Excellent
#105 of 1,284 schools in KY
Top 8% in state
Highlands High School
High School · Fort Thomas Independent · Fort Thomas, KY
A Fort Thomas Independent high school serving grades 9th – 12th.
2400 Memorial Pkwy, Fort Thomas, KY 41075
- Math 71% proficient (2025)
- Reading 73% proficient (2025)
- 98.0% 4-year graduation
Academics
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
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Students at Highlands High School score 72% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 69%).
2025 KSA proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. KY average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 13 points since 2020, reaching 72% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 69% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 78% (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 32 test records from KY state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
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 Highlands High School 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 Cincinnati map →
Getting around & local context
- Walk 38Car-Dependent
- Bike 27Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: Average535/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Fort Thomas), 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
$99,075
Median home value
$298,700
Median rent
$1,096/mo
College educated
55.1%
Homeownership
70.1%
Poverty rate
4.9%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 41075; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newport Central Catholic High SchoolPrivate · tuition | 5.6private | 9–12 | 1.8 mi | 227 | Compare → |
| Newport High SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 7.9 | 7–12 | 2.0 mi | 584 | Compare → |
| Bellevue High SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 7.3 | 6–12 | 2.1 mi | 330 | Compare → |
| Riverview East AcademyEnrollment path unverified | 4.0 | PK–12 | 2.1 mi | 487 | 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.
Fort Thomas Independent
- Schools in district
- 5
- Rank in district
- #2 of 5
- District spending per student
- $12,975NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 4.0%Census SAIPE · 2024
Highlands High School is listed in Fort Thomas Independent; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Highlands High School
Highlands High School is a public high school in Fort Thomas, KY, part of Fort Thomas Independent, serving approximately 1,022 students in grades 9th-12th with a 17.6:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.4 out of 10 and ranks #105 of 1,284 schools in KY. State assessment records show 69% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 78% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Highlands High School
What grades does Highlands High School serve?
Highlands High School serves students in grades 9th through 12th.
How many students attend Highlands High School?
Highlands High School has an enrollment of approximately 1,022 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Highlands High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Highlands High School is 17.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Highlands High School rank in KY?
Highlands High School ranks #105 of 1,284 schools in KY.
What is Highlands High School's MySchoolScout rating?
Highlands High School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.4 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 High School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Highlands High School has 69% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 78% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Highlands High School a charter school?
No, Highlands High School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Highlands High School a Title I school?
No, Highlands High School is not currently a Title I school.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 9th – 12th
- Enrollment
- 1,022
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 17.6:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 58
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Campbell County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 8.3%
- Phone
- (859) 781-5900
- 4-Year Graduation
- 98.0%
- Area population (ZIP 41075)
- 17,433
- Area average commute
- 20.6 min
- Area median age
- 38
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 41075; 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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