Highland Community Middle

Q: Is Highland Community Middle a good school?

Highland Community Middle ranks 425 th of 641 Wisconsin middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Highland Community Middle is a public middle school located in Highland, Wisconsin, serving grades 6-8 with a total enrollment of 51 students. The school is part of the Highland School District, which is ranked 325 out of 428 districts in Wisconsin and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Highland Community Middle has seen a concerning decline in its statewide ranking, dropping from 53rd out of 612 Wisconsin middle schools in 2014-2015 (5-star rating) to 425th out of 641 in 2023-2024 (2-star rating). The school's performance varies significantly across different student subgroups, with female students ranking 435th out of 580 Wisconsin middle schools (1-star rating) and male students ranking 295th out of 585 (3-star rating) in 2023-2024. The school's test scores in core subjects are generally below the state averages, with particularly low proficiency rates in Mathematics. Additionally, the school has a relatively high chronic absenteeism rate, which could be a contributing factor to its academic performance.

Comparing Highland Community Middle to nearby schools, such as Boscobel Junior High, River Valley Middle, and Mineral Point Middle, reveals that these schools generally outperform Highland Community Middle in terms of statewide ranking, test scores, and other key metrics. This highlights the need for Highland Community Middle to identify and address the root causes of its underperformance in order to improve student outcomes.

Detail:

Public 6-8

1030 Cardinal Dr
Highland, WI 53543

(608) 929-4525

District: Highland School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
425^th of 641 Wisconsin Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $12,793

Students who attend Highland Community Middle usually attend:

High:

Highland Community High

Feeder schools for Highland Community Middle:

Elementary:

Highland Community Elementary

Student/teacher ratio: 10.4

Number of students: 51

Racial breakdown:

White:

90.2%

Hispanic:

5.9%

Two or more races:

2.0%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 29.4%

See top rated Wisconsin middle schools

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Highland Community Middle ranks worse than 66.3% of middle schools in Wisconsin. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 40.06. (See more...)

The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.

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

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (90.2%), Hispanic (5.9%), two or more races (2%). (See more...)

Compare Details 29.4% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Highland Community Middle is 10.4. (See more...)

Compare Highland Community Middle employs 4.8 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Highland Community Middle is $12,793.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Highland Community Middle:

SchoolDigger ranks Highland Community Middle 425^th of 641 Wisconsin public middle schools. (See Highland Community Middle in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

White students:

Highland School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Highland School District 325^th of 428 Wisconsin school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Highland Community Middle

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Rank History for all students at Highland Community Middle

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	WI State Percentile
2013	62.20	196^th	569	65.6%
2014	47.77	363^rd	585	37.9%
2015	81.61	53^rd	612	91.3%
2016	64.25	186^th	609	69.5%
2017	60.44	217^th	612	64.5%
2018	64.81	180^th	579	68.9%
2019	44.91	369^th	594	37.9%
2021	47.10	342^nd	613	44.2%
2022	59.30	232^nd	617	62.4%
2023	47.95	339^th	640	47.0%
2024	40.06	425^th	641	33.7%

See the entire list of Wisconsin Middle School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Highland Community Middle

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	WI State Percentile
2021	49.29	236^th	499	52.7%
2022	83.58	29^th	522	94.4%
2024	40.33	328^th	520	36.9%

See the entire list of Best Wisconsin Middle Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Highland Community Middle

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	WI State Percentile
2018	65.98	170^th	551	69.1%
2019	43.75	364^th	557	34.6%
2021	56.91	240^th	574	58.2%
2022	75.42	99^th	576	82.8%
2023	54.29	259^th	579	55.3%
2024	32.30	435^th	580	25.0%

See the entire list of Best Wisconsin Middle Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Highland Community Middle

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	WI State Percentile
2018	64.11	168^th	551	69.5%
2019	47.30	318^th	557	42.9%
2021	43.03	350^th	572	38.8%
2022	38.82	373^rd	577	35.4%
2023	44.30	341^st	591	42.3%
2024	53.19	295^th	585	49.6%

See the entire list of Best Wisconsin Middle Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for White students at Highland Community Middle

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	WI State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	39.82	256^th	412	37.9%
2024	46.72	233^rd	407	42.8%

See the entire list of Best Wisconsin Middle 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.

Data source: Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction

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Enrollment information for Highland Community Middle

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
2011	52	0	0	0	0	1	0	53
2012	55	1	0	1	0	1	0	58
2013	63	0	0	0	0	2	0	65
2014	61	0	0	0	0	2	0	63
2015	59	0	0	0	0	0	0	59
2016	74	1	0	0	0	2	0	77
2017	74	1	0	1	0	3	0	79
2018	70	1	1	0	0	3	0	75
2019	63	1	1	1	1	3	0	70
2020	69	2	1	5	0	3	0	80
2021	77	1	0	4	0	3	0	85
2022	62	0	0	4	0	1	0	67
2023	46	0	0	3	0	1	1	51

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 Community Middle

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2011	53	3.2	16.2	17
2012	58	3.0	18.7	20.7
2013	65	3.2	20.2	30.8
2014	63	4.7	13.3	33.3
2015	59	n/a	n/a	32.2
2016	77	6.0	12.8	22.1
2017	79	5.9	13.1	17.7
2018	75	5.4	13.6	10.7
2019	70	5.3	13.2	15.7
2020	80	6.7	11.9	26.3
2021	85	7.2	11.6	34.1
2022	67	7.2	9.2	25.4
2023	51	4.8	10.4	29.4

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 Highland Community Middle

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2011	53	3.2	16.2	17
2012	58	3.0	18.7	20.7
2013	65	3.2	20.2	30.8
2014	63	4.7	13.3	33.3
2015	59	n/a	n/a	32.2
2016	77	6.0	12.8	22.1
2017	79	5.9	13.1	17.7
2018	75	5.4	13.6	10.7
2019	70	5.3	13.2	15.7
2020	80	6.7	11.9	26.3
2021	85	7.2	11.6	34.1
2022	67	7.2	9.2	25.4
2023	51	4.8	10.4	29.4

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 Highland Community Middle

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$377 (2.7%)	$13,585 (97.3%)	$13,962
2020	$398 (2.8%)	$13,654 (97.2%)	$14,051
2021	$454 (3.5%)	$12,339 (96.5%)	$12,793

Data source: Wisconsin Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Highland Community Middle

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 369^th of 594 Middle schools	Ranks 339^th of 640 Middle schools	9.2%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
6th Grade English Language Arts (Highland Community Middle)	14.3	23.5	9.2%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Highland School District)	14.3	23.5	9.2%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Wisconsin)	41.7	40.6	1.1%
6th Grade Mathematics (Highland Community Middle)	59.3	23.5	35.7%
6th Grade Mathematics (Highland School District)	59.3	23.5	35.7%
6th Grade Mathematics (Wisconsin)	43.5	42.6	0.9%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Highland Community Middle)	14.3	53.9	39.6%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Highland School District)	14.3	53.9	39.6%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Wisconsin)	45.5	41.1	4.4%
7th Grade Mathematics (Highland Community Middle)	38.1	30.8	7.3%
7th Grade Mathematics (Highland School District)	38.1	30.8	7.3%
7th Grade Mathematics (Wisconsin)	39.7	35.7	4%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Highland Community Middle)	23.8	38.9	15.1%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Highland School District)	23.8	38.9	15.1%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Wisconsin)	37.3	37.8	0.5%
8th Grade Mathematics (Highland Community Middle)	33.3	22.2	11.1%
8th Grade Mathematics (Highland School District)	33.3	22.2	11.1%
8th Grade Mathematics (Wisconsin)	36.5	31.8	4.7%
8th Grade Social Studies (Highland Community Middle)	57.1	66.7	9.5%
8th Grade Social Studies (Highland School District)	57.1	66.7	9.5%
8th Grade Social Studies (Wisconsin)	52.1	59.2	7.1%
8th Grade Science (Highland Community Middle)	76.2	55.6	20.6%
8th Grade Science (Highland School District)	76.2	55.6	20.6%
8th Grade Science (Wisconsin)	54.6	49.4	5.3%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	70	51	27.1%
African American	1	0	100%
American Indian	1	0	100%
Asian	1	0	100%
Hispanic	1	3	200%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	63	46	27%
Two or More Races	3	1	66.7%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	15.7%	29.4%	13.7%

Schools Near Highland Community Middle

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				Forward Exam English Language Arts (2024)				Forward Exam Mathematics (2024)				Forward Exam Social Studies (2024)	Forward Exam Science (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2021)
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	Forward Exam English Language Arts 5th Grade	Forward Exam English Language Arts 6th Grade	Forward Exam English Language Arts 7th Grade	Forward Exam English Language Arts 8th Grade	Forward Exam Mathematics 5th Grade	Forward Exam Mathematics 6th Grade	Forward Exam Mathematics 7th Grade	Forward Exam Mathematics 8th Grade	Forward Exam Social Studies 8th Grade	Forward Exam Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Highland Community Middle	Public	6-8	1030 Cardinal Dr	Highland	53543	Iowa County	Highland School District	No	No	No	No	(608) 929-4525	51	5	10.4	29.4%	46 (90.2%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (5.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (2.0%)	40.1	425^th of 641 public middle schools	33.7%		48	339^th of 640 public middle schools	47.0%	86		41.7	35.3	50.0		29.2	41.2	50.0	75.0	66.7	$12,793	$454	$12,339
Riverdale Junior High	Public	7-8	235 E Elm St	Muscoda	53573	Grant County	Riverdale School District	No	No	No	Yes	(608) 739-3116	105	6	18.0	54.3%	94 (89.5%)	2 (1.9%)	1 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (7.6%)	48	381^st of 641 public middle schools	40.6%		62.4	214^th of 640 public middle schools	66.6%	167			61.9	36.0			61.9	48.0	58.0	42.0	$12,208	$922	$11,286
Dodgeville Middle	Public	5-8	951 W Chapel St	Dodgeville	53533	Iowa County	Dodgeville School District	No	No	No	Yes	(608) 935-3307	311	26	11.8	32.5%	278 (89.4%)	5 (1.6%)	11 (3.5%)	4 (1.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (3.9%)	68.1	192^nd of 641 public middle schools	70.0%		67.8	168^th of 640 public middle schools	73.8%	24	55.6	54.1	56.1	60.2	56.2	62.7	59.7	61.4	75.0	61.4	$11,983	$465	$11,518
Fennimore Middle	Public	6-8	510 7th St	Fennimore	53809	Grant County	Fennimore Community School District	No	No	No	No	(608) 822-3245	195	11	17.0	39.5%	174 (89.2%)	2 (1.0%)	14 (7.2%)	2 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.5%)	66.2	206^th of 641 public middle schools	67.9%		46.9	353^rd of 640 public middle schools	44.8%	147		50.9	60.9	46.2		63.6	76.6	63.1	73.9	55.4	$11,675	$694	$10,981
Mineral Point Middle	Public	6-8	705 Ross St	Mineral Point	53565	Iowa County	Mineral Point Unified School District	No	No	No	No	(608) 987-0720	178	13	14.0	30.3%	163 (91.6%)	1 (0.6%)	4 (2.2%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (5.1%)	70.2	174^th of 641 public middle schools	72.9%		75	119^th of 640 public middle schools	81.4%	55		58.3	57.8	67.2		65.0	66.7	72.1	73.8	47.5	$11,162	$336	$10,826
Boscobel Junior High	Public	6-8	300 Brindley St	Boscobel	53805	Grant County	Boscobel Area School District	No	No	No	No	(608) 375-4161	152	14	10.5	55.3%	144 (94.7%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (2.6%)	1 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (2.0%)	48.7	374^th of 641 public middle schools	41.7%		50	324^th of 640 public middle schools	49.4%	50		43.6	41.4	50.0		53.9	52.6	57.1	59.5	52.4	$13,093	$711	$12,381
River Valley Middle	Public	5-8	660 W Daley St	Spring Green	53588	Sauk County	River Valley School District	No	No	No	Yes	(608) 588-2556	317	28	11.3	32.8%	295 (93.1%)	2 (0.6%)	12 (3.8%)	3 (0.9%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.3%)	73.9	140^th of 641 public middle schools	78.2%		70	158^th of 640 public middle schools	75.3%	18	58.3	48.7	73.9	62.2	63.9	65.4	81.5	67.6	73.0	63.5	$13,114	$433	$12,681

Frequently Asked Questions about Highland Community Middle

What district is Highland Community Middle in?

Highland School District

Is Highland Community Middle a good school?

Highland Community Middle ranks 425^th of 641 Wisconsin middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What high school do graduates of Highland Community Middle attend?

Students who attend Highland Community Middle usually go on to attend Highland Community High

What is the racial makeup of Highland Community Middle?

Students at Highland Community Middle are 90% White, 6% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races, 2% Not Specified.

How many students attend Highland Community Middle?

In the 2022-23 school year, 51 students attended Highland Community Middle.

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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.