
19.5% of students at Hightower El are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Texas average of 61.9%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Hightower El?
The largest demographic group at Hightower El is White at 37.7% of enrollment, in Plano, TX. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 75.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Hightower El?
Hightower El has a Resource Investment Index of 51/100 (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 Hightower El rank among elementary schools in Plano?
By Resource Investment Index, Hightower El ranks #14 of 29 elementary schools in Plano, TX. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Plano on the city page.
What other schools are in Plano Isd?
Besides Hightower El, Plano Isd also operates Plano East Sr H S (3,033 students), Plano West Senior H S (2,559 students), and Plano Sr H S (2,267 students). See the Plano Isd district page for the complete list.