Highlands Elementary

Summary:

Highlands Elementary is a public elementary school in Appleton, Wisconsin, serving 530 students in grades PK-6. It is part of the Appleton Area School District, which is ranked 240 out of 428 school districts in the state and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Despite being part of the Appleton district, Highlands Elementary has consistently ranked in the bottom 20% of Wisconsin elementary schools over the past 10 years, with a 1-star rating. The school faces significant challenges, including a high chronic absenteeism rate of 27.2%, much higher than the state average, and low test scores, with only 33.9% of 3rd graders proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to 52.2% for the district and 52.07% for the state. Additionally, Highlands Elementary has a high percentage of economically disadvantaged students, ranging from 58.36% to 65.25% over the past three years.

When compared to other nearby schools in the Appleton district, Classical School, a public charter school just 1.59 miles away, consistently outperforms Highlands Elementary across all grade levels and subject areas on the Forward Exam. This suggests that the school's struggles are not solely due to its student population, but rather a reflection of broader challenges in providing a high-quality education to all students.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-6

 2037 N Elinor St
       Appleton, WI  54914-2299


(920) 852-5480

District: Appleton Area School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
868th of 1,061 Wisconsin Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $11,283 Help


Students who attend Highlands Elementary usually attend:

Middle:    Wilson Middle
High:    West High

Student/teacher ratio:  12.3 Help
Number of students:  530

Racial breakdown:

White:
41.1%
Asian:
27.7%
Hispanic:
16.6%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  62.5% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Highlands Elementary ranks worse than 81.8% of elementary schools in Wisconsin. It also ranks 19th among 20 ranked elementary schools in the Appleton Area School District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 22.43. (See more...)
Help
Chronic absenteeism in a high 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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Compare Details Student population at Highlands Elementary is diverse. Racial makeup is: White (41.1%), Asian (27.7%), Hispanic (16.6%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 62.5% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Highlands Elementary is 12.3, which is the 8th best among 20 elementary schools in the Appleton Area School District. (See more...)
Help
Compare Highlands Elementary employs 42.8 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Highlands Elementary is $11,283. 12 elementary schools in the Appleton Area School District spend more per student.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Highlands Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Highlands Elementary 868th of 1061 Wisconsin public elementary schools. (See Highlands Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


English Language Learner students:
Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
Asian students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Appleton Area School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Appleton Area School District 240th of 428 Wisconsin 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 WI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 26.47 515th 633 18.6%
2005 63.07 295th 632 53.3%
2006 41.15 520th 712 27.0%
2007 45.39 475th 689 31.1%
2008 24.26 887th 1021 13.1%
2009 31.81 843rd 1030 18.2%
2010 31.15 862nd 1045 17.5%
2011 21.23 938th 1046 10.3%
2012 21.88 918th 1045 12.2%
2013 17.67 935th 1053 11.2%
2014 25.05 894th 1061 15.7%
2015 31.61 847th 1076 21.3%
2016 30.47 823rd 1075 23.4%
2017 28.35 843rd 1071 21.3%
2018 27.94 818th 1025 20.2%
2019 20.84 875th 1037 15.6%
2021 18.21 892nd 1050 15.0%
2022 24.12 871st 1067 18.4%
2023 27.82 837th 1067 21.6%
2024 22.43 868th 1061 18.2%
See the entire list of Wisconsin Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Highlands Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 55.05 93rd 287 67.6%
2019 39.03 166th 275 39.6%
2021 30.13 173rd 222 22.1%
2022 35.91 169th 248 31.9%
2023 39.84 143rd 249 42.6%
2024 30.77 196th 269 27.1%
See the entire list of Best Wisconsin 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 WI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 33.29 497th 721 31.1%
2019 29.84 546th 742 26.4%
2021 21.76 634th 746 15.0%
2022 32.96 522nd 748 30.2%
2023 41.61 438th 770 43.1%
2024 30.51 571st 790 27.7%
See the entire list of Best Wisconsin 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 WI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 38.95 586th 854 31.4%
2019 25.63 730th 874 16.5%
2021 22.45 733rd 847 13.5%
2022 28.15 681st 859 20.7%
2023 28.07 701st 871 19.5%
2024 27.63 690th 866 20.3%
See the entire list of Best Wisconsin 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 WI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 31.54 771st 997 22.7%
2019 22.27 836th 1002 16.6%
2021 16.52 872nd 1004 13.1%
2022 22.72 836th 1017 17.8%
2023 28.29 786th 1010 22.2%
2024 28.27 794th 1011 21.5%
See the entire list of Best Wisconsin Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Highlands Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 28.18 797th 997 20.1%
2019 22.77 833rd 1002 16.9%
2021 23.87 820th 1003 18.2%
2022 28.76 799th 1017 21.4%
2023 30.45 771st 1011 23.7%
2024 21.02 848th 1012 16.2%
See the entire list of Best Wisconsin Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Highlands Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 33.09 64th 107 40.2%
2019 24.20 93rd 122 23.8%
2021 19.24 96th 106 9.4%
2022 21.38 91st 110 17.3%
2023 21.52 95th 116 18.1%
2024 18.30 108th 123 12.2%
See the entire list of Best Wisconsin Elementary Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Highlands Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 45.68 126th 271 53.5%
2019 38.71 156th 266 41.4%
2021 39.52 158th 274 42.3%
2022 42.10 156th 296 47.3%
2023 39.04 170th 290 41.4%
2024 35.08 214th 331 35.3%
See the entire list of Best Wisconsin Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Highlands Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 15.84 628th 686 8.5%
2019 13.21 660th 718 8.1%
2021 13.88 649th 699 7.2%
2022 23.02 592nd 704 15.9%
2023 40.34 469th 715 34.4%
2024 23.41 608th 727 16.4%
See the entire list of Best Wisconsin Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, 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: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 






Data source: Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction

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Enrollment information for Highlands Elementary

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 690 3 11 7 4 n/a n/a 0 715
1989 695 7 10 4 7 n/a n/a 0 723
1990 678 5 10 8 3 n/a n/a 0 704
1991 692 4 3 3 3 n/a n/a 0 705
1992 703 14 1 8 1 n/a n/a 0 727
1993 704 5 10 5 2 n/a n/a 0 726
1994 679 3 12 8 4 n/a n/a 0 706
1995 646 9 41 21 0 n/a n/a 0 717
1996 646 9 41 21 0 n/a n/a 0 717
1997 620 7 38 25 3 n/a n/a 0 693
1998 628 12 50 19 3 n/a n/a 0 712
1999 626 9 65 17 0 n/a n/a 0 717
2000 604 17 70 36 0 n/a n/a 0 727
2001 561 24 88 39 1 n/a n/a 0 713
2002 457 19 106 46 0 n/a n/a 0 628
2003 457 19 106 46 0 n/a n/a 0 628
2004 405 22 102 62 3 n/a n/a 0 594
2005 376 26 102 69 4 n/a n/a 0 577
2006 366 23 93 68 4 n/a n/a 0 554
2007 365 21 83 68 0 n/a n/a 0 537
2008 383 26 77 72 1 n/a n/a 0 559
2009 402 31 81 71 2 n/a n/a 0 587
2010 405 32 86 68 2 n/a n/a 0 593
2011 398 29 109 84 1 0 0 0 621
2012 382 22 124 80 7 0 0 0 615
2013 377 17 133 78 6 0 0 0 611
2014 392 23 144 74 6 0 0 0 639
2015 375 20 153 68 8 0 1 0 625
2016 343 23 134 70 6 1 5 0 582
2017 328 20 144 79 2 1 15 0 589
2018 315 23 143 83 2 0 18 0 584
2019 288 36 155 100 5 7 30 0 621
2020 268 41 151 93 7 3 28 0 591
2021 223 28 161 96 5 3 25 0 541
2022 231 24 150 92 3 2 36 0 538
2023 218 25 147 88 2 4 46 0 530

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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Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 715 44.5 16.0 0
1989 723 45.8 15.7 0
1990 704 47.1 14.9 0
1991 705 50.9 13.8 5.2
1992 727 51.9 14.0 7.3
1993 726 38.2 19.0 9.4
1994 706 36.7 19.2 10.6
1995 717 37.0 19.4 11.3
1996 717 37.0 19.4 11.3
1997 693 39.1 17.7 11.5
1998 712 38.8 18.4 11.7
1999 717 41.3 17.4 18
2000 727 40.8 17.8 18.7
2001 713 49.3 14.5 18.2
2002 628 45.2 13.9 35.7
2003 628 45.2 13.9 35.7
2004 594 42.5 14.0 43.1
2005 577 39.2 14.7 n/a
2006 554 40.4 13.7 n/a
2007 537 40.1 13.4 46.2
2008 559 41.2 13.6 55.3
2009 587 42.8 13.7 57.8
2010 593 42.8 13.8 61.7
2011 621 43.6 14.2 57.2
2012 615 44.1 13.9 58.9
2013 611 44.5 13.7 48.6
2014 639 46.0 13.8 62.1
2015 625 n/a n/a 57.8
2016 582 45.0 12.9 100
2017 589 45.3 12.9 57.9
2018 584 46.3 12.6 55.7
2019 621 46.2 13.4 61
2020 591 47.1 12.5 63.1
2021 541 44.5 12.1 65.2
2022 538 44.9 11.9 58.4
2023 530 42.8 12.3 62.5

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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Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 715 44.5 16.0 0
1989 723 45.8 15.7 0
1990 704 47.1 14.9 0
1991 705 50.9 13.8 5.2
1992 727 51.9 14.0 7.3
1993 726 38.2 19.0 9.4
1994 706 36.7 19.2 10.6
1995 717 37.0 19.4 11.3
1996 717 37.0 19.4 11.3
1997 693 39.1 17.7 11.5
1998 712 38.8 18.4 11.7
1999 717 41.3 17.4 18
2000 727 40.8 17.8 18.7
2001 713 49.3 14.5 18.2
2002 628 45.2 13.9 35.7
2003 628 45.2 13.9 35.7
2004 594 42.5 14.0 43.1
2005 577 39.2 14.7 n/a
2006 554 40.4 13.7 n/a
2007 537 40.1 13.4 46.2
2008 559 41.2 13.6 55.3
2009 587 42.8 13.7 57.8
2010 593 42.8 13.8 61.7
2011 621 43.6 14.2 57.2
2012 615 44.1 13.9 58.9
2013 611 44.5 13.7 48.6
2014 639 46.0 13.8 62.1
2015 625 n/a n/a 57.8
2016 582 45.0 12.9 100
2017 589 45.3 12.9 57.9
2018 584 46.3 12.6 55.7
2019 621 46.2 13.4 61
2020 591 47.1 12.5 63.1
2021 541 44.5 12.1 65.2
2022 538 44.9 11.9 58.4
2023 530 42.8 12.3 62.5

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 $685 (5.9%) $10,889 (94.1%) $11,575
2020 $422 (4.1%) $9,949 (95.9%) $10,371
2021 $911 (8.1%) $10,372 (91.9%) $11,283

Data source: Wisconsin 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 875th of 1037 Elementary schoolsRanks 837th of 1067 Elementary schools
 5.9%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Highlands Elementary)22.224.6
 2.4%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Appleton Area School District)30.137.9
 7.8%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Wisconsin)39.537.9
 1.6%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Highlands Elementary)32.140.6
 8.5%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Appleton Area School District)44.147.8
 3.7%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Wisconsin)50.548.8
 1.7%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Highlands Elementary)2021.6
 1.6%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Appleton Area School District)39.545.1
 5.6%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Wisconsin)43.945.8
 1.9%
4th Grade Mathematics (Highlands Elementary)16.529.7
 13.3%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Appleton Area School District)39.144.2
 5.1%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Wisconsin)46.246.5
 0.2%
4th Grade Social Studies (Highlands Elementary)29.451.4
 21.9%
   4th Grade Social Studies (Appleton Area School District)50.759.9
 9.2%
   4th Grade Social Studies (Wisconsin)53.459.7
 6.4%
4th Grade Science (Highlands Elementary)38.832.4
 6.4%
   4th Grade Science (Appleton Area School District)51.651.6
 0%
   4th Grade Science (Wisconsin)53.952.1
 1.8%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Highlands Elementary)24.616.2
 8.4%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Appleton Area School District)36.938.9
 2%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Wisconsin)40.939.2
 1.7%
5th Grade Mathematics (Highlands Elementary)39.118.9
 20.2%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Appleton Area School District)42.550.5
 7.9%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Wisconsin)47.848.4
 0.5%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Highlands Elementary)28.436.7
 8.3%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (Appleton Area School District)43.247.1
 4%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (Wisconsin)41.740.6
 1.1%
6th Grade Mathematics (Highlands Elementary)40.336.7
 3.6%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Appleton Area School District)49.850.3
 0.5%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Wisconsin)43.542.6
 0.9%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students621530
 14.7%
African American3625
 30.6%
American Indian52
 60%
Asian155147
 5.2%
Hispanic10088
 12%
Pacific Islander74
 42.9%
White288218
 24.3%
Two or More Races3046
 53.3%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients61%62.5%
 1.4%


Schools Near Highlands Elementary









Frequently Asked Questions about Highlands Elementary

Students who attend Highlands Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Wilson Middle
High : West High

In the 2022-23 school year, 530 students attended Highlands Elementary.

Students at Highlands Elementary are 41% White, 28% Asian, 17% Hispanic, 9% Two or more races, 5% African American.

Highlands Elementary ranks in the bottom 18.2% of Wisconsin elementary 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 Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

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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