Is Highland Academy Charter a good school?

Highland Academy Charter ranks 23 rd of 63 Alaska high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Highland Academy Charter?

In the 2022-23 school year, 169 students attended Highland Academy Charter.

What is the racial makeup of Highland Academy Charter?

Students at Highland Academy Charter are 51% White, 17% Two or more races, 9% American Indian, 9% Pacific Islander, 8% Hispanic, 5% African American, 1% Asian.

Highland Academy Charter

Summary:

Highland Academy Charter is a public magnet charter high school located in Anchorage, Alaska, serving grades 6-12 with a student population of 169. The school is part of the Anchorage School District, which is ranked 14 out of 24 districts in the state and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Highland Academy Charter consistently outperforms the Anchorage School District and the state of Alaska in academic proficiency across various subjects and grade levels. In the 2023-2024 school year, 75% of 10th-grade students at Highland Academy Charter were proficient or better in ASA/Science, compared to 29.73% for the Anchorage School District and 29.65% for the state. The school also has a more diverse student population compared to nearby schools, with a higher percentage of minority students, including African American, Hispanic, Native American, and Pacific Islander students. Additionally, Highland Academy Charter has a very low percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a relatively low-income student population compared to the surrounding schools.

When comparing Highland Academy Charter to nearby schools, such as Dimond High School, West High School, and Bettye Davis East Anchorage High School, Highland Academy Charter consistently outperforms them in academic proficiency. The school's diverse student population, low student-teacher ratio, and focus on providing a high-quality education contribute to its success, making it a valuable example for other schools to learn from.

Detail:

Public, Magnet, Charter 6-12

5530 E Northern Lights Ste 1
Anchorage, AK 99504-3169

(907) 742-1700

District: Anchorage School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
23^rd of 63 Alaska High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $15,386

Student/teacher ratio: 15.3

Number of students: 169

Racial breakdown:

White:

50.9%

Two or more races:

16.6%

American Indian:

9.5%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 1.8%

See top rated Alaska high schools

Compare Highland Academy Charter to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Highland Academy Charter ranks worse than 80.2% of middle schools in Alaska. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 25.9. (See more...)

Compare Details Highland Academy Charter ranks better than 63.5% of high schools in Alaska. It also ranks 4^th among 9 ranked high schools in the Anchorage School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 62.89. (See more...)

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (50.9%), two or more races (16.6%), American Indian (9.5%). (See more...)

Compare Details 1.8% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Highland Academy Charter is 15.3, which is the 3^rd best among 9 high schools in the Anchorage School District. (See more...)

Compare Highland Academy Charter employs 11 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Highland Academy Charter is $15,386, which is the 7^th highest among 9 high schools in the Anchorage School District.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Highland Academy Charter:

SchoolDigger ranks Highland Academy Charter 73^rd of 91 Alaska public middle schools. (See Highland Academy Charter in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

White students:

SchoolDigger ranks Highland Academy Charter 23^rd of 63 Alaska public high schools. (See Highland Academy Charter in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Male students:

White students:

Anchorage School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Anchorage School District 14^th of 24 Alaska school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Rating:

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Rank History for Highland Academy Charter

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Rank History for all middle school students at Highland Academy Charter

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	AK State Percentile
2005	62.31	53^rd	138	61.6%
2006	59.53	61^st	132	53.8%
2007	62.00	55^th	128	57.0%
2008	79.60	22^nd	132	83.3%
2009	79.14	21^st	131	84.0%
2010	74.14	35^th	136	74.3%
2011	52.77	63^rd	133	52.6%
2012	63.38	58^th	135	57.0%
2013	72.78	44^th	136	67.6%
2014	58.43	55^th	138	60.1%
2015	68.80	36^th	151	76.2%
2017	63.23	28^th	88	68.2%
2018	30.09	69^th	96	28.1%
2019	28.40	74^th	99	25.3%
2021	55.82	39^th	84	53.6%
2022	51.95	42^nd	95	55.8%
2023	36.85	56^th	92	39.1%
2024	25.90	73^rd	91	19.8%

See the entire list of Alaska High School Rankings!

Rank History for middle school Low Socio Economic Status students at Highland Academy Charter

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	AK State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2019	40.48	34^th	64	46.9%
2024	61.49	16^th	54	70.4%

See the entire list of Best Alaska High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for middle school Female students at Highland Academy Charter

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	AK State Percentile
2019	12.53	69^th	74	6.8%
2021	66.69	17^th	57	70.2%
2024	41.85	45^th	69	34.8%

See the entire list of Best Alaska High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for middle school Male students at Highland Academy Charter

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	AK State Percentile
2019	54.19	34^th	73	53.4%
2021	55.49	26^th	62	58.1%
2022	63.54	23^rd	68	66.2%
2024	42.27	45^th	72	37.5%

See the entire list of Best Alaska High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for middle school White students at Highland Academy Charter

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	AK State Percentile
2019	47.78	37^th	72	48.6%
2021	42.65	37^th	58	36.2%
2022	59.50	25^th	69	63.8%
2024	27.09	58^th	74	21.6%

See the entire list of Best Alaska High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Alaska Department of Education and Early Developmenr, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Rank History for Highland Academy Charter

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Rank History for all high school students at Highland Academy Charter

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AK State Percentile
2005	78.76	22^nd	116	81.0%
2006	70.01	47^th	135	65.2%
2007	64.48	50^th	139	64.0%
2008	65.57	48^th	151	68.2%
2009	81.19	22^nd	151	85.4%
2010	79.01	21^st	140	85.0%
2011	78.16	27^th	142	81.0%
2012	70.17	41^st	136	69.9%
2013	76.87	24^th	148	83.8%
2014	75.69	29^th	139	79.1%
2015	60.30	52^nd	135	61.5%
2017	69.60	15^th	83	81.9%
2018	60.29	28^th	74	62.2%
2019	50.35	36^th	77	53.2%
2021	31.24	44^th	61	27.9%
2022	43.09	31^st	62	50.0%
2023	58.16	21^st	62	66.1%
2024	62.89	23^rd	63	63.5%

See the entire list of Alaska High School Rankings!

Rank History for high school Low Socio Economic Status students at Highland Academy Charter

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AK State Percentile
2019	80.39	10^th	55	81.8%
2023	53.87	19^th	42	54.8%
2024	75.74	8^th	41	80.5%

See the entire list of Best Alaska High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for high school Male students at Highland Academy Charter

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AK State Percentile
2019	68.85	16^th	58	72.4%
2021	40.72	26^th	42	38.1%
2023	58.14	16^th	47	66.0%
2024	67.96	15^th	48	68.8%

See the entire list of Best Alaska High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for high school White students at Highland Academy Charter

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AK State Percentile
2021	15.55	38^th	43	11.6%
2022	43.68	25^th	47	46.8%
2023	64.35	16^th	47	66.0%
2024	60.47	19^th	46	58.7%

See the entire list of Best Alaska High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Alaska Department of Education and Early Developmenr, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: Alaska Department of Education and Early Development

Review counts

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Enrollment information for Highland Academy Charter

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
2004	217	23	9	14	41	n/a	n/a	0	304
2005	205	32	18	14	55	n/a	n/a	0	324
2006	183	29	17	15	43	n/a	n/a	0	287
2007	163	29	14	11	55	n/a	n/a	0	272
2008	151	9	15	11	29	n/a	n/a	42	257
2009	147	5	5	16	22	11	38	0	244
2010	145	6	10	20	22	5	30	0	238
2011	146	8	8	17	24	4	29	0	236
2012	140	11	10	16	16	3	28	0	224
2013	123	9	13	15	14	2	27	0	203
2014	124	13	8	13	13	14	27	0	212
2015	103	16	12	11	10	9	32	0	193
2016	93	10	9	13	8	7	23	0	163
2017	94	8	10	14	19	4	30	0	179
2018	78	4	8	14	19	5	33	0	161
2019	74	5	2	12	21	6	33	0	153
2020	91	7	4	20	25	7	30	0	184
2021	88	8	3	20	20	7	24	0	170
2022	82	7	4	12	16	10	26	0	157
2023	86	8	2	14	16	15	28	0	169

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Highland Academy Charter

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2004	304	12.5	24.3	n/a
2005	324	15.0	21.6	n/a
2006	287	13.0	22.1	n/a
2007	272	14.0	19.4	n/a
2008	257	12.3	20.9	0
2009	244	11.9	20.5	0
2010	238	12.8	18.5	0
2011	236	11.7	20.1	0
2012	224	11.5	19.3	0
2013	203	11.6	17.5	0
2014	212	12.0	17.6	0
2015	193	11.0	17.5	0
2016	163	10.0	16.3	0
2017	179	10.0	17.9	1.7
2018	161	11.1	14.4	1.9
2019	153	10.6	14.4	n/a
2020	184	11.0	16.7	1.6
2021	170	11.6	14.6	n/a
2022	157	11.0	14.2	n/a
2023	169	11.0	15.3	1.8

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Highland Academy Charter

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2004	304	12.5	24.3	n/a
2005	324	15.0	21.6	n/a
2006	287	13.0	22.1	n/a
2007	272	14.0	19.4	n/a
2008	257	12.3	20.9	0
2009	244	11.9	20.5	0
2010	238	12.8	18.5	0
2011	236	11.7	20.1	0
2012	224	11.5	19.3	0
2013	203	11.6	17.5	0
2014	212	12.0	17.6	0
2015	193	11.0	17.5	0
2016	163	10.0	16.3	0
2017	179	10.0	17.9	1.7
2018	161	11.1	14.4	1.9
2019	153	10.6	14.4	n/a
2020	184	11.0	16.7	1.6
2021	170	11.6	14.6	n/a
2022	157	11.0	14.2	n/a
2023	169	11.0	15.3	1.8

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Highland Academy Charter

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$442 (2.9%)	$14,944 (97.1%)	$15,386

Data source: Alaska Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Highland Academy Charter

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 74^th of 99 Middle schools	Ranks 56^th of 92 Middle schools	13.9%
Ranks 36^th of 77 High schools	Ranks 21^st of 62 High schools	12.9%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
8th Grade Science (Highland Academy Charter)	47.1	61.5	14.5%
8th Grade Science (Anchorage School District)	45.2	37.3	8%
8th Grade Science (Alaska)	43.1	34.5	8.6%
10th Grade Science (Highland Academy Charter)	77.3	31.8	45.5%
10th Grade Science (Anchorage School District)	57	34.9	22.1%
10th Grade Science (Alaska)	53.6	33	20.6%
All Grades Science (Highland Academy Charter)	58.9	42.9	16.1%
All Grades Science (Anchorage School District)	46.6	39.4	7.2%
All Grades Science (Alaska)	44.7	36.9	7.7%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	153	169	10.5%
African American	5	8	60%
American Indian	21	16	23.8%
Asian	2	2
Hispanic	12	14	16.7%
Pacific Islander	6	15	150%
White	74	86	16.2%
Two or More Races	33	28	15.2%

Schools Near Highland Academy Charter

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				STAR English Language Arts (2024)					STAR Mathematics (2024)					ASA Science (2024)			Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	STAR English Language Arts 6th Grade	STAR English Language Arts 7th Grade	STAR English Language Arts 8th Grade	STAR English Language Arts 9th Grade	STAR English Language Arts All Grades	STAR Mathematics 6th Grade	STAR Mathematics 7th Grade	STAR Mathematics 8th Grade	STAR Mathematics 9th Grade	STAR Mathematics All Grades	ASA Science 8th Grade	ASA Science 10th Grade	ASA Science All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Highland Academy Charter	Public, Magnet, Charter	6-12	5530 E Northern Lights Ste 1	Anchorage	99504	Anchorage Municipality	Anchorage School District	Yes	Yes	No	No	(907) 742-1700	169	11	15.3	1.8%	86 (50.9%)	8 (4.7%)	14 (8.3%)	2 (1.2%)	16 (9.5%)	15 (8.9%)	28 (16.6%)	62.9	23^rd of 63 public high schools	63.5%		58.2	21^st of 62 public high schools	66.1%	2	35.0	45.0	13.0	37.5	32.2	26.3	35.0	20.8	21.7	25.6	26.1	75.0	51.1	$15,386	$442	$14,944
Bettye Davis East Anchorage High School	Public, Magnet	9-12	4025 E Northern Lights Blvd	Anchorage	99508	Anchorage Municipality	Anchorage School District	No	Yes	No	Yes	(907) 742-2100	1,745	85	20.6	70.7%	290 (16.6%)	142 (8.1%)	244 (14.0%)	342 (19.6%)	211 (12.1%)	226 (13.0%)	290 (16.6%)	13.4	56^th of 63 public high schools	11.1%		18.4	51^st of 62 public high schools	17.7%	5				23.7	23.7				10.3	10.3		20.9	20.9	$15,523	$1,936	$13,587
Benny Benson Alternative High School	Public	9-12	4515 Campbell Airstrip Rd	Anchorage	99507	Anchorage Municipality	Anchorage School District	No	No	No	Yes	(907) 742-2050	295	14	20.3	97.3%	49 (16.6%)	24 (8.1%)	36 (12.2%)	13 (4.4%)	53 (18.0%)	66 (22.4%)	54 (18.3%)								(n/a)														$18,067	$3,113	$14,954
Alaska Middle College School	Public	11-12	2650 E Northern Lights Blvd	Eagle River	99508	Anchorage Municipality	Anchorage School District	No	No	No	No	(907) 786-7611	255	3	85.0	1.2%	149 (58.4%)	16 (6.3%)	19 (7.5%)	24 (9.4%)	11 (4.3%)	7 (2.7%)	29 (11.4%)								(n/a)														$12,225	$323	$11,901
Martin Luther King Junior Technical High School	Public	10-12	2650 E Northern Lights Blvd	Anchorage	99508	Anchorage Municipality	Anchorage School District	No	No	No	No	(907) 742-8900	106	26	4.0	2.8%	51 (48.1%)	1 (0.9%)	15 (14.2%)	8 (7.5%)	12 (11.3%)	1 (0.9%)	18 (17.0%)								(n/a)														$46,333	$564	$45,768
McLaughlin Secondary School	Public	6-12	2600 Providence Dr	Anchorage	99508	Anchorage Municipality	Anchorage School District	No	No	No	No	(907) 742-1120	65	13	5.0	4.6%	18 (27.7%)	5 (7.7%)	2 (3.1%)	1 (1.5%)	27 (41.5%)	5 (7.7%)	7 (10.8%)								(n/a)														$19,996	$2,157	$17,839
S.A.V.E. High School	Public	9-12	410 East 56th	Anchorage	99518	Anchorage Municipality	Anchorage School District	No	No	No	No	(907) 742-1250	147	7	19.6	2.0%	42 (28.6%)	6 (4.1%)	16 (10.9%)	5 (3.4%)	28 (19.0%)	22 (15.0%)	28 (19.0%)								(n/a)														$16,853	$1,477	$15,375
Service High School	Public, Magnet	9-12	5577 Abbott Rd	Anchorage	99507	Anchorage Municipality	Anchorage School District	No	Yes	No	No	(907) 742-8100	1,544	69	22.4	27.8%	619 (40.1%)	54 (3.5%)	182 (11.8%)	235 (15.2%)	142 (9.2%)	68 (4.4%)	244 (15.8%)	23.1	53^rd of 63 public high schools	15.9%		44.5	34^th of 62 public high schools	45.2%	19				26.0	26.0				15.3	15.3		28.9	28.9	$14,533	$1,085	$13,448
Steller Secondary School	Public, Magnet	7-12	2508 Blueberry Ln	Anchorage	99503	Anchorage Municipality	Anchorage School District	No	Yes	No	No	(907) 742-4950	240	14	16.5	1.3%	157 (65.4%)	5 (2.1%)	19 (7.9%)	14 (5.8%)	9 (3.8%)	3 (1.3%)	33 (13.8%)	96.7	2^nd of 63 public high schools	96.8%		96.4	2^nd of 62 public high schools	96.8%			46.3	51.9	64.3	53.7		51.9	59.3	47.6	52.0	57.1	61.5	59.7	$13,262	$369	$12,892
West High School	Public, Magnet	9-12	1700 Hillcrest Dr	Anchorage	99517	Anchorage Municipality	Anchorage School District	No	Yes	No	No	(907) 742-2500	1,763	83	21.3	39.6%	595 (33.7%)	109 (6.2%)	262 (14.9%)	209 (11.9%)	165 (9.4%)	192 (10.9%)	231 (13.1%)	45	35^th of 63 public high schools	44.4%		31.5	46^th of 62 public high schools	25.8%	11				42.8	42.8				24.3	24.3		25.3	25.3	$13,328	$926	$12,401

Highland Academy Charter

Highland Academy Charter:

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Anchorage School District:

Average Rating:

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Rank History for Highland Academy Charter

Rank History for all middle school students at Highland Academy Charter

Rank History for middle school Low Socio Economic Status students at Highland Academy Charter

Rank History for middle school Female students at Highland Academy Charter

Rank History for middle school Male students at Highland Academy Charter

Rank History for middle school White students at Highland Academy Charter

Rank History for Highland Academy Charter

Rank History for all high school students at Highland Academy Charter

Rank History for high school Low Socio Economic Status students at Highland Academy Charter

Rank History for high school Male students at Highland Academy Charter

Rank History for high school White students at Highland Academy Charter

Review counts

Enrollment information for Highland Academy Charter

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Highland Academy Charter

Student/Teacher Ratio Highland Academy Charter

Per Pupil Expenditures for Highland Academy Charter

Impact of COVID-19 on Highland Academy Charter

Rankings

Test Scores

Student Body

Schools Near Highland Academy Charter

Frequently Asked Questions about Highland Academy Charter

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