Highlands Elementary School

Summary:

Highlands Elementary School is a public elementary school in Jacksonville, Florida, serving 475 students in grades PK-5. The school is part of the Duval School District, which is ranked 54 out of 68 districts in Florida and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger. Highlands Elementary has consistently ranked in the bottom 10% of Florida elementary schools over the past decade, with a current ranking of 2150 out of 2256 schools.

Highlands Elementary faces significant challenges, including a high chronic absenteeism rate of 58.6%, which is substantially higher than the district and state averages. Academically, the school consistently underperforms compared to the Duval district and Florida state averages across all grade levels and subject areas. For example, in 2023-2024, only 19% of 5th-grade students were proficient or better in Science, compared to 49% in the district and 53% statewide. The school's student population is predominantly African American (70.95%), with significantly lower percentages of White (8.84%) and Hispanic (9.47%) students compared to the surrounding schools. Additionally, 77.47% of Highlands Elementary students receive free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high level of economic disadvantage.

While several nearby schools, such as Martin Luther King Junior Elementary, Rutledge H. Pearson Elementary, and Sallye B. Mathis Elementary, share similar demographic and performance characteristics with Highlands Elementary, some schools, like Biscayne Elementary and San Mateo Elementary, demonstrate significantly higher academic achievement and lower chronic absenteeism rates. This suggests that factors beyond just demographics may be contributing to the underperformance of Highlands Elementary.

Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

1000 Depaul Dr
Jacksonville, FL 32218

(904) 696-8754

District: Duval

SchoolDigger Rank:
2150^th of 2,256 Florida Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $13,524

Students who attend Highlands Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Highlands Middle School
High:	First Coast High School

Student/teacher ratio: 13.2

Number of students: 396

Racial breakdown:

African American:

76.3%

White:

8.8%

Two or more races:

6.8%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 72.7%

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Compare Highlands Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Highlands Elementary School ranks worse than 95.3% of elementary schools in Florida. It also ranks 106^th among 119 ranked elementary schools in the Duval School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 10.18. (See more...)

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: African American (76.3%), White (8.8%), two or more races (6.8%). (See more...)

Compare Details 72.7% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Highlands Elementary School is 13.2, which is the 11^th best among 119 elementary schools in the Duval School District. (See more...)

Compare Highlands Elementary School employs 30 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Highlands Elementary School is $13,524, which is the 22^nd highest among 119 elementary schools in the Duval School District.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Highlands Elementary School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

Duval:

SchoolDigger ranks Duval 54^th of 68 Florida school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Highlands Elementary School

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	FL State Percentile
2006	7.42	1606^th	1688	4.9%
2007	19.81	1515^th	1786	15.2%
2008	25.87	1401^st	1789	21.7%
2009	16.84	1622^nd	1847	12.2%
2010	18.48	1655^th	1919	13.8%
2011	12.11	1828^th	1985	7.9%
2012	20.16	1662^nd	1984	16.2%
2013	30.15	1483^rd	2029	26.9%
2014	29.70	1518^th	2064	26.5%
2016	7.85	2008^th	2087	3.8%
2017	8.52	2027^th	2112	4.0%
2018	6.13	2060^th	2118	2.7%
2019	8.48	2080^th	2182	4.7%
2021	12.95	2051^st	2247	8.7%
2022	12.89	2044^th	2219	7.9%
2023	18.37	1952^nd	2240	12.9%
2024	10.18	2150^th	2256	4.7%

See the entire list of Florida Elementary School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Florida Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Data source: Florida Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Highlands Elementary School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1988	319	425	4	10	1	n/a	n/a	0	759
1989	279	451	5	12	4	n/a	n/a	0	751
1990	266	509	2	8	2	n/a	n/a	0	787
1991	246	619	2	5	1	n/a	n/a	0	873
1992	175	479	2	8	3	n/a	n/a	0	667
1993	161	495	2	5	4	n/a	n/a	0	667
1994	154	465	1	6	2	n/a	n/a	0	628
1995	110	581	0	2	1	n/a	n/a	0	694
1996	110	581	0	2	1	n/a	n/a	0	694
1997	114	550	1	6	0	n/a	n/a	0	671
1998	96	520	2	6	0	n/a	n/a	0	624
1999	68	522	1	3	3	n/a	n/a	0	597
2000	77	576	0	3	1	n/a	n/a	0	657
2001	48	518	0	4	0	n/a	n/a	0	570
2002	27	488	0	2	1	n/a	n/a	0	518
2003	27	488	0	2	1	n/a	n/a	0	518
2004	26	312	0	7	0	n/a	n/a	0	345
2005	35	378	1	6	0	n/a	n/a	0	420
2006	44	391	8	13	0	n/a	n/a	0	456
2007	37	364	4	28	1	n/a	n/a	12	446
2008	40	352	2	24	2	n/a	n/a	17	437
2009	54	312	1	22	0	n/a	n/a	17	406
2010	40	318	0	16	0	n/a	n/a	20	394
2011	70	318	0	20	0	0	15	0	423
2012	60	329	0	23	0	0	11	0	423
2013	48	319	1	22	0	0	10	0	400
2014	50	318	1	20	0	0	9	0	398
2015	39	341	0	25	0	0	14	0	419
2016	52	381	1	39	0	0	11	0	484
2017	62	339	1	58	1	2	16	0	479
2018	49	348	3	43	1	3	10	0	457
2019	59	339	0	38	1	3	13	0	453
2020	62	315	6	49	6	3	9	0	450
2021	11	287	1	43	1	0	74	0	417
2022	28	328	5	42	2	0	51	0	456
2023	42	337	8	45	1	1	41	0	475
2024	35	302	5	26	1	0	27	0	396

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 Highlands Elementary School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	759	39.0	19.4	39.5
1989	751	41.0	18.3	42.5
1990	787	41.0	19.1	39.5
1991	873	44.0	19.8	51.1
1992	667	32.0	20.8	43.2
1993	667	32.0	20.8	56.4
1994	628	30.0	20.9	31.5
1995	694	34.0	20.4	67.1
1996	694	34.0	20.4	67.1
1997	671	33.0	20.3	66.8
1998	624	37.0	16.9	61.9
1999	597	35.0	17.1	77.1
2000	657	34.0	19.3	79.5
2001	570	30.0	19.0	81.9
2002	518	26.0	19.9	78.6
2003	518	26.0	19.9	78.6
2004	345	24.0	14.4	83.8
2005	420	28.0	15.0	82.1
2006	456	31.0	14.7	75
2007	446	31.0	14.4	81.6
2008	437	33.0	13.2	80.7
2009	406	31.1	13.5	84.6
2010	394	30.0	13.1	88.2
2011	423	31.0	13.6	83
2012	423	28.0	15.1	84.9
2013	400	28.0	14.2	83.5
2014	398	30.0	13.2	65.8
2015	419	29.0	14.4	69.7
2016	484	33.0	14.6	78.7
2017	479	35.0	13.6	73.5
2018	457	33.0	13.8	77
2019	453	30.0	15.1	74
2020	450	29.0	15.5	68.2
2021	417	31.0	13.4	72.9
2022	456	30.0	15.2	74.1
2023	475	30.0	15.8	77.5
2024	396	30.0	13.2	72.7

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 Highlands Elementary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	759	39.0	19.4	39.5
1989	751	41.0	18.3	42.5
1990	787	41.0	19.1	39.5
1991	873	44.0	19.8	51.1
1992	667	32.0	20.8	43.2
1993	667	32.0	20.8	56.4
1994	628	30.0	20.9	31.5
1995	694	34.0	20.4	67.1
1996	694	34.0	20.4	67.1
1997	671	33.0	20.3	66.8
1998	624	37.0	16.9	61.9
1999	597	35.0	17.1	77.1
2000	657	34.0	19.3	79.5
2001	570	30.0	19.0	81.9
2002	518	26.0	19.9	78.6
2003	518	26.0	19.9	78.6
2004	345	24.0	14.4	83.8
2005	420	28.0	15.0	82.1
2006	456	31.0	14.7	75
2007	446	31.0	14.4	81.6
2008	437	33.0	13.2	80.7
2009	406	31.1	13.5	84.6
2010	394	30.0	13.1	88.2
2011	423	31.0	13.6	83
2012	423	28.0	15.1	84.9
2013	400	28.0	14.2	83.5
2014	398	30.0	13.2	65.8
2015	419	29.0	14.4	69.7
2016	484	33.0	14.6	78.7
2017	479	35.0	13.6	73.5
2018	457	33.0	13.8	77
2019	453	30.0	15.1	74
2020	450	29.0	15.5	68.2
2021	417	31.0	13.4	72.9
2022	456	30.0	15.2	74.1
2023	475	30.0	15.8	77.5
2024	396	30.0	13.2	72.7

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 Highlands Elementary School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2018	$1,022 (10.7%)	$8,526 (89.3%)	$9,548
2019	$1,315 (13.6%)	$8,354 (86.4%)	$9,669
2020	$1,374 (12.8%)	$9,399 (87.2%)	$10,773
2021	$1,588 (13.4%)	$10,300 (86.6%)	$11,888
2022	$2,871 (22.6%)	$9,810 (77.4%)	$12,682
2023	$3,363 (24.9%)	$10,161 (75.1%)	$13,524

Data source: Florida Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Highlands Elementary School

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 2080^th of 2182 Elementary schools	Ranks 1952^nd of 2240 Elementary schools	8.2%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Highlands Elementary School)	20	22	2%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Duval)	51	47	4%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Florida)	58	53	5%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Highlands Elementary School)	47	39	8%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Duval)	61	56	5%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Florida)	62	58	4%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Highlands Elementary School)	20	30	10%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Duval)	52	50	2%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)	58	57	1%
4th Grade Mathematics (Highlands Elementary School)	38	27	11%
4th Grade Mathematics (Duval)	64	58	6%
4th Grade Mathematics (Florida)	64	61	3%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Highlands Elementary School)	24	30	6%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Duval)	50	47	3%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)	56	55	1%
5th Grade Mathematics (Highlands Elementary School)	35	38	3%
5th Grade Mathematics (Duval)	57	50	7%
5th Grade Mathematics (Florida)	60	52	8%
5th Grade Science (Highlands Elementary School)	22	37	15%
5th Grade Science (Duval)	49	48	1%
5th Grade Science (Florida)	53	51	2%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	453	475	4.9%
African American	339	337	0.6%
American Indian	1	1
Asian	0	8
Hispanic	38	45	18.4%
Pacific Islander	3	1	66.7%
White	59	42	28.8%
Two or More Races	13	41	215.4%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	74%	77.5%	3.5%

Schools Near Highlands Elementary School

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				FAST English Language Arts (2024)				FAST Math (2024)				Statewide Science Science (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2023)
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	FAST English Language Arts 3rd Grade	FAST English Language Arts 4th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 5th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 6th Grade	FAST Math 3rd Grade	FAST Math 4th Grade	FAST Math 5th Grade	FAST Math 6th Grade	Statewide Science Science 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Highlands Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1000 Depaul Dr	Jacksonville	32218	Duval County	Duval	No	No	No	Yes	(904) 696-8754	396	30	13.2	72.7%	35 (8.8%)	302 (76.3%)	26 (6.6%)	5 (1.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (6.8%)	10.2	2150^th of 2256 public elementary schools	4.7%		18.4	1952^nd of 2240 public elementary schools	12.9%	198	27.0	22.0	34.0		39.0	34.0	34.0		19.0	$13,524	$3,363	$10,161
Seaside Charter North Campus	Public, Charter	K-6	1429 Broward Rd	Jacksonville	32218	Duval County	Duval	Yes	No	No	No	(904) 973-2743	422	0	17.2	54.0%	205 (48.6%)	119 (28.2%)	49 (11.6%)	2 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	46 (10.9%)	15.4	2022^nd of 2256 public elementary schools	10.4%		13.6	2064^th of 2240 public elementary schools	7.9%	42	36.0	32.0	33.0	45.0	41.0	19.0	7.0	41.0	38.0	$9,213	$68	$9,146
Pine Estates Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	10741 Pine Estates Rd E	Jacksonville	32218	Duval County	Duval	No	No	No	Yes	(904) 696-8767	220	13	16.9	63.6%	24 (10.9%)	136 (61.8%)	52 (23.6%)	1 (0.5%)	2 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (2.3%)	14	2064^th of 2256 public elementary schools	8.5%		19.5	1913^th of 2240 public elementary schools	14.6%	151	32.0	43.0	21.0		36.0	43.0	28.0		24.0	$13,675	$3,572	$10,104
Somerset Academy-Elementary Eagle Campus	Public, Charter	K-5	2100 Dunn Ave	Jacksonville	32218	Duval County	Duval	Yes	No	No	Yes	(904) 551-3292	376	0	18.0	83.0%	21 (5.6%)	332 (88.3%)	18 (4.8%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.1%)	17.8	1962^nd of 2256 public elementary schools	13.0%		26.4	1704^th of 2240 public elementary schools	23.9%	258	48.0	38.0	32.0		54.0	21.0	28.0		18.0	$8,667	$1,227	$7,440
Biscayne Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	12230 Biscayne Blvd	Jacksonville	32218	Duval County	Duval	No	No	No	Yes	(904) 714-4650	804	44	18.2	61.3%	58 (7.2%)	683 (85.0%)	35 (4.4%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.5%)	1 (0.1%)	23 (2.9%)	42.5	1277^th of 2256 public elementary schools	43.4%		48	1139^th of 2240 public elementary schools	49.2%	138	50.0	37.0	41.0		58.0	65.0	72.0		29.0	$10,215	$2,352	$7,863
Garden City Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2814 Dunn Ave	Jacksonville	32218	Duval County	Duval	No	No	No	Yes	(904) 924-3130	393	23	17.0	70.5%	47 (12.0%)	293 (74.6%)	34 (8.7%)	8 (2.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (2.5%)	21.5	1867^th of 2256 public elementary schools	17.2%		23.1	1799^th of 2240 public elementary schools	19.7%	68	45.0	40.0	31.0		37.0	56.0	31.0		25.0	$10,002	$1,915	$8,087
San Mateo Elementary School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	600 Baisden Rd	Jacksonville	32218	Duval County	Duval	No	Yes	No	No	(904) 696-8750	495	28	17.6	45.7%	212 (42.8%)	186 (37.6%)	51 (10.3%)	9 (1.8%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	36 (7.3%)	63.7	782^nd of 2256 public elementary schools	65.3%		75.5	500^th of 2240 public elementary schools	77.7%	282	62.0	55.0	62.0		56.0	55.0	68.0		67.0	$9,038	$1,216	$7,822
Rutledge H. Pearson Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4346 Roanoke Blvd	Jacksonville	32208	Duval County	Duval	No	No	No	Yes	(904) 924-3077	749	39	19.2	80.2%	31 (4.1%)	669 (89.3%)	35 (4.7%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (1.6%)	23.9	1804^th of 2256 public elementary schools	20.0%		23.2	1795^th of 2240 public elementary schools	19.9%	9	26.0	45.0	28.0		49.0	55.0	41.0		31.0	$13,774	$4,016	$9,758
Sallye B. Mathis Elementary School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	3501 Winton Dr	Jacksonville	32208	Duval County	Duval	No	Yes	No	Yes	(904) 924-3086	383	27	14.1	74.9%	16 (4.2%)	331 (86.4%)	21 (5.5%)	3 (0.8%)	2 (0.5%)	1 (0.3%)	9 (2.3%)	17.6	1966^th of 2256 public elementary schools	12.9%		20.7	1882^nd of 2240 public elementary schools	16.0%	84	22.0	37.0	29.0		35.0	54.0	39.0		26.0	$14,810	$3,198	$11,613
North Shore Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	5701 Silver Plz	Jacksonville	32208	Duval County	Duval	No	No	No	Yes	(904) 924-3081	665	34	19.5	78.8%	56 (8.4%)	531 (79.8%)	39 (5.9%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	4 (0.6%)	33 (5.0%)	16.6	1993^rd of 2256 public elementary schools	11.7%		14.9	2031^st of 2240 public elementary schools	9.3%	38	25.0	34.0	31.0		53.0	38.0	38.0		22.0	$9,567	$2,074	$7,494

Frequently Asked Questions about Highlands Elementary School

How many students attend Highlands Elementary School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 396 students attended Highlands Elementary School.

Is Highlands Elementary School a good school?

Highlands Elementary School ranks in the bottom 4.7% of Florida elementary schools.

What schools do graduates of Highlands Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Highlands Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Highlands Middle School
High : First Coast High School

What district is Highlands Elementary School in?

Duval

What is the racial makeup of Highlands Elementary School?

Students at Highlands Elementary School are 76% African American, 9% White, 7% Two or more races, 7% Hispanic, 1% Asian.

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Florida Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.