Skip to main content

Average

#524 of 1,284 schools in KY

Top 41% in state

Highland Elementary School

Elementary School · Lincoln County · Waynesburg, KY

A Lincoln County elementary school where students score 10 points above what's typical for similar communities.

75 Tick Ridge Rd, Waynesburg, KY 40489

  • Math 42% proficient (2025)
  • Reading 53% proficient (2025)
  • 11.5:1 student-teacher ratio

Academics

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress5.1Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-1.55 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics7.7Very Good30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency42% (2025 KSA)
Reading/ELA Proficiency53% (2025 KSA)
Overall Proficiency48% (2025 KSA, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)37% (model expectation from 2025 KSA)
vs. Expected+10.2 pts
Adjusted Percentile66th
Resources & Environment9.4Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio11.5:1
District spending per student$14,375
Chronic Absenteeism20.5%

Students at Highland Elementary School score 48% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 37%).

How we calculate scores →

2025 KSA proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. KY average.

Math Proficiency42%(2025 KSA)
School
State
Not reported(2025 KSA)
ELA Proficiency53%(2025 KSA)
School
State
Not reported(2025 KSA)

Trend

↑ Recovering

Proficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 21 points since 2020, reaching 48% in 2025.

Show all 15 years
2009
Math
82%
ELA
82%
2010
Math
72%
ELA
77%
2011
Math
37%
ELA
47%
2012
Math
42%
ELA
52%
2013
Math
42%
ELA
52%
2014
Math
32%
ELA
52%
2015
Math
47%
ELA
57%
2016
Math
37%
ELA
57%
2017
Math
37%
ELA
47%
2018
Math
47%
ELA
52%
2019
Math
47%
ELA
52%
2020*
Math
22%
ELA
32%
2021*
Math
22%
ELA
32%
2022
Math
52%
ELA
42%
2025
Math
42%
ELA
53%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 44% (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 35 test records from KY state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

75.4%

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 Elementary 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 3Car-Dependent
  • Bike 8Somewhat Bikeable
  • County Safety: Average340/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · county context, not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details

Source period: 2024. A newer release may be available.

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

Median income

$49,205

Median home value

$117,500

Median rent

$691/mo

College educated

13.1%

Homeownership

89.1%

Poverty rate

23.1%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 40489; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

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

4 in Lincoln County

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Crab Orchard Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified6.0PK–5Not available284Compare →
Hustonville Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified7.5PK–5Not available439Compare →
Stanford Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified7.0PK–5Not available578Compare →
Waynesburg Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified8.1PK–5Not available203Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

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

Lincoln County

Schools in district
8
Rank in district
#4 of 7
District spending per student
$14,375NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
18.8%Census SAIPE · 2024

Highland Elementary School is listed in Lincoln County; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Highland Elementary School

Highland Elementary School is a public elementary school in Waynesburg, KY, part of Lincoln County, serving approximately 195 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 11.5:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.7 out of 10 and ranks #524 of 1,284 schools in KY. State assessment records show 44% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 53% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Highland Elementary School

What grades does Highland Elementary School serve?

Highland Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend Highland Elementary School?

Highland Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 195 students.

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

The student-teacher ratio at Highland Elementary School is 11.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Highland Elementary School rank in KY?

Highland Elementary School ranks #524 of 1,284 schools in KY.

What is Highland Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?

Highland Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.7 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 Highland Elementary School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Highland Elementary School has 44% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 53% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Highland Elementary School a charter school?

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

Is Highland Elementary School a Title I school?

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

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

75.4% of students at Highland Elementary 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
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
195
Student-Teacher Ratio
11.5:1
Teachers (FTE)
17
Type
regular
Setting
Remote Rural
County
Lincoln County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
20.5%
Area population (ZIP 40489)
4,238
Area average commute
37.7 min
Area median age
42.1
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 KSA · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: 2025 KSA. 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 KSA · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: 2025 KSA. 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 40489; 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

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.