Very Good
#2619 of 9,539 schools in CA
Top 27% in state
Highlands Elementary
Elementary School · San Mateo-Foster City
2320 Newport St., San Mateo, CA 94402
Enrollment
355
Student-Teacher
22.2:1
Score
7.5
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
355
Student-Teacher
22.2:1
Score
7.5
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Data vintage
2022-23
Data vintage2022-23
How this school compares
California schools
#2,619 of 9,539
In San Mateo
#8 of 19
public schools
In district
#10 of 21
San Mateo-Foster City
School environment
8.1 / 10
Excellent
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Highlands Elementary
Elementary School in San Mateo · grades Kindergarten – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.
Odyssey School
0.7 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
Hillcrest at Youth Services Center
1.0 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
About Highlands Elementary
Highlands Elementary is a public elementary school in San Mateo, CA, part of San Mateo-Foster City. Highlands Elementary serves approximately 355 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-5th, and has a 22.2:1 student-teacher ratio. Highlands Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.5 out of 10 and ranks #2,619 of 9,539 schools in CA.
Structured state assessment records for Highlands Elementary show 61% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 64% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
- This school 7.5 · Very Good
- District avg 6.7
- CA avg 6.2
What Parents Should Know
Highlands Elementary runs 22.2:1 students to teachers, above the national average. That often means bigger classes. Ask how the school supports kids who need extra help, and whether there are teaching assistants or small-group time.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Highlands Elementary — Students at Highlands Elementary score 56% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 60%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
25.9%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores CA CAASPP (2023-24)
Based on 34 test records from CA state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
↓ DecliningAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 7.3/10.
How Highlands Elementary Compares
See how Highlands Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Programs & Offerings
Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more
Location
2320 Newport St., San Mateo, CA 94402
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Highlands Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. West Hillsborough (rated 8.7/10, 2.0 miles away, in nearby Hillsborough), which scores notably higher. Another option is THE CAREY SCHOOL (rated 8.7/10, 2.2 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Fox Elementary (rated 8.5/10, 1.8 miles away, in nearby Belmont), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in San Mateo, see our San Mateo schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 2.3 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| ODYSSEY SCHOOL San Mateo | 0.7 mi | 7.6 |
| Hillcrest at Youth Services Center Redwood City | 1.0 mi | — |
| Moonshot Academy San Mateo | 1.0 mi | — |
| Margaret J. Kemp Redwood City | 1.2 mi | — |
| Gateway Center San Mateo | 1.2 mi | — |
| LA PETITE MONTESSORI SCHOOL LLC Hillsborough | 1.4 mi | — |
| West Hillsborough Hillsborough | 2.0 mi | 8.7 |
| Fox Elementary Belmont | 1.8 mi | 8.5 |
| TULANE MONTESSORI CHILDREN'S HOUSE San Mateo | 2.2 mi | — |
| Aragon High San Mateo | 2.1 mi | 7.9 |
| Baywood Elementary San Mateo | 2.2 mi | 6.5 |
| Fusion Academy San Mateo San Mateo | 2.1 mi | — |
| Crystal Springs Uplands School Hillsborough | 2.4 mi | — |
| FUSION ACADEMY - SAN MATEO San Mateo | 2.1 mi | 7.2 |
| The Carey School San Mateo | 2.2 mi | — |
| Meadow Heights Elementary San Mateo | 2.1 mi | 5.8 |
| THE CAREY SCHOOL San Mateo | 2.2 mi | 8.7 |
| Borel Middle San Mateo | 2.4 mi | 7.9 |
| Hillsdale High San Mateo | 2.2 mi | 7.3 |
| JUNIPERO SERRA HIGH SCHOOL San Mateo | 2.3 mi | 5.3 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 94402 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$179,683
Median Home Value
$2,000,001
Median Rent
$3,476/mo
Population
25,498
College Educated
69.3%
Homeownership
59.3%
Avg Commute
28 min
Poverty Rate
6.1%
Median Age
40.6
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Abraham Lincoln Elementary Costa Mesa, CA | 7.5 |
| Alcott Elementary San Diego, CA | 7.5 |
| Antelope Creek Elementary Rocklin, CA | 7.5 |
| Arellanes (Don Juan Bautista) Elementary Santa Maria, CA | 7.5 |
| Aspen Elementary Thousand Oaks, CA | 7.5 |
| Bella Vista Elementary Bella Vista, CA | 7.5 |
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 355 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Highlands Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Highlands Elementary is 22.2:1. 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 #2,619 of 9,539 schools in CA.
What is Highlands Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Highlands Elementary 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 Highlands Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Highlands Elementary has 61% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 64% 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?
25.9% 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.
Neighborhood Context
Powered by 
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 5th
- Enrollment
- 355
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 22.2:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 16
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 25.9%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- San Mateo County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 17.7%
- Phone
- (650) 312-7544
Resources & Links
District
San Mateo-Foster City- District Enrollment
- 9,945
- Schools in District
- 22
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $19,671
- District Rank
- #10 of 21
Other Schools in This District
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