Highland High School is a public high school located in Gilbert, Arizona, United States. It was built in 1992 and is part of the Gilbert Public Schools district. It accommodates grades 9–12, and in 2010, the school had a student body of 2,957. In athletics, the school is known collectively as the Highland Hawks.
Serving 2,992 students in grades 9-12, Highland High School ranks in the top 20% of all schools in Arizona for overall test scores (math proficiency is top 20%, and reading proficiency is top 20%).
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is 52% (which is higher than the Arizona state average of 34%). The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is 63% (which is higher than the Arizona state average of 40%).
The student-teacher ratio of 22:1 is higher than the Arizona state level of 17:1.
Minority enrollment is 33% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is lower than the Arizona state average of 67% (majority Hispanic).
Quick Facts (26-27)
- Grades: 9-12
- Enrollment: 2,992 students
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 22:1
- Minority Enrollment: 33%
- Graduation Rate: 93% (Top 20% in AZ)
- Overall Testing Rank: Top 20%
- Math Proficiency: 52% (Top 20%)
- Reading Proficiency: 63% (Top 20%)
- Science Proficiency: 31% (Top 50%)
- Attendance Zone: Highland High School serves the northern part of Gilbert, AZ, covering an area of approximately 11.3 square miles. Families within this zone typically have a drive of 5 to 10 minutes to reach the school, with an average distance of 2.5 miles from the school to the zone's edge, extending up to 4.5 miles at its furthest point.
- Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), AZ Dept. of Education
School News
- Join Us! AG Engineering & Fabrication Fall Craft Fair - Nov. 13-14, 2026 - 10/20/2026"We make everything ourselves, and it helps us buy materials and give back to our teachers and the school."
Highland High's Agriscience Engineering and Fabrication program invites you to the annual ...moreFall Craft Fair, featuring handmade metalwork, decor, and more! November 13-14, 2026, in the AG Welding Shop. hide - Girls flag football takes off at Highland High School and across Arizona - 09/18/2026Highland High School is seeing the growth firsthand as more girls take the field across Arizona, by ABC15's Adam Schumes.
- The Hawk’s Back-to-School Guide for Highland High - 07/21/2026The first day of school is Tuesday, July 28. Start the school year strong with the Hawk's BacktoSchool Guide, which includes important tools and resources that will help you make ...moreit the best year yet. hide
- In the News: Bob Allen's 30-Year Legacy at Highland High - 07/17/2026When Bob Allen arrived at Highland High School in 1996, there was little around the campus but farmland. There was also no real structure for students who wanted to give ...moreback to their community. He spent the next 30 years building one. hide
- Highland Cabinetmaking CTE Students Prove Real World Readiness with Top Statewide Scores - 06/16/2026By earning first place on the statewide technical exam, our Cabinetmaking students showed the power of learning by doing. This achievement highlights how our hands-on shop environment prepares Hawks to ...morestep confidently into their careers. hide
Top Rankings
Highland High School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Arizona for:
Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Math Proficiency
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Graduation Rate
School Overview
Highland High School's student population of 2,992 students has grown by 7% over five school years.
The teacher population of 139 teachers has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
Grades Offered
Grades 9-12
(No virtual instruction)
(No virtual instruction)
Total Students
2,992 students
Showing 2015–2025. Full 32-year historical data available below ↓
Total Classroom Teachers
139 teachers
Showing 2015–2025. Full 32-year historical data available below ↓
Year Founded
1993
School Calendar
Last Day of School
Thu. May 27, 2027
School Motto
Rise and Soar
School Rankings
Highland High School ranks within the top 20% of all 1,921 schools in Arizona (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data).
The diversity score of Highland High School is 0.51, which is less than the diversity score at state average of 0.66. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
Overall Testing Rank
#258 out of 1921 schools
(Top 20%)
(Top 20%)
Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
52%
34%
Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
63%
40%
Showing 2012–2022. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
31%
24%
Student-Teacher Ratio
22:1
17:1
Showing 2015–2025. Full 32-year historical data available below ↓
American Indian
1%
5%
Showing 2014–2025. Full 23-year historical data available below ↓
Asian
4%
3%
Showing 2015–2025. Full 32-year historical data available below ↓
Hispanic
20%
49%
Showing 2015–2025. Full 32-year historical data available below ↓
Black
2%
6%
Showing 2015–2025. Full 32-year historical data available below ↓
White
67%
33%
Showing 2015–2025. Full 32-year historical data available below ↓
Hawaiian
1%
n/a
Two or more races
5%
4%
Showing 2015–2025. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓
All Ethnic Groups
Showing 2015–2025. Full 32-year historical data available below ↓
Graduation Rate
93%
77.8%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Chronically Absent Students
(22-23)34.7%
41.2%
Eligible for Free Lunch
12%
41%
Showing 2013–2025. Full 21-year historical data available below ↓
Eligible for Reduced Lunch
5%
10%
Showing 2012–2025. Full 20-year historical data available below ↓
School Statewide Testing
School District Name
Sports
Colors
Black, orange, and teal
School Mascot
Hawk
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), AZ Dept. of Education
School Notes
- Rise and Soar
- The Hawk family provides an accepting, positive learning environment where growth and success happen.
- Highland High attracts students and families as a comprehensive high school that offers excellence in all areas, from academics to athletics. Students can choose from an extensive range of enriched academic pathways, electives, performing arts programs, and extra-curricular activities.
- Our award-winning performing arts department includes marching band, choir, orchestra, and theatre programs. Highland is proud to be a 6A school for athletics offering high-performing programs with a tradition of high-achieving athletes, both on and off the field.
- We are proud to be an A-Rated School by the Arizona Department of Education.
Profile last updated:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Highland High School's ranking?
Highland High School is ranked #258 out of 1,921 schools, which ranks it among the top 20% of public schools in Arizona.
What schools are Highland High School often compared to?
Highland High Schoolis often viewed alongside schools like Desert Ridge High School by visitors of our site.
What percent of students have achieved state testing proficiency in math and reading?
52% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 34% AZ state average), while 63% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 40% AZ state average).
What is the graduation rate of Highland High School?
The graduation rate of Highland High School is 93%, which is higher than the Arizona state average of 77.8%.
How many students attend Highland High School?
2,992 students attend Highland High School.
What is the racial composition of the student body?
67% of Highland High School students are White, 20% of students are Hispanic, 5% of students are Two or more races, 4% of students are Asian, 2% of students are Black, 1% of students are American Indian, and 1% of students are Hawaiian.
What is the student-teacher ratio of Highland High School?
Highland High School has a student ration of 22:1, which is higher than the Arizona state average of 17:1.
What grades does Highland High School offer ?
Highland High School offers enrollment in grades 9-12 (No virtual instruction).
What school district is Highland High School part of?
Highland High School is part of Gilbert Unified District (4239).
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