Highland Elementary

Q: Is Highland Elementary a good school?

Highland Elementary ranks 192 nd of 390 Mississippi elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Highland Elementary is a public elementary school located in Ridgeland, Mississippi, serving grades 3-5 with a total enrollment of 644 students. The school is part of the Madison County School District, which is ranked 17 out of 130 school districts in Mississippi and has a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Highland Elementary has a significantly higher percentage of African American (60.4%) and Hispanic (22.05%) students compared to nearby schools in the Madison County School District, which tend to have a higher percentage of white students. Additionally, the school has an extremely high percentage of students (over 99%) receiving free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high level of economic disadvantage among the student population. While Highland Elementary's test scores are generally higher than the state average, they lag behind the Madison County School District averages across all grade levels and subject areas. For example, in 2023-2024, the school's 3rd-grade English Language Arts proficiency rate was 59.4%, compared to the district's 78.6% and the state's 57.7%. The school's statewide ranking among Mississippi elementary schools has fluctuated over the years, ranging from 111 out of 394 schools in 2013-2014 (4-star rating) to 199 out of 377 schools in 2022-2023 (2-star rating).

When compared to other schools in the Madison County School District, such as Madison Avenue Lower Elementary and Ann Smith Elementary, Highland Elementary has a significantly higher percentage of minority and economically disadvantaged students. This suggests that Highland Elementary may be serving a more challenging student population. While Highland Elementary's performance is generally stronger than schools in the neighboring Jackson Public School District, the school still lags behind the top-performing schools in the state, such as McWillie Elementary, which consistently ranks among the best in Mississippi. The high percentage of economically disadvantaged students at Highland Elementary may be a significant factor contributing to the school's lower academic performance compared to the district and state averages, and addressing the unique needs of this student population could be a key focus for the school and district.

Detail:

Public 3-5

330 Brame Road
Ridgeland, MS 39157

(601) 853-8103

District: Madison County School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
192^nd of 390 Mississippi Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $11,064

Students who attend Highland Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Old Town Middle
High:	Ridgeland High School

Student/teacher ratio: 12.6

Number of students: 596

Racial breakdown:

African American:

60.1%

Hispanic:

23.3%

White:

10.2%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 78.2%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Highland Elementary ranks better than 50.8% of elementary schools in Mississippi. It also ranks last among 8 ranked elementary schools in the Madison County School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 52.03. (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 (60.1%), Hispanic (23.3%), White (10.2%). (See more...)

Compare Details 78.2% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Highland Elementary is 12.6. 5 elementary schools in the Madison County School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)

Compare Highland Elementary employs 47.1 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Highland Elementary is $11,064. 5 elementary schools in the Madison County School District spend more per student.

Schooldigger Rankings:

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

Madison County School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Madison County School District 17^th of 130 Mississippi school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Highland Elementary

Compare

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MS State Percentile
2008	82.38	54^th	394	86.3%
2009	76.54	81^st	392	79.3%
2010	70.54	106^th	403	73.7%
2011	67.61	127^th	418	69.6%
2012	59.94	166^th	414	59.9%
2013	54.06	188^th	408	53.9%
2014	69.93	111^th	394	71.8%
2015	55.41	154^th	402	61.7%
2016	60.51	154^th	394	60.9%
2017	52.17	183^rd	406	54.9%
2018	42.55	235^th	404	41.8%
2019	57.64	172^nd	397	56.7%
2021	54.98	173^rd	381	54.6%
2022	58.36	157^th	382	58.9%
2023	46.55	199^th	377	47.2%
2024	52.03	192^nd	390	50.8%

See the entire list of Mississippi Elementary School Rankings!

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

Data source: Mississippi Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Highland Elementary

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
1997	451	100	12	2	0	n/a	n/a	565
1998	457	100	10	7	2	n/a	n/a	576
1999	451	100	12	4	2	n/a	n/a	569
2000	415	124	11	5	1	n/a	n/a	556
2001	368	165	18	18	3	n/a	n/a	572
2002	320	188	25	14	0	n/a	n/a	547
2003	320	188	25	14	0	n/a	n/a	547
2004	335	228	32	18	0	n/a	n/a	613
2005	312	261	37	20	0	n/a	n/a	630
2006	293	257	30	34	0	n/a	n/a	614
2007	243	254	23	27	0	n/a	n/a	547
2008	244	282	21	33	0	n/a	n/a	580
2009	241	318	27	34	0	0	0	620
2010	214	328	31	36	2	0	1	612
2011	200	358	20	45	2	0	6	631
2012	175	370	22	58	1	0	5	631
2013	184	393	28	53	1	0	6	665
2014	152	378	25	59	0	0	4	618
2015	127	416	30	54	1	0	10	638
2016	138	449	35	69	0	0	16	707
2017	120	456	29	88	0	0	17	710
2018	99	475	30	106	0	0	23	733
2019	89	465	21	117	0	1	26	719
2020	74	447	29	118	0	1	19	688
2021	59	418	25	121	0	2	22	647
2022	82	419	25	135	1	1	12	675
2023	72	389	21	142	1	1	18	644
2024	61	358	19	139	2	0	17	596

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

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1997	565	30.1	18.8	30.8
1998	576	32.1	17.9	27.6
1999	569	31.6	18.0	32.5
2000	556	31.5	17.7	29.3
2001	572	29.5	19.4	31.3
2002	547	31.2	17.5	31.4
2003	547	31.2	17.5	31.4
2004	613	33.5	18.3	30.5
2005	630	32.8	19.2	38.6
2006	614	33.5	18.3	42.5
2007	547	32.7	16.7	41.1
2008	580	33.7	17.2	44.5
2009	620	33.5	18.5	49.8
2010	612	34.4	17.7	56.4
2011	631	31.6	19.9	58.8
2012	631	31.2	20.1	63.2
2013	665	35.4	18.7	62.9
2014	618	34.5	17.9	65.7
2015	638	33.0	19.3	65.7
2016	707	41.0	17.2	69
2017	710	43.5	16.3	70.4
2018	733	43.0	17.0	73.9
2019	719	40.9	17.5	75.7
2020	688	42.1	16.3	76
2021	647	33.0	19.5	99.5
2022	675	40.2	16.7	99.6
2023	644	45.7	14.0	99.5
2024	596	47.1	12.6	78.2

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

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1997	565	30.1	18.8	30.8
1998	576	32.1	17.9	27.6
1999	569	31.6	18.0	32.5
2000	556	31.5	17.7	29.3
2001	572	29.5	19.4	31.3
2002	547	31.2	17.5	31.4
2003	547	31.2	17.5	31.4
2004	613	33.5	18.3	30.5
2005	630	32.8	19.2	38.6
2006	614	33.5	18.3	42.5
2007	547	32.7	16.7	41.1
2008	580	33.7	17.2	44.5
2009	620	33.5	18.5	49.8
2010	612	34.4	17.7	56.4
2011	631	31.6	19.9	58.8
2012	631	31.2	20.1	63.2
2013	665	35.4	18.7	62.9
2014	618	34.5	17.9	65.7
2015	638	33.0	19.3	65.7
2016	707	41.0	17.2	69
2017	710	43.5	16.3	70.4
2018	733	43.0	17.0	73.9
2019	719	40.9	17.5	75.7
2020	688	42.1	16.3	76
2021	647	33.0	19.5	99.5
2022	675	40.2	16.7	99.6
2023	644	45.7	14.0	99.5
2024	596	47.1	12.6	78.2

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

Year	Total Expenditures Per Pupil
2017	$7,177
2018	$7,711
2019	$8,650
2020	$9,479
2021	$9,201
2022	$11,064

Data source: Mississippi Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Highland Elementary

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 172^nd of 397 Elementary schools	Ranks 199^th of 377 Elementary schools	9.5%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Highland Elementary)	54.4	44.8	9.6%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Madison County School District)	71.7	72.7	1%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Mississippi)	48.3	51.6	3.3%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Highland Elementary)	39.3	40	0.7%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Madison County School District)	72.2	70.2	2%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Mississippi)	51.4	54.8	3.4%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Highland Elementary)	53.7	50.5	3.2%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Madison County School District)	70.7	72	1.3%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Mississippi)	48.5	53.4	4.9%
4th Grade Mathematics (Highland Elementary)	52.4	55.8	3.4%
4th Grade Mathematics (Madison County School District)	66.5	76.5	10%
4th Grade Mathematics (Mississippi)	48.8	56.7	7.9%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Highland Elementary)	46	43.8	2.2%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Madison County School District)	62.3	70	7.7%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Mississippi)	43	51.9	8.9%
5th Grade Mathematics (Highland Elementary)	33	48.3	15.3%
5th Grade Mathematics (Madison County School District)	56.4	67.9	11.5%
5th Grade Mathematics (Mississippi)	38.9	44.3	5.4%
5th Grade Science (Highland Elementary)	56	55.9	0.1%
5th Grade Science (Madison County School District)	73.6	79.2	5.6%
5th Grade Science (Mississippi)	55.9	64.3	8.4%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	719	644	10.4%
African American	465	389	16.3%
American Indian	0	1
Asian	21	21
Hispanic	117	142	21.4%
Pacific Islander	1	1
White	89	72	19.1%
Two or More Races	26	18	30.8%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	75.7%	99.5%	23.9%

Schools Near Highland Elementary

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				MAAP English Language Arts (2024)			MAAP Mathematics (2024)			MAAP Science (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2022)
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	MAAP English Language Arts 3rd Grade	MAAP English Language Arts 4th Grade	MAAP English Language Arts 5th Grade	MAAP Mathematics 3rd Grade	MAAP Mathematics 4th Grade	MAAP Mathematics 5th Grade	MAAP Science 5th Grade	Total
Highland Elementary	Public	3-5	330 Brame Road	Ridgeland	39157	Madison County	Madison County School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 853-8103	596	47	12.6	78.2%	61 (10.2%)	358 (60.1%)	139 (23.3%)	19 (3.2%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (2.9%)	52	192^nd of 390 public elementary schools	50.8%		46.5	199^th of 377 public elementary schools	47.2%	7	59.4	48.2	50.3	55.9	47.4	55.8	64.8	$11,064
Ann Smith Elementary	Public	PK, KG-2	306 S.Pear Orchard Road	Ridgeland	39157	Madison County	Madison County School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 856-6621	737	62	11.7	72.9%	76 (10.3%)	432 (58.6%)	177 (24.0%)	39 (5.3%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (1.6%)								(n/a)								$11,655
North Jackson Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	650 N. James M. Davis Drive	Jackson	39206	Hinds County	Jackson Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 987-3528	329	24	13.7	100.0%	2 (0.6%)	322 (97.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.5%)	32.2	271^st of 390 public elementary schools	30.5%		38.6	242^nd of 377 public elementary schools	35.8%	29	49.1	50.0	33.4	31.6	60.0	23.5	58.9	$12,418
Revive	Public, Charter	K-2	5301 Old Canton Road	Jackson	39211	Hinds County	Revive	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(601) 345-1310	284	22	13.0	99.6%	1 (0.4%)	274 (96.5%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.5%)								(n/a)								$18,872
Mc Leod Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1616 Sandlewood Place	Jackson	39211	Hinds County	Jackson Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 987-3597	363	22	16.2	100.0%	5 (1.4%)	349 (96.1%)	5 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.1%)								(n/a)								$12,316
McWillie Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	4851 McWillie Circle	Jackson	39206	Hinds County	Jackson Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 987-3709	406	27	14.7	100.0%	88 (21.7%)	285 (70.2%)	6 (1.5%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (6.2%)	87.3	34^th of 390 public elementary schools	91.3%		90.6	19^th of 377 public elementary schools	95.0%	15	91.3	84.7	58.8	73.9	69.2	76.4	82.4	$12,376
Green Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	610 Forest Avenue	Jackson	39206	Hinds County	Jackson Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 987-3519	290	21	13.6	100.0%	2 (0.7%)	280 (96.6%)	3 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.7%)	30.5	275^th of 390 public elementary schools	29.5%		48.9	188^th of 377 public elementary schools	50.1%	87	42.2	38.3	40.0	33.4	29.8	55.6	62.2	$13,657
Spann Elementary School	Public	K-5	1615 Brecon Drive	Jackson	39211	Hinds County	Jackson Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 987-3532	381	28	13.5	100.0%	7 (1.8%)	292 (76.6%)	76 (19.9%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	3 (0.8%)	24.4	309^th of 390 public elementary schools	20.8%		40.9	224^th of 377 public elementary schools	40.6%	85	50.7	39.7	32.7	37.6	25.4	34.5	54.6	$12,851
Joel E Smilow Collegiate	Public, Charter	K-4	787 E. Northside Drive	Jackson	39206	Hinds County	Joel E Smilow Collegiate	Yes	No	No	Yes	(769) 524-5330	569	31	18.5	100.0%	2 (0.4%)	556 (97.7%)	9 (1.6%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	12.2	357^th of 390 public elementary schools	8.5%		8.4	363^rd of 377 public elementary schools	3.7%	6	35.6	32.7		16.7	28.3			$12,179
Boyd Elementary School	Public, Magnet	K-5	4531 Broadmeadow Drive	Jackson	39206	Hinds County	Jackson Public School District	No	Yes	No	Yes	(601) 987-3504	341	27	12.5	100.0%	5 (1.5%)	315 (92.4%)	19 (5.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.6%)	12	359^th of 390 public elementary schools	7.9%		15.1	338^th of 377 public elementary schools	10.3%	21	19.1	33.3	23.1	11.8	9.3	23.1	67.3	$13,064

Frequently Asked Questions about Highland Elementary

What schools do graduates of Highland Elementary attend?

Students who attend Highland Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Old Town Middle
High : Ridgeland High School

What district is Highland Elementary in?

Madison County School District

How many students attend Highland Elementary?

In the 2023-24 school year, 596 students attended Highland Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of Highland Elementary?

Students at Highland Elementary are 60% African American, 23% Hispanic, 10% White, 3% Asian, 3% Two or more races.

Is Highland Elementary a good school?

Highland Elementary ranks 192^nd of 390 Mississippi elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

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