Skip to main content

Average

#6081 of 9,539 schools in CA

Highlands Elementary

Elementary School · Mt. Diablo Unified · Concord, CA

A Mt. Diablo Unified elementary school where students score 18 points below what's typical for similar communities.

1326 Pennsylvania Blvd., Concord, CA 94521

  • Math 50% vs CA 39% (2024)
  • Reading 48% vs CA 45% (2024)
  • 26.4:1 student-teacher ratio

Academics

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress6.1Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-1.42 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2024
TrendDeclining
Academics6.3Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency50.4% (2024 CAASPP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency48.8% (2024 CAASPP)
Math vs. State Avg+4.7 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+6 pts
Overall Proficiency50% (2024 CAASPP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)67% (model expectation from 2024 CAASPP)
vs. Expected-17.6 pts
Adjusted Percentile46th
Resources & Environment3.8Needs Improvement20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio26.4:1
District spending per student$15,421
Chronic Absenteeism18.1%

Students at Highlands Elementary score 50% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 67%).

How we calculate scores →

2024 CAASPP proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. CA average.

Math Proficiency50%(2024 CAASPP)
School
State
39%(2024 CAASPP)
ELA Proficiency48%(2024 CAASPP)
School
State
45%(2024 CAASPP)

Trend

↓ Declining

Proficiency has fallen 10 points since 2020, to 49% in 2024, across a 16-year record (2009–2024).

Show all 14 years
2009
Math
74%
ELA
67%
2010
Math
79%
ELA
71%
2011
Math
78%
ELA
70%
2012
Math
83%
ELA
69%
2014
Math
43%
ELA
48%
2015
Math
42%
ELA
50%
2016
Math
43%
ELA
46%
2017
Math
49%
ELA
53%
2018
Math
54%
ELA
59%
2019
Math
54%
ELA
59%
2020*
Math
58%
ELA
60%
2021*
Math
58%
ELA
60%
2022
Math
60%
ELA
58%
2024
Math
50%
ELA
48%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 57% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 57% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)

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

Based on 34 test records from CA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

12.9%

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 Highlands Elementary sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.

Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Open the San Francisco Bay Area map →

Getting around & local context

  • Walk 45Car-Dependent
  • Transit 28Some Transit
  • Bike 28Somewhat Bikeable
  • City Safety: High3,431/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Concord), 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

$127,312

Median home value

$823,100

Median rent

$2,388/mo

College educated

44%

Homeownership

73.3%

Poverty rate

5.6%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 94521; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Mt. Diablo ElementaryEnrollment path unverified6.0K–51.0 mi738Compare →
Hope Academy for DyslexicsPrivate · tuitionNot rated2–81.1 mi56Compare →
Step by Step Montessori SchoolPrivate · tuitionNot ratedPK–K1.4 mi3Compare →
Bancroft ElementaryEnrollment path unverified6.6K–5Not available686Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.

Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.

Mt. Diablo Unified

Schools in district
52
Rank in district
#19 of 47
District spending per student
$15,421NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
9.8%Census SAIPE · 2024

Highlands Elementary is listed in Mt. Diablo Unified; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Highlands Elementary

Highlands Elementary is a public elementary school in Concord, CA, part of Mt. Diablo Unified, serving approximately 502 students in grades Kindergarten-5th with a 26.4:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 5.7 out of 10 and ranks #6,081 of 9,539 schools in CA.

State assessment records show 57% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 57% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Highlands Elementary

What grades does Highlands Elementary serve?

Highlands Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.

How many students attend Highlands Elementary?

Highlands Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 502 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Highlands Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Highlands Elementary is 26.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Highlands Elementary rank in CA?

Highlands Elementary ranks #6,081 of 9,539 schools in CA.

What is Highlands Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Highlands Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.7 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 Highlands Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Highlands Elementary has 57% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 57% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Is Highlands Elementary a charter school?

No, Highlands Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Highlands Elementary a Title I school?

No, Highlands Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Highlands Elementary?

12.9% of students at Highlands Elementary 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
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
502
Student-Teacher Ratio
26.4:1
Teachers (FTE)
19
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Contra Costa County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
18.1%
Area population (ZIP 94521)
41,118
Area average commute
32.5 min
Area median age
43
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 · 2024 CAASPP · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: 2024 CAASPP. A newer release may be available.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Reading/ELA proficiency
State department of education · 2024 CAASPP · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: 2024 CAASPP. 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 94521; this does not measure the attendance area.

Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2024; directory SY 2023–24

About our data · How we calculate scores

Related reading

Get school insights in your inbox

New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.