Enrollment
604
Georgia · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Doraville, GA
Hightower Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Hightower Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 42/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 130174000704
👥 S:T ratio 48
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 19
📋 Attendance 31
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Hightower Elementary School earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Georgia median. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Georgia schools.
- #4 of 5
- schools in Doraville · Resource Index
- 42
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.1:1
- students per teacher
- 88.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Hightower Elementary School has class sizes near the Georgia median. Computed live against every Georgia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Hightower Elementary School ranks #4 of 5 schools in Doraville, GA.
School address
District: Dekalb County · Georgia
NCES ID 130174000704 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
46.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13.1:1
vs 14.4:1 Georgia avg
-9% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
88.5%
vs 60.7% Georgia avg
+46% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Hightower Elementary School compares with Georgia and U.S. medians
What stands out at Hightower Elementary School
Hightower Elementary School is a high-poverty, mid-sized combined-grade school in Doraville, Georgia, enrolling 604 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 13.1:1 puts it in the smaller third of Georgia schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 88.5% of students eligible for free meals.
With 604 students, its enrollment sits close to the Georgia median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 2,314 scored Georgia schools.
Against 564 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #180.
Its student body is predominantly Hispanic or Latino (92% of enrollment), among the less diverse in the state (diversity index 16/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 403 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 27.8% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 15.7% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Doraville's public schools, it stands alongside Pleasantdale Elementary School (794 students): Hightower Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (13.1:1 vs 16.5:1).
Dekalb County also operates Lakeside High School (2,234 students) and Dunwoody High School (2,012 students) alongside Hightower Elementary School.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Hightower Elementary School compares
Hightower Elementary School on the metrics families compare, against Georgia and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Georgia | Georgia avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.1:1 | ▼ 9% | 14.4:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 88.5% | ▲ 46% | 60.7% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 604 | top 54% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.1:1
Leaner classes than 66% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
604
Bigger than 73% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
88.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 46% above the Georgia average of 60.7%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
13.1:1
students per teacher
- 9% below state mean
Top 33% in Georgia - lower ratio than 67% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
27.8%
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
$15,594
per pupil, district-wide
- above Georgia avg of $13,863
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.5 FTE
Per 403 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
15
in-school suspensions + 25 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 6.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 91.7%
African American 3.3%
Asian 3.1%
White 0.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%
Two or More 0.5%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 91.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 15.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 15.7, Hightower Elementary School is less mixed than the Georgia school average of 50.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Dekalb County, which includes Hightower Elementary School.
$15,594
Per student
+12%
vs Georgia
Avg $13,863
-6%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 51.6%
State 32.7%
Federal 15.7%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Hightower Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lakeside High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Dunwoody High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Chamblee High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Cross Keys High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Sequoyah Middle School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Hightower Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,234
- Students per teacher
- 18.2:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 2,012
- Students per teacher
- 17.1:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 1,867
- Students per teacher
- 17.3:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 1,748
- Students per teacher
- 17:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 1,713
- Students per teacher
- 15.3:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
Similar other schools in Doraville
4 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Pleasantdale Elementary School
Standard public school
794 students 16.5:1 students per teacher
Oakcliff Elementary School
Standard public school
621 students 13.5:1 students per teacher
Evansdale Elementary School
Standard public school
504 students 11.7:1 students per teacher
Tapestry Public Charter School
Standard public school
300 students 9.7:1 students per teacher
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Georgia, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~604 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Hightower Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Hightower Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Dekalb County's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Hightower Elementary School
How many students attend Hightower Elementary School?
Hightower Elementary School has 604 students enrolled. It is a public school in Doraville, GA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Hightower Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Hightower Elementary School is 13.1:1, which is 9% lower than the Georgia average of 14.4:1 and 17% 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 Elementary School?
88.5% of students at Hightower Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Georgia average of 60.7%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Hightower Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Hightower Elementary School is Hispanic or Latino at 91.7% of enrollment, in Doraville, GA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Hightower Elementary School?
Hightower Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 42/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Hightower Elementary School rank among schools in Doraville?
By Resource Investment Index, Hightower Elementary School ranks #4 of 5 schools in Doraville, GA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Doraville on the city page.
Is Hightower Elementary School a good school?
Hightower Elementary School earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Georgia median. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Georgia schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Dekalb County?
Besides Hightower Elementary School, Dekalb County also operates Lakeside High School (2,234 students), Dunwoody High School (2,012 students), and Chamblee High School (1,867 students). See the Dekalb County district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.