Highland High School

Q: Is Highland High School a good school?

Highland High School ranks 168 th of 338 Iowa high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Highland High School is a public high school located in Riverside, Iowa, serving grades 9-12 with a student population of 171. The school is part of the Highland Community School District, which is ranked 241 out of 309 districts in Iowa and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Highland High School consistently outperforms the state average in ISASP (Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress) test scores across all grade levels and subject areas. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, 81.1% of 10th-grade students were proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to the state average of 73.8%. The school also has a relatively low student-teacher ratio, ranging from 8.6 to 11.2 over the past three school years, which is lower than the ratios of many nearby schools. Additionally, the percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch at Highland High School has fluctuated between 18.97% and 26.32% over the past three school years, which is lower than the rates of several nearby schools.

While Highland High School outperforms the state average in many areas, it is not necessarily the top-performing school in the region. For example, WACO High School and Louisa-Muscatine Junior/Senior High School, which are both within 20 miles of Highland High School, have higher test scores and rankings in some subject areas. Additionally, Highland High School's spending per student ($15,774 in 2018-2019) is on par with the nearby schools, suggesting that the school's strong academic performance is not solely due to higher funding or resources.

Detail:

Public 9-12

1715 Vine Avenue
Riverside, IA 52327

(319) 648-2891

District: Highland Community School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
168^th of 338 Iowa High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $15,774

Feeder schools for Highland High School:

Elementary:	Highland Elementary School
Middle:	Highland Middle School

Student/teacher ratio: 11.2

Number of students: 171

Racial breakdown:

White:

89.5%

Hispanic:

9.9%

American Indian:

0.6%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 24%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Highland High School ranks better than 50.3% of high schools in Iowa. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 56.03. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Highland High School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.

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

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Teachers

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Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Highland High School is $15,774.

Schooldigger Rankings:

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

SchoolDigger ranks Highland High School 168^th of 338 Iowa public high schools. (See Highland High School in the ranking list.)

Highland Community School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Highland Community School District 241^st of 309 Iowa school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Highland High School

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	IA State Percentile
2012	78.88	44^th	351	87.5%
2013	43.98	248^th	351	29.3%
2014	57.22	155^th	322	51.9%
2015	48.77	199^th	324	38.6%
2016	27.44	258^th	320	19.4%
2017	55.13	170^th	325	47.7%
2018	24.90	274^th	320	14.4%
2019	77.80	49^th	327	85.0%
2021	64.36	111^th	327	66.1%
2022	67.21	92^nd	332	72.3%
2023	59.09	139^th	336	58.6%
2024	56.03	168^th	338	50.3%

See the entire list of Iowa High School Rankings!

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

Data source: Iowa Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Highland High School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
1988	182	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	182
1989	163	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	163
1990	156	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	156
1991	148	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	148
1992	145	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	145
1993	139	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	139
1994	148	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	148
1995	162	0	0	2	0	n/a	n/a	164
1996	162	0	0	2	0	n/a	n/a	164
1997	165	0	0	6	0	n/a	n/a	171
1998	155	0	0	5	0	n/a	n/a	160
1999	159	0	0	1	0	n/a	n/a	160
2000	168	3	0	2	0	n/a	n/a	173
2001	170	1	0	4	0	n/a	n/a	175
2002	169	1	1	9	0	n/a	n/a	180
2003	169	1	1	9	0	n/a	n/a	180
2004	178	1	0	11	0	n/a	n/a	190
2005	179	1	0	10	0	n/a	n/a	190
2006	183	2	0	12	0	n/a	n/a	197
2007	191	1	0	13	0	n/a	n/a	205
2008	175	1	0	8	0	n/a	n/a	184
2009	185	2	0	7	0	n/a	n/a	194
2010	198	4	1	9	0	0	0	212
2011	197	4	0	8	0	0	0	209
2012	194	4	0	10	0	0	0	208
2013	180	5	0	9	0	1	1	196
2014	192	6	0	9	0	1	2	210
2015	186	6	0	15	0	0	3	210
2016	184	3	0	16	1	0	4	208
2017	190	2	0	13	2	0	4	211
2018	170	1	0	16	3	0	3	193
2019	167	0	0	21	2	0	2	192
2020	155	1	0	21	2	0	3	182
2021	147	0	0	23	0	0	1	171
2022	153	0	0	19	1	0	1	174
2023	153	0	0	17	1	0	0	171

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 High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	182	14.5	12.5	16.5
1989	163	14.5	11.2	6.1
1990	156	14.5	10.7	11.5
1991	148	14.0	10.5	3.4
1992	145	14.0	10.3	7.6
1993	139	14.9	9.3	4.3
1994	148	15.0	9.9	2.7
1995	164	14.1	11.6	10.4
1996	164	14.1	11.6	10.4
1997	171	14.2	12.0	9.4
1998	160	14.5	11.0	13.1
1999	160	14.5	11.0	18.1
2000	173	15.5	11.2	14.5
2001	175	14.5	12.1	12.6
2002	180	15.5	11.6	12.8
2003	180	15.5	11.6	12.8
2004	190	16.7	11.4	12.6
2005	190	16.6	11.4	14.2
2006	197	18.3	10.8	15.2
2007	205	18.2	11.3	17.6
2008	184	19.1	9.6	15.2
2009	194	19.4	10.0	17.5
2010	212	19.3	10.9	22.6
2011	209	20.0	10.4	22.5
2012	208	20.4	10.1	19.7
2013	196	20.0	9.7	18.4
2014	210	17.8	11.7	20
2015	210	19.0	11.0	26.2
2016	208	19.0	10.9	21.2
2017	211	19.4	10.8	24.6
2018	193	20.7	9.3	23.8
2019	192	20.5	9.3	20.8
2020	182	21.2	8.5	26.4
2021	171	19.8	8.6	26.3
2022	174	18.8	9.2	19
2023	171	15.2	11.2	24

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 High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	182	14.5	12.5	16.5
1989	163	14.5	11.2	6.1
1990	156	14.5	10.7	11.5
1991	148	14.0	10.5	3.4
1992	145	14.0	10.3	7.6
1993	139	14.9	9.3	4.3
1994	148	15.0	9.9	2.7
1995	164	14.1	11.6	10.4
1996	164	14.1	11.6	10.4
1997	171	14.2	12.0	9.4
1998	160	14.5	11.0	13.1
1999	160	14.5	11.0	18.1
2000	173	15.5	11.2	14.5
2001	175	14.5	12.1	12.6
2002	180	15.5	11.6	12.8
2003	180	15.5	11.6	12.8
2004	190	16.7	11.4	12.6
2005	190	16.6	11.4	14.2
2006	197	18.3	10.8	15.2
2007	205	18.2	11.3	17.6
2008	184	19.1	9.6	15.2
2009	194	19.4	10.0	17.5
2010	212	19.3	10.9	22.6
2011	209	20.0	10.4	22.5
2012	208	20.4	10.1	19.7
2013	196	20.0	9.7	18.4
2014	210	17.8	11.7	20
2015	210	19.0	11.0	26.2
2016	208	19.0	10.9	21.2
2017	211	19.4	10.8	24.6
2018	193	20.7	9.3	23.8
2019	192	20.5	9.3	20.8
2020	182	21.2	8.5	26.4
2021	171	19.8	8.6	26.3
2022	174	18.8	9.2	19
2023	171	15.2	11.2	24

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 High School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$112 (0.7%)	$15,662 (99.3%)	$15,774

Data source: Iowa Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Highland High 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 49^th of 327 High schools	Ranks 139^th of 336 High schools	26.4%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
10th Grade English Language Arts (Highland High School)	78.6	78.6
10th Grade English Language Arts (Highland Community School District)	78.6	78.6
10th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	74.3	72.9	1.4%
10th Grade Mathematics (Highland High School)	83.3	83.3
10th Grade Mathematics (Highland Community School District)	83.3	83.3
10th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	67.1	67	0.1%
11th Grade English Language Arts (Highland High School)	77.8	68.1	9.7%
11th Grade English Language Arts (Highland Community School District)	77.8	68.1	9.7%
11th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	71.4	68.7	2.7%
11th Grade Mathematics (Highland High School)	91.1	63.8	27.3%
11th Grade Mathematics (Highland Community School District)	91.1	63.8	27.3%
11th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	66.9	67.3	0.4%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	192	171	10.9%
African American	0	0
American Indian	2	1	50%
Asian	0	0
Hispanic	21	17	19%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	167	153	8.4%
Two or More Races	2	0	100%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	20.8%	24%	3.1%

Schools Near Highland High School

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				ISASP English Language Arts (2024)						ISASP Mathematics (2024)						ISASP 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	ISASP English Language Arts 6th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 7th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 8th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 9th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 10th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 11th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 6th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 7th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 8th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 9th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 10th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 11th Grade	ISASP Science 8th Grade	ISASP Science 10th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Highland High School	Public	9-12	1715 Vine Avenue	Riverside	52327	Washington County	Highland Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 648-2891	171	15	11.2	24.0%	153 (89.5%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (9.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	56	168^th of 338 public high schools	50.3%		59.1	139^th of 336 public high schools	58.6%	29				74.4	81.1	72.7				61.5	73.0	68.2		70.3	$15,774	$112	$15,662
Lone Tree Middle-Senior High School	Public	6-12	303 S Devoe St	Lone Tree	52755	Johnson County	Lone Tree Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 629-4610	214	18	12.2	25.2%	191 (89.3%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (8.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.9%)	37.1	249^th of 338 public high schools	26.3%		40.8	228^th of 336 public high schools	32.1%	21	57.7	77.1	45.5	64.0	73.0	73.3	76.9	62.9	45.5	36.0	64.9	70.0	40.9	52.8	$13,078	$319	$12,759
Washington High School	Public	9-12	1111 S. Ave. B	Washington	52353	Washington County	Washington Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 653-2143	471	29	16.4	48.4%	337 (71.5%)	8 (1.7%)	105 (22.3%)	4 (0.8%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.4%)	13 (2.8%)	19.2	295^th of 338 public high schools	12.7%		29.7	266^th of 336 public high schools	20.8%	29				63.9	52.3	52.8				57.1	54.2	57.4		48.6	$14,648	$741	$13,907
Columbus Community High School	Public	9-12	1004 Colton St	Columbus Junction	52738	Louisa County	Columbus Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 728-2231	201	21	9.6	60.2%	54 (26.9%)	3 (1.5%)	139 (69.2%)	3 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.0%)	35.6	257^th of 338 public high schools	24.0%		37.3	245^th of 336 public high schools	27.1%	12				75.0	65.4	76.0				45.5	59.6	66.0		51.9	$18,475	$545	$17,930
Mid-Prairie High School	Public	9-12	1634 Highway 22 E	Wellman	52356	Washington County	Mid-Prairie Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 646-6091	379	29	13.0	20.6%	343 (90.5%)	3 (0.8%)	22 (5.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (2.9%)	47.2	211^th of 338 public high schools	37.6%		48.6	193^rd of 336 public high schools	42.6%	18				75.3	75.0	70.4				66.0	63.0	71.6		55.4	$16,672	$833	$15,839
Elizabeth Tate Alternative High School	Public	9-12	1528 Mall Drive	Iowa City	52240	Johnson County	Iowa City Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 688-1080	164	18	9.2	70.1%	49 (29.9%)	73 (44.5%)	27 (16.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (6.7%)	0.2	333^rd of 338 public high schools	1.5%		0.1	334^th of 336 public high schools	0.6%	1					7.7	22.9					7.7	21.6		15.4	$18,143	$196	$17,947
West Senior High School	Public	9-12	2901 Melrose Ave	Iowa City	52246	Johnson County	Iowa City Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 688-1050	1,503	96	15.6	38.3%	696 (46.3%)	397 (26.4%)	175 (11.6%)	159 (10.6%)	3 (0.2%)	2 (0.1%)	67 (4.5%)	57.6	157^th of 338 public high schools	53.6%		61.6	127^th of 336 public high schools	62.2%	30				82.6	72.4	76.0				70.5	68.2	77.2		59.3	$14,737	$345	$14,391
Iowa City High School	Public	9-12	1900 Morningside Dr	Iowa City	52245	Johnson County	Iowa City Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 688-1040	1,599	105	15.1	39.5%	820 (51.3%)	306 (19.1%)	309 (19.3%)	40 (2.5%)	3 (0.2%)	1 (0.1%)	93 (5.8%)	43.7	230^th of 338 public high schools	32.0%		49.5	190^th of 336 public high schools	43.5%	40				72.5	67.9	68.2				58.7	66.1	66.9		66.7	$15,356	$511	$14,845
West Liberty High School	Public	9-12	310 West Maxson Ave.	West Liberty	52776	Muscatine County	West Liberty Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 627-2115	364	26	14.1	53.3%	142 (39.0%)	3 (0.8%)	210 (57.7%)	3 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.6%)	22.6	289^th of 338 public high schools	14.5%		28	274^th of 336 public high schools	18.5%	15				63.9	63.2	66.7				52.8	55.2	58.0		43.0	$14,944	$401	$14,543
WACO High School	Public	7-12	706 N Pearl	Wayland	52654	Henry County	Waco Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 256-6200	215	20	10.6	41.4%	193 (89.8%)	1 (0.5%)	9 (4.2%)	5 (2.3%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (2.8%)	51.9	183^rd of 338 public high schools	45.9%		64.3	113^th of 336 public high schools	66.4%	70		73.1	64.1	74.4	69.4	90.6		73.1	71.8	64.1	55.6	78.1	64.1	63.9	$15,055	$394	$14,661

Frequently Asked Questions about Highland High School

Is Highland High School a good school?

Highland High School ranks 168^th of 338 Iowa high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What district is Highland High School in?

Highland Community School District

What schools feed into Highland High School?

Highland High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Highland Elementary School
Middle : Highland Middle School

What is the racial makeup of Highland High School?

Students at Highland High School are 89% White, 10% Hispanic.

How many students attend Highland High School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 171 students attended Highland High 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 Iowa 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.