Highland Elementary School

Summary:

Highland Elementary School is a public elementary school located in Lake Worth, Florida, serving grades PK-5 with a student population of 937. The school is part of the Palm Beach School District, which is ranked 41 out of 68 districts in Florida and is rated 2 stars out of 5 by SchoolDigger.

Highland Elementary has a significantly higher percentage of Hispanic students (70.65%) compared to the surrounding schools, which range from 30.17% to 79.16% Hispanic students. The school also consistently struggles with high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 28.7% to 33.3% over the past few years, significantly higher than the 24.8% to 35.2% range of nearby schools. Academically, Highland Elementary consistently underperforms compared to the Palm Beach district and Florida state averages, with only 24% of 3rd graders proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to 54% in the district and 55% statewide. Additionally, the school has an extremely high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 85.38% to 96.86%, much higher than the 54.85% to 84.98% range of surrounding schools.

Despite the high spending per student at Highland Elementary, ranging from $11,532 to $14,696 over the past few years, the school's academic performance remains significantly below the district and state averages. This suggests that the school may need to implement more targeted interventions and support to improve student outcomes. While the nearby schools also serve economically disadvantaged populations, Highland Elementary appears to be the most underperforming in terms of test scores and overall school performance, indicating that the school faces unique challenges in serving its diverse and low-income student population.

Detail:

Public, Magnet PK, KG-5

500 Highland Ave
Lake Worth, FL 33460

(561) 202-0500

District: Palm Beach

SchoolDigger Rank:
1971^st of 2,256 Florida Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $14,696

Students who attend Highland Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Lake Worth Community Middle
High:	Lake Worth High School

Student/teacher ratio: 13.9

Number of students: 937

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

70.7%

African American:

18.1%

White:

6.1%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 85.4%

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Compare Highland Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Highland Elementary School ranks worse than 87.4% of elementary schools in Florida. It also ranks 105^th among 128 ranked elementary schools in the Palm Beach School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 17.52. (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: Hispanic (70.7%), African American (18.1%), White (6.1%). (See more...)

Compare Details 85.4% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Highland Elementary School is 13.9, which is the 28^th best among 128 elementary schools in the Palm Beach School District. (See more...)

Compare Highland Elementary School employs 67 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Highland Elementary School is $14,696, which is the 45^th highest among 128 elementary schools in the Palm Beach School District.

Schooldigger Rankings:

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

Palm Beach:

SchoolDigger ranks Palm Beach 41^st of 68 Florida school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Highland Elementary School

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	FL State Percentile
2006	10.36	1567^th	1688	7.2%
2007	15.02	1594^th	1786	10.8%
2008	26.36	1391^st	1789	22.2%
2009	11.58	1712^th	1847	7.3%
2010	12.33	1771^st	1919	7.7%
2011	11.07	1848^th	1985	6.9%
2012	13.73	1802^nd	1984	9.2%
2013	8.29	1961^st	2029	3.4%
2014	15.65	1858^th	2064	10.0%
2016	17.27	1801^st	2087	13.7%
2017	20.73	1759^th	2112	16.7%
2018	23.00	1711^th	2118	19.2%
2019	18.68	1871^st	2182	14.3%
2021	11.83	2078^th	2247	7.5%
2022	9.74	2103^rd	2219	5.2%
2023	7.86	2175^th	2240	2.9%
2024	17.52	1971^st	2256	12.6%

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 Highland Elementary School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1988	377	129	7	130	2	n/a	n/a	0	645
1989	368	158	5	175	2	n/a	n/a	0	708
1990	340	183	8	238	2	n/a	n/a	0	771
1991	346	203	8	265	2	n/a	n/a	0	824
1992	319	155	9	229	0	n/a	n/a	0	712
1993	256	183	7	279	1	n/a	n/a	0	726
1994	231	220	6	258	0	n/a	n/a	0	715
1995	221	221	9	354	4	n/a	n/a	0	809
1996	221	221	9	354	4	n/a	n/a	0	809
1997	185	271	7	428	12	n/a	n/a	0	903
1998	171	280	8	406	12	n/a	n/a	0	877
1999	130	319	10	433	13	n/a	n/a	0	905
2000	142	315	10	475	11	n/a	n/a	0	953
2001	145	273	12	387	9	n/a	n/a	0	826
2002	122	254	15	418	6	n/a	n/a	0	815
2003	122	254	15	418	6	n/a	n/a	0	815
2004	94	235	13	475	9	n/a	n/a	0	826
2005	71	240	21	486	8	n/a	n/a	0	826
2006	64	221	15	499	9	n/a	n/a	0	808
2007	54	193	14	491	11	n/a	n/a	31	794
2008	43	188	11	475	7	n/a	n/a	18	742
2009	36	164	8	487	6	n/a	n/a	19	720
2010	23	205	4	551	3	n/a	n/a	9	795
2011	36	225	3	535	15	0	4	0	818
2012	50	200	3	626	14	0	3	0	896
2013	46	223	5	660	20	0	5	0	959
2014	37	230	8	660	25	1	4	0	965
2015	39	226	9	708	38	1	2	0	1023
2016	28	204	8	794	48	0	4	0	1086
2017	37	189	9	864	63	0	5	0	1167
2018	45	206	12	853	82	1	4	0	1203
2019	49	209	11	868	81	1	5	0	1224
2020	39	157	7	803	82	0	3	0	1091
2021	43	174	8	702	57	0	3	0	987
2022	42	180	8	720	41	0	8	0	999
2023	57	170	7	662	35	0	6	0	937

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 Elementary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	645	40.0	16.1	48.2
1989	708	41.0	17.2	47.7
1990	771	46.0	16.7	54.7
1991	824	53.0	15.5	63
1992	712	50.0	14.2	n/a
1993	726	42.0	17.3	66.1
1994	715	43.0	16.6	70.1
1995	809	49.0	16.5	66.3
1996	809	49.0	16.5	66.3
1997	903	51.0	17.7	66.4
1998	877	56.0	15.7	78.6
1999	905	51.0	17.7	88.1
2000	953	56.0	17.0	89.7
2001	826	52.0	15.9	92.9
2002	815	57.0	14.3	96.1
2003	815	57.0	14.3	96.1
2004	826	62.0	13.3	97.8
2005	826	65.0	12.7	88.3
2006	808	64.0	12.6	94.2
2007	794	63.0	12.6	95.3
2008	742	60.0	12.4	92.1
2009	720	65.7	12.7	92.9
2010	795	61.5	12.9	97.3
2011	818	65.0	12.5	96.6
2012	896	68.0	13.1	97.7
2013	959	70.0	13.7	98.4
2014	965	81.0	11.9	97.1
2015	1023	77.0	13.2	96.3
2016	1086	86.0	12.6	97.5
2017	1167	85.0	13.7	96.7
2018	1203	94.0	12.7	94.9
2019	1224	82.5	14.8	94.3
2020	1091	78.5	13.8	94.8
2021	987	74.0	13.3	96.9
2022	999	76.5	13.0	96.5
2023	937	67.0	13.9	85.4

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 Elementary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	645	40.0	16.1	48.2
1989	708	41.0	17.2	47.7
1990	771	46.0	16.7	54.7
1991	824	53.0	15.5	63
1992	712	50.0	14.2	n/a
1993	726	42.0	17.3	66.1
1994	715	43.0	16.6	70.1
1995	809	49.0	16.5	66.3
1996	809	49.0	16.5	66.3
1997	903	51.0	17.7	66.4
1998	877	56.0	15.7	78.6
1999	905	51.0	17.7	88.1
2000	953	56.0	17.0	89.7
2001	826	52.0	15.9	92.9
2002	815	57.0	14.3	96.1
2003	815	57.0	14.3	96.1
2004	826	62.0	13.3	97.8
2005	826	65.0	12.7	88.3
2006	808	64.0	12.6	94.2
2007	794	63.0	12.6	95.3
2008	742	60.0	12.4	92.1
2009	720	65.7	12.7	92.9
2010	795	61.5	12.9	97.3
2011	818	65.0	12.5	96.6
2012	896	68.0	13.1	97.7
2013	959	70.0	13.7	98.4
2014	965	81.0	11.9	97.1
2015	1023	77.0	13.2	96.3
2016	1086	86.0	12.6	97.5
2017	1167	85.0	13.7	96.7
2018	1203	94.0	12.7	94.9
2019	1224	82.5	14.8	94.3
2020	1091	78.5	13.8	94.8
2021	987	74.0	13.3	96.9
2022	999	76.5	13.0	96.5
2023	937	67.0	13.9	85.4

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 Elementary School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2018	$963 (10.6%)	$8,095 (89.4%)	$9,058
2019	$947 (10.5%)	$8,053 (89.5%)	$9,001
2020	$977 (9.5%)	$9,338 (90.5%)	$10,314
2021	$1,576 (13.7%)	$9,955 (86.3%)	$11,532
2022	$3,004 (22.1%)	$10,562 (77.9%)	$13,566
2023	$3,101 (21.1%)	$11,595 (78.9%)	$14,696

Data source: Florida Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Highland 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 1871^st of 2182 Elementary schools	Ranks 2175^th of 2240 Elementary schools	11.4%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Highland Elementary School)	20	23	3%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Palm Beach)	54	54
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Florida)	58	53	5%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Highland Elementary School)	44	31	13%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Palm Beach)	65	58	7%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Florida)	62	58	4%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Highland Elementary School)	41	39	2%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Palm Beach)	62	62
4th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)	58	57	1%
4th Grade Mathematics (Highland Elementary School)	56	43	13%
4th Grade Mathematics (Palm Beach)	67	59	8%
4th Grade Mathematics (Florida)	64	61	3%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Highland Elementary School)	29	25	4%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Palm Beach)	59	57	2%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)	56	55	1%
5th Grade Mathematics (Highland Elementary School)	56	20	36%
5th Grade Mathematics (Palm Beach)	65	50	15%
5th Grade Mathematics (Florida)	60	52	8%
5th Grade Science (Highland Elementary School)	21	22	1%
5th Grade Science (Palm Beach)	51	51
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	1224	937	23.4%
African American	209	170	18.7%
American Indian	81	35	56.8%
Asian	11	7	36.4%
Hispanic	868	662	23.7%
Pacific Islander	1	0	100%
White	49	57	16.3%
Two or More Races	5	6	20%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	94.3%	85.4%	8.9%

Schools Near Highland 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)		EOC Algebra 1 (2024)	EOC Civics (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 English Language Arts 7th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 8th Grade	FAST Math 3rd Grade	FAST Math 4th Grade	FAST Math 5th Grade	FAST Math 6th Grade	FAST Math 7th Grade	FAST Math 8th Grade	Statewide Science Science 5th Grade	Statewide Science Science 8th Grade	EOC Algebra 1 End of Course	EOC Civics End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Highland Elementary School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	500 Highland Ave	Lake Worth	33460	Palm Beach County	Palm Beach	No	Yes	No	Yes	(561) 202-0500	937	67	13.9	85.4%	57 (6.1%)	170 (18.1%)	662 (70.7%)	7 (0.7%)	35 (3.7%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (0.6%)	17.5	1971^st of 2256 public elementary schools	12.6%		7.9	2175^th of 2240 public elementary schools	2.9%	204	24.0	22.0	33.0				47.0	45.0	41.0	100.0			32.0				$14,696	$3,101	$11,595
North Grade K-8	Public, Magnet	K-8	824 N K St	Lake Worth	33460	Palm Beach County	Palm Beach	No	Yes	No	Yes	(561) 202-9300	735	48	15.3	63.0%	101 (13.7%)	98 (13.3%)	505 (68.7%)	13 (1.8%)	9 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (1.2%)	20.8	1883^rd of 2256 public elementary schools	16.5%		25.6	1733^rd of 2240 public elementary schools	22.6%	150	29.0	32.0	39.0	84.0	90.0	88.0	40.0	23.0	37.0	100.0	94.0	90.0	40.0	81.0	100.0	100.0	$13,990	$1,972	$12,017
South Grade Elementary School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	716 S K St	Lake Worth	33460	Palm Beach County	Palm Beach	No	Yes	No	Yes	(561) 202-9400	619	44	14.0	85.0%	17 (2.7%)	84 (13.6%)	490 (79.2%)	3 (0.5%)	22 (3.6%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.3%)	29.3	1643^rd of 2256 public elementary schools	27.2%		18.4	1948^th of 2240 public elementary schools	13.0%	305	33.0	27.0	45.0				61.0	27.0	50.0				46.0				$15,874	$3,108	$12,767
Barton Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1700 Barton Rd	Lake Worth	33460	Palm Beach County	Palm Beach	No	No	No	Yes	(561) 540-9100	1,064	73	14.5	79.7%	49 (4.6%)	282 (26.5%)	676 (63.5%)	5 (0.5%)	44 (4.1%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (0.8%)	13.3	2076^th of 2256 public elementary schools	8.0%		8	2172^nd of 2240 public elementary schools	3.0%	96	18.0	26.0	31.0				38.0	41.0	44.0				27.0				$13,663	$2,815	$10,848
Palm Springs Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	101 Davis Rd	Palm Springs	33461	Palm Beach County	Palm Beach	No	No	No	Yes	(561) 804-3000	1,010	72	14.0	79.1%	79 (7.8%)	191 (18.9%)	709 (70.2%)	21 (2.1%)	5 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (0.5%)	19.4	1920^th of 2256 public elementary schools	14.9%		18.7	1945^th of 2240 public elementary schools	13.2%	25	32.0	28.0	39.0				46.0	32.0	41.0	91.0			38.0				$13,599	$2,429	$11,170
Somerset Academy The Dr. Bernard Kimmel Campus	Public, Charter	K-8	4696 Davis Rd	Lake Worth	33461	Palm Beach County	Palm Beach	Yes	No	No	Yes	(561) 868-6100	510	20	25.5	75.3%	38 (7.5%)	214 (42.0%)	232 (45.5%)	12 (2.4%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	11 (2.2%)	21.7	1860^th of 2256 public elementary schools	17.6%		25.7	1730^th of 2240 public elementary schools	22.8%	130	41.0	32.0	35.0	54.0	45.0	51.0	37.0	32.0	31.0	52.0	39.0	50.0	29.0	32.0	57.0	32.0	$11,607	$1,842	$9,765
South Olive Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	7101 S Olive Ave	West Palm Beach	33405	Palm Beach County	Palm Beach	No	No	No	Yes	(561) 202-0200	485	32	15.1	54.8%	163 (33.6%)	31 (6.4%)	271 (55.9%)	9 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	10 (2.1%)	55.2	966^th of 2256 public elementary schools	57.2%		50.1	1095^th of 2240 public elementary schools	51.1%	129	62.0	59.0	47.0				71.0	47.0	56.0	91.0			42.0				$14,744	$1,457	$13,287
Palm Beach Maritime Academy Elementary	Public, Charter	K-5	1518 W Lantana Rd	Lantana	33462	Palm Beach County	Palm Beach	Yes	No	No	Yes	(561) 547-3775	596	27	21.8	81.9%	96 (16.1%)	195 (32.7%)	278 (46.6%)	10 (1.7%)	2 (0.3%)	4 (0.7%)	11 (1.8%)	31.5	1576^th of 2256 public elementary schools	30.1%		18.4	1950^th of 2240 public elementary schools	12.9%	374	51.0	38.0	33.0				66.0	44.0	30.0				40.0				$9,488	$1,758	$7,730
Lantana Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	710 W Ocean Ave	Lantana	33462	Palm Beach County	Palm Beach	No	No	No	Yes	(561) 202-0300	484	43	11.2	78.7%	67 (13.8%)	258 (53.3%)	146 (30.2%)	2 (0.4%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (1.7%)	21.9	1851^st of 2256 public elementary schools	18.0%		28.9	1638^th of 2240 public elementary schools	26.9%	213	26.0	42.0	39.0				41.0	24.0	36.0	100.0			48.0				$18,966	$3,323	$15,643
Palmetto Elementary School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	5801 Parker Ave	West Palm Beach	33405	Palm Beach County	Palm Beach	No	Yes	No	Yes	(561) 202-0400	537	40	13.5	81.8%	47 (8.8%)	54 (10.1%)	422 (78.6%)	7 (1.3%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (0.9%)	29.7	1631^st of 2256 public elementary schools	27.7%		26.3	1707^th of 2240 public elementary schools	23.8%	76	38.0	42.0	48.0				53.0	35.0	30.0	78.0			41.0				$14,429	$2,362	$12,067

Frequently Asked Questions about Highland Elementary School

What is the racial makeup of Highland Elementary School?

Students at Highland Elementary School are 71% Hispanic, 18% African American, 6% White, 4% American Indian.

What district is Highland Elementary School in?

Palm Beach

What schools do graduates of Highland Elementary School attend?

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

Middle : Lake Worth Community Middle
High : Lake Worth High School

Is Highland Elementary School a good school?

Highland Elementary School ranks in the bottom 12.6% of Florida elementary schools.

How many students attend Highland Elementary School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 937 students attended Highland Elementary School.

Rate Highland Elementary School!

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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.