Average
#731 of 1,294 schools in KS
Highland Park Central
Elementary School · Topeka Public Schools · Topeka, KS
A Topeka Public Schools elementary school where students score 4 points above what's typical for similar communities.
2717 SE Illinois Ave, Topeka, KS 66605
- Math 24% proficient (2025)
- Reading 28% proficient (2025)
- 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Highland Park Central score 26% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 23%).
2025 KAP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. KS average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 16 points since 2020, reaching 26% in 2025.
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 29% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 31% (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 36 test records from KS state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
92.5%
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 Park Central 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 54Somewhat Walkable
- Transit 25Some Transit
- Bike 52Bikeable
- City Safety: High4,517/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Topeka), 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
$57,623
Median home value
$157,200
Median rent
$856/mo
College educated
20%
Homeownership
69%
Poverty rate
13.5%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 66605; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Matthew Catholic SchoolPrivate · tuition | 6.9private | K–8 | 0.3 mi | 162 | Compare → |
| Ross ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 5.6 | PK–5 | 0.8 mi | 532 | Compare → |
| Avondale AcademyEnrollment path unverified | Not rated | K–12 | 1.8 mi | 18 | Compare → |
| Williams Science and Fine Arts Magnet SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 6.5 | PK–5 | 1.8 mi | 434 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Topeka Public Schools
- Schools in district
- 27
- Rank in district
- #15 of 25
- District spending per student
- $17,935NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 21.3%Census SAIPE · 2024
Highland Park Central is listed in Topeka Public Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Highland Park Central
Highland Park Central is a public elementary school in Topeka, KS, part of Topeka Public Schools, serving approximately 308 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.2 out of 10 and ranks #731 of 1,294 schools in KS. State assessment records show 29% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 31% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Highland Park Central
What grades does Highland Park Central serve?
Highland Park Central serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Highland Park Central?
Highland Park Central has an enrollment of approximately 308 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Highland Park Central?
The student-teacher ratio at Highland Park Central is 12.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Highland Park Central rank in KS?
Highland Park Central ranks #731 of 1,294 schools in KS.
What is Highland Park Central's MySchoolScout rating?
Highland Park Central 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 Park Central?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Highland Park Central has 29% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 31% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Highland Park Central a charter school?
No, Highland Park Central is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Highland Park Central a Title I school?
No, Highland Park Central is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Highland Park Central?
92.5% of students at Highland Park Central 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
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 308
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 12.8:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 24
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- Shawnee County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 40.3%
- Phone
- (785) 235-7000
- Area population (ZIP 66605)
- 20,592
- Area average commute
- 20.1 min
- Area median age
- 37.3
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 KAP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 KAP. 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 KAP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 KAP. 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 66605; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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