Very Good
#266 of 1,036 schools in AR
Top 26% in state
Highland Middle School
Middle School · Highland School District · Hardy, AR
A middle school in Hardy, AR where students score 17 points above what's typical for similar communities.
P O BOX 419, Hardy, AR 72542
- Math 43% vs AR 39% (2025)
- Reading 37% vs AR 35% (2025)
- 16.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Highland Middle School score 40% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 23%).
2025 ATLAS proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. AR average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 36 points across the 17-year record (2009–2025) and has held near 40% recently.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 55% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 54% (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 40 test records from AR state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Highland Middle 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 11Car-Dependent
- City Safety: Elevated909/100K
Powered by
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
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
- #2 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 Middle School is listed in HIGHLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Highland Middle School
Highland Middle School is a public middle school in Hardy, AR, part of Highland School District, serving approximately 451 students in grades 5th-8th with a 16.1:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.5 out of 10 and ranks #266 of 1,036 schools in AR. State assessment records show 55% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 54% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Highland Middle School
What grades does Highland Middle School serve?
Highland Middle School serves students in grades 5th through 8th.
How many students attend Highland Middle School?
Highland Middle School has an enrollment of approximately 451 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Highland Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Highland Middle School is 16.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Highland Middle School rank in AR?
Highland Middle School ranks #266 of 1,036 schools in AR.
What is Highland Middle School's MySchoolScout rating?
Highland Middle School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.5 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 Middle School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Highland Middle School has 55% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 54% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Highland Middle School a charter school?
No, Highland Middle School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Highland Middle School a Title I school?
No, Highland Middle School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Highland Middle School?
100.0% of students at Highland Middle 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
- 5th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 451
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 16.1:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 28
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Remote Rural
- County
- Sharp County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 18.8%
- Phone
- (870) 856-3284
- Area population (ZIP 72542)
- 3,829
- Area median age
- 45.7
Official sources & links
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
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