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Highlands Elementary

Summary:

Highlands Elementary is a public elementary school in Cedar Hill, Texas, serving 488 students in grades PK-5. The school is part of the Cedar Hill Independent School District, which is ranked 639 out of 968 districts in the state and has a 2-star rating.

Highlands Elementary consistently ranks in the bottom quartile of Texas elementary schools, with significantly below-average performance on STAAR tests across all grade levels and subject areas. For example, in 2023-2024, only 22.95% of 3rd-grade students and 37.97% of 4th-grade students were proficient or better in STAAR Reading, compared to state averages of 48.85% and 50.66%, respectively. The school's performance is particularly low in STAAR Science, with only 6.06% of 5th-grade students meeting proficiency, compared to the state average of 26.29%. While the school's African American and Hispanic students perform better than the overall school average, they still lag behind state and district levels.

Interestingly, the nearby Cedar Hill Collegiate Prep school, also part of the Cedar Hill district, significantly outperforms Highlands Elementary on STAAR tests, with proficiency rates often double or triple the district and state averages. Additionally, the Ruby Young Personalized STEAM Academy, a public magnet school in the Desoto Independent School District, and the Life School Cedar Hill, a public charter school, both outperform Highlands Elementary, suggesting that alternative educational models may better serve the needs of the community.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

 131 Sims Dr
       Cedar Hill, TX  75104-0248

(972) 291-0496

District: Cedar Hill Independent School District (Isd)

SchoolDigger Rank:
3997th of 4,675 Texas Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $10,095 Help


Students who attend Highlands Elementary usually attend:

Middle:    W S Permenter Middle
High:    Cedar Hill High School

Student/teacher ratio:  15.8 Help
Number of students:  488

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
60.0%
African American:
36.5%
Two or more races:
2.0%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  84.4% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Highlands Elementary ranks worse than 85.5% of elementary schools in Texas. It also ranks last among 6 ranked elementary schools in the Cedar Hill Independent School District (Isd). (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 20.74. (See more...)
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Racial makeup is: Hispanic (60%), African American (36.5%), two or more races (2%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 84.4% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
Help
Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Highlands Elementary is 15.8. 3 elementary schools in the Cedar Hill Independent School District (Isd) have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
Help
Compare Highlands Elementary employs 30.8 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Highlands Elementary is $10,095. 3 elementary schools in the Cedar Hill Independent School District (Isd) spend more per student.
Schooldigger Rankings:

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

Cedar Hill Independent School District (Isd):

SchoolDigger ranks Cedar Hill Independent School District (Isd) 639th of 968 Texas school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Highlands Elementary

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Rank History for all students at Highlands Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 21.16 3144th 3465 9.3%
2005 38.72 2531st 3475 27.2%
2006 27.08 2954th 3476 15.0%
2007 27.85 3146th 3724 15.5%
2008 32.48 3027th 3768 19.7%
2009 41.92 2652nd 3884 31.7%
2010 42.83 2710th 3937 31.2%
2011 66.82 1380th 4095 66.3%
2012 55.22 1981st 4206 52.9%
2013 45.59 2560th 4221 39.4%
2014 30.67 3375th 4260 20.8%
2015 25.76 3540th 4320 18.1%
2016 22.16 3636th 4286 15.2%
2017 30.11 3139th 4329 27.5%
2018 27.96 3322nd 4359 23.8%
2019 24.49 3662nd 4479 18.2%
2021 25.08 3498th 4578 23.6%
2022 16.29 4143rd 4581 9.6%
2023 25.53 3660th 4647 21.2%
2024 20.74 3997th 4675 14.5%
See the entire list of Texas Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Highlands Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 12.36 907th 961 5.6%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Highlands Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 52.24 1368th 3226 57.6%
2019 53.02 1414th 3333 57.6%
2021 57.87 1087th 3446 68.5%
2022 43.08 2058th 3487 41.0%
2023 59.32 1202nd 3556 66.2%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Highlands Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 39.95 2021st 3558 43.2%
2019 33.67 2519th 3684 31.6%
2021 69.18 595th 3799 84.3%
2022 12.84 3936th 3952 0.4%
2023 30.51 3091st 4086 24.4%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Highlands Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 40.24 2678th 4264 37.2%
2019 36.27 3028th 4309 29.7%
2021 33.65 3140th 4451 29.5%
2022 29.00 3579th 4477 20.1%
2023 36.32 3140th 4521 30.5%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Highlands Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 27.85 3378th 4306 21.6%
2019 25.22 3616th 4348 16.8%
2021 27.26 3370th 4499 25.1%
2022 18.04 4095th 4561 10.2%
2023 27.97 3539th 4588 22.9%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Gifted and Talented students at Highlands Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 23.81 2771st 3106 10.8%
2019 39.62 2406th 3184 24.4%
2023 38.63 2308th 2980 22.6%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for Gifted and Talented Students!

Rank History for At Risk students at Highlands Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 47.22 2142nd 4240 49.5%
2019 47.14 2173rd 4295 49.4%
2021 46.00 2114th 4331 51.2%
2022 37.22 3005th 4461 32.6%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for At Risk Students!

Rank History for Male students at Highlands Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 30.31 3223rd 4319 25.4%
2019 25.79 3549th 4357 18.5%
2021 25.63 3482nd 4498 22.6%
2022 17.21 4127th 4563 9.6%
2023 25.91 3676th 4585 19.8%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at Highlands Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 42.57 1399th 2483 43.7%
2019 37.40 1661st 2515 34.0%
2021 27.16 1980th 2444 19.0%
2022 26.06 2011th 2421 16.9%
2023 25.18 2054th 2443 15.9%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Highlands Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 42.34 2444th 4168 41.4%
2019 38.27 2741st 4188 34.6%
2021 45.10 2236th 4329 48.3%
2022 27.45 3555th 4376 18.8%
2023 48.30 2162nd 4401 50.9%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Data source: test scores: Texas Education Agency, 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.

Highlands Elementary Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
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District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
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Data source: Texas Education Agency

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Enrollment information for Highlands Elementary

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 332 89 16 44 1 n/a n/a 0 482
1989 373 129 22 61 0 n/a n/a 0 585
1990 361 127 13 54 3 n/a n/a 0 558
1991 351 153 15 59 2 n/a n/a -102 478
1992 198 139 14 48 4 n/a n/a 0 403
1993 208 139 12 51 5 n/a n/a 0 415
1994 219 140 11 64 5 n/a n/a 0 439
1995 181 161 10 65 1 n/a n/a 0 418
1996 181 161 10 65 1 n/a n/a 0 418
1997 153 204 10 65 4 n/a n/a 0 436
1998 165 213 12 75 3 n/a n/a 0 468
1999 131 184 14 67 2 n/a n/a 0 398
2000 129 199 10 81 2 n/a n/a 0 421
2001 112 205 12 83 2 n/a n/a 0 414
2002 91 243 6 110 1 n/a n/a 0 451
2003 91 243 6 110 1 n/a n/a 0 451
2004 71 244 6 175 6 n/a n/a 0 502
2005 54 231 8 206 2 n/a n/a 0 501
2006 45 259 10 218 3 n/a n/a 0 535
2007 34 270 10 250 5 n/a n/a 0 569
2008 23 232 7 260 3 n/a n/a 0 525
2009 28 307 10 289 2 n/a n/a 0 636
2010 26 325 10 318 0 n/a n/a 0 679
2011 54 276 9 299 20 0 6 0 664
2012 36 303 10 300 25 0 6 0 680
2013 30 310 7 342 25 0 11 0 725
2014 15 276 5 332 8 0 13 0 649
2015 18 261 3 298 2 0 17 0 599
2016 19 276 2 351 3 0 10 0 661
2017 20 271 3 345 5 0 10 0 654
2018 18 221 2 349 3 0 14 0 607
2019 12 203 1 369 1 0 18 0 604
2020 6 186 3 358 0 0 10 0 563
2021 3 157 3 311 0 0 15 0 489
2022 2 148 3 317 1 0 12 0 483
2023 3 178 3 293 1 0 10 0 488

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

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 482 24.0 20.0 n/a
1989 585 n/a n/a n/a
1990 558 32.0 17.4 n/a
1991 478 32.5 14.7 n/a
1992 403 25.0 16.1 5.7
1993 415 24.0 17.3 14.5
1994 439 26.0 16.9 14.4
1995 418 25.4 16.5 19.1
1996 418 25.4 16.5 19.1
1997 436 24.9 17.5 22.5
1998 468 25.3 18.5 22.4
1999 398 26.4 15.1 28.6
2000 421 29.0 14.5 29.7
2001 414 30.4 13.6 38.2
2002 451 30.5 14.8 37
2003 451 30.5 14.8 37
2004 502 30.8 16.3 37.1
2005 501 31.0 16.2 47.1
2006 535 31.0 17.3 54.4
2007 569 33.0 17.2 55.7
2008 525 32.0 16.4 57.7
2009 636 35.0 18.2 74.2
2010 679 37.9 17.8 75
2011 664 38.0 17.4 78.8
2012 680 35.0 19.4 80.6
2013 725 35.8 20.2 84.3
2014 649 30.3 21.3 80.6
2015 599 30.0 19.9 80.8
2016 661 37.0 17.8 77.3
2017 654 41.0 15.9 77.8
2018 607 36.6 16.5 78.4
2019 604 34.4 17.5 85.9
2020 563 35.8 15.7 86.1
2021 489 34.8 14.0 75.1
2022 483 32.0 15.0 74.7
2023 488 30.8 15.8 84.4

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 Highlands Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 482 24.0 20.0 n/a
1989 585 n/a n/a n/a
1990 558 32.0 17.4 n/a
1991 478 32.5 14.7 n/a
1992 403 25.0 16.1 5.7
1993 415 24.0 17.3 14.5
1994 439 26.0 16.9 14.4
1995 418 25.4 16.5 19.1
1996 418 25.4 16.5 19.1
1997 436 24.9 17.5 22.5
1998 468 25.3 18.5 22.4
1999 398 26.4 15.1 28.6
2000 421 29.0 14.5 29.7
2001 414 30.4 13.6 38.2
2002 451 30.5 14.8 37
2003 451 30.5 14.8 37
2004 502 30.8 16.3 37.1
2005 501 31.0 16.2 47.1
2006 535 31.0 17.3 54.4
2007 569 33.0 17.2 55.7
2008 525 32.0 16.4 57.7
2009 636 35.0 18.2 74.2
2010 679 37.9 17.8 75
2011 664 38.0 17.4 78.8
2012 680 35.0 19.4 80.6
2013 725 35.8 20.2 84.3
2014 649 30.3 21.3 80.6
2015 599 30.0 19.9 80.8
2016 661 37.0 17.8 77.3
2017 654 41.0 15.9 77.8
2018 607 36.6 16.5 78.4
2019 604 34.4 17.5 85.9
2020 563 35.8 15.7 86.1
2021 489 34.8 14.0 75.1
2022 483 32.0 15.0 74.7
2023 488 30.8 15.8 84.4

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 Highlands Elementary

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $1,123 (12.7%) $7,689 (87.3%) $8,812
2020 $1,144 (12.7%) $7,872 (87.3%) $9,016
2021 $1,398 (13.8%) $8,698 (86.2%) $10,095

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

Impact of COVID-19 on Highlands 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 3662nd of 4479 Elementary schoolsRanks 3660th of 4647 Elementary schools
 3%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 % proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
3rd Grade Reading (Highlands Elementary)3130
 1%
   3rd Grade Reading (Cedar Hill Independent School District (Isd))3142
 11%
   3rd Grade Reading (Texas)4450
 6%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Highlands Elementary)3030
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Cedar Hill Independent School District (Isd))3635
 1%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Texas)4843
 5%
4th Grade Reading (Highlands Elementary)2625
 1%
   4th Grade Reading (Cedar Hill Independent School District (Isd))3135
 4%
   4th Grade Reading (Texas)4347
 4%
4th Grade Mathematics (Highlands Elementary)4128
 13%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Cedar Hill Independent School District (Isd))3633
 3%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Texas)4647
 1%
4th Grade Reading (Highlands Elementary)2817
 11%
   4th Grade Reading (Cedar Hill Independent School District (Isd))2817
 11%
   4th Grade Reading (Texas)2929
5th Grade Reading (Highlands Elementary)3450
 16%
   5th Grade Reading (Cedar Hill Independent School District (Isd))4251
 9%
   5th Grade Reading (Texas)5156
 5%
5th Grade Mathematics (Highlands Elementary)4539
 6%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Cedar Hill Independent School District (Isd))4638
 8%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Texas)5650
 6%
5th Grade Science (Highlands Elementary)3221
 11%
   5th Grade Science (Cedar Hill Independent School District (Isd))3420
 14%
   5th Grade Science (Texas)4834
 14%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
Total Students604488
 19.2%
African American203178
 12.3%
American Indian11
Asian13
 200%
Hispanic369293
 20.6%
Pacific Islander00
White123
 75%
Two or More Races1810
 44.4%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients85.9%84.4%
 1.5%

Schools Near Highlands Elementary








Frequently Asked Questions about Highlands Elementary

In the 2022-23 school year, 488 students attended Highlands Elementary.

Highlands Elementary ranks in the bottom 14.5% of Texas elementary schools.

Students at Highlands Elementary are 60% Hispanic, 36% African American, 2% Two or more races.

Students who attend Highlands Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : W S Permenter Middle
High : Cedar Hill 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 Texas Education Agency.

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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