Highland Park High

Summary:

Highland Park High is a public high school located in Topeka, Kansas, serving grades 9-12 with a total enrollment of 857 students. The school is part of the Topeka Public Schools district, which is ranked 245 out of 266 districts in the state and has a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger. Highland Park High has consistently ranked in the bottom 10-15% of Kansas high schools over the past decade, with a current ranking of 302 out of 318 high schools in the state.

Highland Park High significantly underperforms compared to the state and district averages in academic proficiency, with only 11.53% of students proficient or better in English Language Arts, 7.72% in Mathematics, and 9.84% in Science, compared to the state averages of 33.55%, 31.6%, and 32.28%, respectively. The school also struggles to support the academic achievement of its diverse student population, ranking in the bottom 25-50% of Kansas high schools for African American, Hispanic, White, and Multi-racial students, as well as for English Language Learners, Special Education students, and students from low socioeconomic backgrounds. With an exceptionally high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 84.62% to 88.54% over the past three school years, Highland Park High serves a high concentration of students from low-income families.

While the nearby schools, such as Hope Street Charter Academy, Topeka West High, and Capital City, also struggle with low academic performance and serve high-need student populations, some schools like Jefferson West High and Washburn Rural High, which are outside the Topeka Public Schools district, demonstrate significantly higher academic achievement and better support for their students. Highland Park High's persistent and systemic challenges in addressing the educational needs of its student population suggest that a comprehensive, data-driven approach is needed to improve the school's performance.


Detail:

Public 9-12

 2424 SE California Ave
       Topeka, KS  66605


(785) 274-6000

District: Topeka Public Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
302nd of 318 Kansas High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $14,619 Help


Feeder schools for Highland Park High:

Elementary:    Highland Park Central
    Ross Elementary
    Scott Dual Language Magnet
    State Street Elementary
    More...
Middle:    Chase Middle School
    Eisenhower Middle School

Student/teacher ratio:  15.6 Help
Number of students:  836

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
45.2%
African American:
22.0%
White:
18.3%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  87.6% Help


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 Compare Highland Park High to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Highland Park High ranks worse than 95% of high schools in Kansas. It also ranks last among 4 ranked high schools in the Topeka Public Schools District. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 9.57. (See more...)
Help
The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Highland Park High who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Student population at Highland Park High is diverse. Racial makeup is: Hispanic (45.2%), African American (22%), White (18.3%). (See more...)
Help
Compare Details 87.6% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the highest percentage in the Topeka Public Schools District. (See more...)
Teachers
Help
Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Highland Park High is 15.6. 3 high schools in the Topeka Public Schools District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
Help
Compare Highland Park High employs 53.5 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Highland Park High is $14,619. 2 high schools in the Topeka Public Schools District spend more per student.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Highland Park High:

SchoolDigger ranks Highland Park High 302nd of 318 Kansas public high schools. (See Highland Park High in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Multi-racial students:
English Language Learner students:
Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
African American students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Topeka Public Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Topeka Public Schools 245th of 266 Kansas school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

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Rank History for Highland Park High

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Highland Park High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools KS State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2006 1.94 256th 262 2.3%
2007 1.93 272nd 280 2.9%
2008 4.58 261st 267 2.2%
2009 0.47 288th 291 1.0%
2010 1.43 294th 302 2.6%
2011 0.31 294th 298 1.3%
2012 7.56 304th 317 4.1%
2013 8.08 311th 323 3.7%
2015 8.02 313th 326 4.0%
2016 8.17 299th 313 4.5%
2017 17.76 269th 316 14.9%
2018 13.30 282nd 314 10.2%
2019 13.84 295th 325 9.2%
2021 11.45 302nd 320 5.6%
2022 7.74 312th 324 3.7%
2023 7.37 311th 327 4.9%
2024 9.57 302nd 318 5.0%
See the entire list of Kansas High School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Highland Park High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools KS State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 15.99 45th 49 8.2%
2019 27.23 43rd 58 25.9%
2021 24.54 43rd 55 21.8%
2022 9.36 57th 57 0.0%
2023 22.74 56th 64 12.5%
2024 28.85 50th 67 25.4%
See the entire list of Best Kansas High Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Highland Park High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools KS State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 44.52 25th 47 46.8%
2019 49.91 18th 49 63.3%
2021 43.22 16th 41 61.0%
2022 33.60 24th 36 33.3%
2023 32.14 31st 42 26.2%
2024 38.73 24th 39 38.5%
See the entire list of Best Kansas High Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Highland Park High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools KS State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 25.57 79th 110 28.2%
2019 36.78 71st 111 36.0%
2021 44.56 50th 115 56.5%
2022 36.54 64th 117 45.3%
2023 20.00 107th 122 12.3%
2024 23.01 104th 124 16.1%
See the entire list of Best Kansas High Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Highland Park High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools KS State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 13.67 209th 228 8.3%
2019 30.50 172nd 229 24.9%
2022 14.69 209th 223 6.3%
2023 12.85 237th 250 5.2%
2024 21.93 218th 249 12.4%
See the entire list of Best Kansas High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Homeless students at Highland Park High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools KS State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 48.72 2nd 3 33.3%
See the entire list of Best Kansas High Schools for Homeless Students!

Rank History for Female students at Highland Park High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools KS State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 14.20 224th 248 9.7%
2019 14.10 226th 249 9.2%
2021 7.78 241st 250 3.6%
See the entire list of Best Kansas High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Highland Park High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools KS State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 25.57 79th 110 28.2%
2019 36.78 71st 111 36.0%
2021 44.56 50th 115 56.5%
See the entire list of Best Kansas High Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Male students at Highland Park High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools KS State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 11.10 230th 248 7.3%
2019 13.98 231st 252 8.3%
2021 16.57 230th 258 10.9%
See the entire list of Best Kansas High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at Highland Park High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools KS State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 25.97 34th 47 27.7%
2019 24.81 37th 46 19.6%
2021 40.77 30th 48 37.5%
2022 24.78 39th 50 22.0%
2023 27.89 37th 53 30.2%
2024 28.41 38th 50 24.0%
See the entire list of Best Kansas High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Highland Park High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools KS State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 25.13 64th 89 28.1%
2019 44.92 41st 92 55.4%
2021 23.56 79th 99 20.2%
2022 12.93 97th 102 4.9%
2023 14.21 105th 110 4.5%
2024 18.60 93rd 105 11.4%
See the entire list of Best Kansas High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Highland Park High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools KS State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 18.01 266th 296 10.1%
2019 21.53 268th 306 12.4%
2021 13.24 286th 302 5.3%
2022 23.70 262nd 307 14.7%
2023 15.28 287th 309 7.1%
2024 31.10 220th 295 25.4%
See the entire list of Best Kansas High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Kansas State Department of Education, 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.

Highland Park High Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 





Data source: Kansas State Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)
100%

0%

0%

0%

0%

  

Reviews:
Facebook Profile Picture by a parent on FaceBook
Saturday, April 20, 2013

Open Quote I graduated from Highland Park in 1964. It was a great school when I went there. As a matter of fact we are having our 50th class reunion next year. Our website is located at hphs-1964.com. Come check us out. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Highland Park High

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 692 359 5 78 15 n/a n/a 0 1149
1989 604 361 8 61 12 n/a n/a 0 1046
1990 554 343 8 56 17 n/a n/a 0 978
1991 551 323 7 57 15 n/a n/a 0 953
1992 498 329 7 56 11 n/a n/a 0 901
1993 493 346 5 54 21 n/a n/a 0 919
1994 475 358 15 62 19 n/a n/a 0 929
1995 458 373 8 70 27 n/a n/a 0 936
1996 458 373 8 70 27 n/a n/a 0 936
1997 513 402 4 79 25 n/a n/a 0 1023
1998 476 400 5 84 24 n/a n/a 0 989
1999 466 387 2 96 25 n/a n/a 0 976
2000 472 356 3 90 34 n/a n/a 0 955
2001 461 369 2 129 41 n/a n/a 0 1002
2002 346 352 8 176 26 n/a n/a 0 908
2003 346 352 8 176 26 n/a n/a 0 908
2004 344 343 12 209 25 n/a n/a 85 1018
2005 347 315 13 224 25 n/a n/a 61 985
2006 303 337 9 243 21 n/a n/a 27 940
2007 268 313 6 239 21 n/a n/a 86 933
2008 260 317 3 218 15 n/a n/a 47 860
2009 270 351 3 234 16 n/a n/a 56 930
2010 247 410 2 204 19 1 12 0 895
2011 289 343 2 127 27 0 20 0 808
2012 203 292 2 236 14 0 25 0 772
2013 208 278 2 243 10 0 38 0 779
2014 192 285 3 261 20 0 48 0 809
2015 185 304 6 303 24 0 53 0 875
2016 214 303 6 351 17 0 49 0 940
2017 187 244 4 362 7 0 72 0 876
2018 173 236 4 377 7 0 66 0 863
2019 175 208 2 370 9 0 73 0 837
2020 159 196 1 387 7 1 77 0 828
2021 164 212 1 363 6 2 90 0 838
2022 180 198 0 370 6 1 97 0 852
2023 180 192 0 382 4 3 96 0 857
2024 153 184 2 378 4 0 115 0 836

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 Park High

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 1149 61.0 18.8 0
1989 1046 65.0 16.0 n/a
1990 978 53.7 18.2 0
1991 953 54.9 17.3 n/a
1992 901 47.5 18.9 61.7
1993 919 48.7 18.9 42.2
1994 929 52.9 17.6 46
1995 936 59.0 15.9 92.4
1996 936 59.0 15.9 92.4
1997 1023 58.8 17.4 50.8
1998 989 55.8 17.7 55.7
1999 976 56.1 17.4 56.3
2000 955 64.7 14.8 59.9
2001 1002 57.7 17.4 60
2002 908 57.0 15.9 66
2003 908 57.0 15.9 66
2004 1018 59.4 17.1 71.7
2005 985 59.3 16.6 75.3
2006 940 68.0 13.8 79.3
2007 933 81.2 11.5 80
2008 860 67.6 12.7 83.6
2009 930 68.4 13.6 79.3
2010 895 63.2 14.1 81.1
2011 808 62.9 12.8 79.5
2012 772 64.4 11.9 80.8
2013 779 68.1 11.4 84.5
2014 809 67.1 12.0 80.8
2015 875 67.0 13.0 81.8
2016 940 66.0 14.2 80.5
2017 876 73.9 11.8 78.4
2018 863 70.5 12.2 90.4
2019 837 70.7 11.8 81.8
2020 828 68.4 12.1 88.9
2021 838 63.7 13.1 88.5
2022 852 60.8 13.9 84.6
2023 857 53.3 16.0 85.3
2024 836 53.5 15.6 87.6

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 Park High

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Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 1149 61.0 18.8 0
1989 1046 65.0 16.0 n/a
1990 978 53.7 18.2 0
1991 953 54.9 17.3 n/a
1992 901 47.5 18.9 61.7
1993 919 48.7 18.9 42.2
1994 929 52.9 17.6 46
1995 936 59.0 15.9 92.4
1996 936 59.0 15.9 92.4
1997 1023 58.8 17.4 50.8
1998 989 55.8 17.7 55.7
1999 976 56.1 17.4 56.3
2000 955 64.7 14.8 59.9
2001 1002 57.7 17.4 60
2002 908 57.0 15.9 66
2003 908 57.0 15.9 66
2004 1018 59.4 17.1 71.7
2005 985 59.3 16.6 75.3
2006 940 68.0 13.8 79.3
2007 933 81.2 11.5 80
2008 860 67.6 12.7 83.6
2009 930 68.4 13.6 79.3
2010 895 63.2 14.1 81.1
2011 808 62.9 12.8 79.5
2012 772 64.4 11.9 80.8
2013 779 68.1 11.4 84.5
2014 809 67.1 12.0 80.8
2015 875 67.0 13.0 81.8
2016 940 66.0 14.2 80.5
2017 876 73.9 11.8 78.4
2018 863 70.5 12.2 90.4
2019 837 70.7 11.8 81.8
2020 828 68.4 12.1 88.9
2021 838 63.7 13.1 88.5
2022 852 60.8 13.9 84.6
2023 857 53.3 16.0 85.3
2024 836 53.5 15.6 87.6

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 Park High

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $1,957 (13.4%) $12,662 (86.6%) $14,619

Data source: Kansas Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Highland Park High

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 295th of 325 High schoolsRanks 311th of 327 High schools
 4.3%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
10th Grade English Language Arts (Highland Park High)14.710.4
 4.3%
   10th Grade English Language Arts (Topeka Public Schools)22.715.8
 6.9%
   10th Grade English Language Arts (Kansas)28.526.7
 1.7%
10th Grade Mathematics (Highland Park High)9.42.5
 6.9%
   10th Grade Mathematics (Topeka Public Schools)15.59.5
 6%
   10th Grade Mathematics (Kansas)24.521
 3.5%
11th Grade Science (Highland Park High)176.3
 10.8%
   11th Grade Science (Topeka Public Schools)2115.4
 5.6%
   11th Grade Science (Kansas)32.428.9
 3.5%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students837857
 2.4%
African American208192
 7.7%
American Indian94
 55.6%
Asian20
 100%
Hispanic370382
 3.2%
Pacific Islander03
White175180
 2.9%
Two or More Races7396
 31.5%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients81.8%85.3%
 3.5%


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Frequently Asked Questions about Highland Park High

In the 2023-24 school year, 836 students attended Highland Park High.

Students at Highland Park High are 45% Hispanic, 22% African American, 18% White, 14% Two or more races.

Highland Park High ranks in the bottom 5.0% of Kansas high schools.


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





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