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#549 of 1,036 schools in AR

Highland High School

High School · Highland School District · Hardy, AR

A high school in Hardy, AR serving grades 9th – 12th.

P O BOX 419, Hardy, AR 72542

  • Math 19% vs AR 20% (2025)
  • Reading 33% vs AR 33% (2025)
  • 92.0% 4-year graduation

Academics

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress6.4Average25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-3.05 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics6.0Average25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency18.6% (2025 ATLAS)
Reading/ELA Proficiency33.2% (2025 ATLAS)
Math vs. State Avg-8.3 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+2.1 pts
Overall Proficiency26% (2025 ATLAS, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)23% (model expectation from 2025 ATLAS)
vs. Expected+2.5 pts
Adjusted Percentile43th
College Readiness5.1Average30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate92%
AP Participation3.1%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment7.9Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio8.7:1
District spending per student$12,860
Chronic Absenteeism28%

Students at Highland High School score 26% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 23%).

How we calculate scores →

2025 ATLAS proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. AR average.

Math Proficiency19%(2025 ATLAS)
School
State
20%(2025 ATLAS)
ELA Proficiency33%(2025 ATLAS)
School
State
33%(2025 ATLAS)

Trend

↓ Declining

Proficiency has fallen 12 points since 2020, to 26% in 2025, across a 17-year record (2009–2025).

Show all 15 years
2009
Math
74%
ELA
70%
2010
Math
71%
ELA
81%
2011
Math
74%
ELA
80%
2012
Math
58%
ELA
77%
2013
Math
59%
ELA
71%
2014
Math
12%
ELA
37%
2015
Math
23%
ELA
44%
2016
Math
32%
ELA
48%
2017
Math
30%
ELA
44%
2018
Math
38%
ELA
47%
2019
Math
38%
ELA
47%
2020*
Math
31%
ELA
44%
2021*
Math
31%
ELA
44%
2022
Math
30%
ELA
47%
2025
Math
19%
ELA
33%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 40% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 53% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Based on 33 test records from AR state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

100%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

How we rate schools

A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.

See how we rate

The neighborhood

Where Highland High School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.

Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.

Getting around & local context

  • Walk 19Car-Dependent
  • Bike 24Somewhat Bikeable
  • City Safety: Elevated909/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Hardy), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details

Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.

Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)

Median income

$40,724

Median home value

$90,500

Median rent

$519/mo

College educated

9.9%

Homeownership

85%

Poverty rate

12.7%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 72542; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs3AP courses offered
3.1% participation·State avg: 2.5 AP courses·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Athletics17sports offered
8 boys'·9 girls'·30 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Advanced STEM Courses5of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Gifted & Talented ProgramAvailable
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students.·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

0 from verified nearby records

No verified same-level alternatives

The available nearby set has no same-level school with a verified grade span.

Highland School District

Schools in district
3
Rank in district
#3 of 3
District spending per student
$12,860NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
25.6%Census SAIPE · 2024

Highland High School is listed in HIGHLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Highland High School

Highland High School is a public high school in Hardy, AR, part of Highland School District, serving approximately 515 students in grades 9th-12th with a 8.7:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.2 out of 10 and ranks #549 of 1,036 schools in AR. State assessment records show 40% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 53% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Highland High School

What grades does Highland High School serve?

Highland High School serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Highland High School?

Highland High School has an enrollment of approximately 515 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Highland High School?

The student-teacher ratio at Highland High School is 8.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Highland High School rank in AR?

Highland High School ranks #549 of 1,036 schools in AR.

What is Highland High School's MySchoolScout rating?

Highland High School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.2 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Highland High School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Highland High School has 40% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 53% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Highland High School a charter school?

No, Highland High School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Highland High School a Title I school?

No, Highland High School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Highland High School?

100.0% of students at Highland High School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
515
Student-Teacher Ratio
8.7:1
Teachers (FTE)
59
Type
regular
Setting
Remote Rural
County
Sharp County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
28.0%
4-Year Graduation
92.0%
Area population (ZIP 72542)
3,829
Area median age
45.7
About this school's data

Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.

School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
  • Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
MySchoolScout rating and rank
MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
Math proficiency
State department of education · 2025 ATLAS · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: 2025 ATLAS. A newer release may be available.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Reading/ELA proficiency
State department of education · 2025 ATLAS · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: 2025 ATLAS. A newer release may be available.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Student progress (growth)
NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
  • Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
  • Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 72542; this does not measure the attendance area.
Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.

Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24

About our data · How we calculate scores

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