1915 Buffalo Lake Road
Sanford, NC 27330
(School attendance zone shown in map)
Rating
5/
10
Bottom 50%
Highland Elementary School serves 875 students in grades Kindergarten-5.
Highland Elementary School placed in the bottom 50% of all schools in North Carolina for overall test scores (math proficiency is bottom 50%, and reading proficiency is bottom 50%) for the 2020-21 school year.
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is 37% (which is lower than the North Carolina state average of 42%) for the 2020-21 school year. The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is 42% (which is lower than the North Carolina state average of 47%) for the 2020-21 school year.
The student:teacher ratio of 14:1 is equal to the North Carolina state level of 14:1.
Minority enrollment is 53% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is lower than the North Carolina state average of 54% (majority Black and Hispanic).

Quick Stats (2023)

  • Grades: Kindergarten-5
  • Enrollment: 875 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 14:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 53%
  • Overall Testing Rank
    : Bottom 50% in NC
  • Math Proficiency
    : 37% (Btm 50%)
  • Reading Proficiency
    : 42% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), NC Dept. of Education

Top Rankings

Highland Elementary School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in North Carolina for:

Category
Attribute

School Overview

Highland Elementary School's student population of 875 students has declined by 13% over five school years.
The teacher population of 63 teachers has grown by 6% over five school years.
Grades Offered
Grades Kindergarten-5
Total Students
875 students
This chart display total students of Highland Elementary School by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Gender %
This chart display gender of Highland Elementary School
Total Classroom Teachers
63 teachers
This chart display the total teachers of Highland Elementary School by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Students by Grade
This chart display the students of Highland Elementary School by grade.

School Rankings

Highland Elementary School is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 2,568 schools in North Carolina (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2020-21 school year.
The diversity score of Highland Elementary School is 0.69, which is equal to the diversity score at state average of 0.69. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
Definition of Terms 2020-2021 School Year Data
This School
State Level (NC)
Overall Testing Rank
#1404 out of 2568 schools
(Bottom 50%)
This chart display the overall school rank of Highland Elementary School, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
37%
42%
This chart display the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Highland Elementary School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of public schools in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
42%
47%
This chart display the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Highland Elementary School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Student : Teacher Ratio
14:1
14:1
This chart display the student teacher ratio of Highland Elementary School and the public school average student teacher ratio of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
American Indian
n/a
1%
This chart display the percentage of American Indian students in Highland Elementary School and percentage of American Indian public school students in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2019-20 school year data.
Asian
1%
4%
This chart display the percentage of Asian students in Highland Elementary School and the percentage of Asian public school students in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Hispanic
23%
19%
This chart display the percentage of Hispanic students in Highland Elementary School and the percentage of Hispanic public school students in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Black
19%
25%
This chart display the percentage of Black students in Highland Elementary School and the percentage of Black public school students in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
White
47%
46%
This chart display the percentage of White students in Highland Elementary School and the percentage of White public school students in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Hawaiian
1%
n/a
Two or more races
9%
5%
This chart display the percentage of students of two or more races in Highland Elementary School and the percentage of public school students of two or more races in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
All Ethnic Groups
This chart display the percentage breakdown of students of all ethnic groups in Highland Elementary School.
This chart display the percentage breakdown of public school students of all ethnic groups in NC.
Diversity Score
0.69
This chart display the diversity score of Highland Elementary School and the public school average diversity score of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Participates in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
Yes
Eligible for Free Lunch
31%
49%
This chart display the percentage of students who is eligible for free lunch in Highland Elementary School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for free lunch in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Eligible for Reduced Lunch
3%
3%
This chart display the percentage of students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Highland Elementary School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for reduced lunch in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Source: 2020-2021 (latest school year available) National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), NC Dept. of Education

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Highland Elementary School's ranking?

Highland Elementary School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in North Carolina for: Most diverse schools (Top 20%).

What percent of students have achieved state testing proficiency in math and reading?

37% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 42% NC state average), while 42% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 47% NC state average).

How many students attend Highland Elementary School?

875 students attend Highland Elementary School.

What is the racial composition of the student body?

47% of Highland Elementary School students are White, 23% of students are Hispanic, 19% of students are Black, 9% of students are Two or more races, 1% of students are Asian, and 1% of students are Hawaiian.

What is the student:teacher ratio of Highland Elementary School?

Highland Elementary School has a student ration of 14:1, which is equal to the North Carolina state average of 14:1.

What grades does Highland Elementary School offer ?

Highland Elementary School offers enrollment in grades Kindergarten-5

What school district is Highland Elementary School part of?

Highland Elementary School is part of Harnett County Schools School District.

School Reviews

5   7/19/2016
i was told that sports/karate was offered after school at the school before we moved to nc was told later after child was in school no such activities at the school/ was disappointed with school information
- Posted by Parent - dbwhi
2   9/26/2007
I have had children at Highland Elementary since it first opened and have not been happy with the progress...it seems to be going down hill every year. The staff is rude....the teachers do not care about the children like they claim. Their solution to a child not learning is blaming it on the child not willing to learn and reataining them year after year. The class size is too big of almost 30 students to pay adequate attention to any child falling behind. They do not offer any kind of Tutoring for younger children below 3rd grade....and do not teach at grade level. They have failed to make the No School Left Behind Grade for two years in a row and you can bet that now I have to chance to move my children to a different school.... I am moving them ASAP and giving another school the chance to teach my children what Highland Elementary could not.
- Posted by Parent - westp

Review Highland Elementary School. Reviews should be a few sentences in length. Please include any comments on:

  • Quality of academic programs, teachers, and facilities
  • Availability of music, art, sports and other extracurricular activities
Rate this school:

Recent Articles

Testing Students for Alcohol Use: Violation of Constitutional Rights?
Testing Students for Alcohol Use: Violation of Constitutional Rights?
A private school in Illinois will begin randomly testing students for alcohol use this year, raising the issue of the constitutionality of drug and alcohol testing in schools once again.
Drug Use Among Teens in Public School: Trends, Signs, and Warnings
Learn about how you can spot the troubling signs of drug use among teenagers on public school campuses.
Should 9th Grade be Separate from High School?
Should 9th Grade be Separate from High School?
Learn about the pros and cons of separating 9th grade from high school.

Quick Stats (2023)

  • Grades: Kindergarten-5
  • Enrollment: 875 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 14:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 53%
  • Overall Testing Rank
    : Bottom 50%
  • Math Proficiency
    : 37% (Btm 50%)
  • Reading Proficiency
    : 42% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), NC Dept. of Education

Quick Links