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Very Good

#221 of 1,284 schools in KY

Top 17% in state

Highlands Middle School

Middle School · Fort Thomas Independent

2350 Memorial Pkwy, Fort Thomas, KY 41075

Enrollment

733

Student-Teacher

15.9:1

Score

7.8

Grades

6th – 8th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Kentucky schools

#221 of 1,284

In Fort Thomas

#4 of 5

public schools

In district

#4 of 5

Fort Thomas Independent

School environment

8.4 / 10

Excellent

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Highlands Middle School

7.8/10

Middle School in Fort Thomas · grades 6th – 8th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Highlands High School

8.4/10

0.0 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Johnson Elementary School

8.0/10

0.5 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Highlands Middle School

Highlands Middle School is a public middle school in Fort Thomas, KY, part of Fort Thomas Independent. Highlands Middle School serves approximately 733 students, and covers grades 6th-8th, and has a 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio. Highlands Middle School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.8 out of 10 and ranks #221 of 1,284 schools in KY.

Structured state assessment records for Highlands Middle School show 69% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 74% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares1.6 pts above KY schools
  • This school 7.8 · Very Good
  • KY avg 6.2

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress7.3Very Good40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-0.93 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendStable
Academics7.9Very Good35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency65.7% (2025 KSA)
Reading/ELA Proficiency64.3% (2025 KSA)
Overall Proficiency65% (2025 KSA, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)69% (model expectation from 2025 KSA)
vs. Expected-4.1 pts
Adjusted Percentile68th
Resources & Environment8.4Excellent25%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio15.9:1
Per-Pupil Spending$12,975
Chronic Absenteeism4.5%

Highlands Middle School — Students at Highlands Middle School score 65% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 69%).

How we calculate scores →

Test Scores KY KSA (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 69.2% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 73.8% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
N/A

Based on 36 test records from KY state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
79%
ELA
84%
2010
Math
81%
ELA
85%
2011
Math
70%
ELA
73%
2012
Math
66%
ELA
72%
2013
Math
71%
ELA
76%
2014
Math
72%
ELA
80%
2015
Math
77%
ELA
78%
2016
Math
75%
ELA
80%
2017
Math
80%
ELA
80%
2018
Math
68%
ELA
78%
2019
Math
68%
ELA
78%
2020*
Math
53%
ELA
64%
2021*
Math
53%
ELA
64%
2022
Math
66%
ELA
69%
2025
Math
65.7%
ELA
64.3%

* 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 Middle School Compares

See how Highlands Middle School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
7.8/10
83th percentile in KY
Academic
7.9/10
Very Good
Growth
7.3/10
Very Good
Environment
8.4/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Teaching Staff
16:1 student-teacher ratio
46 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
4.5%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

2350 Memorial Pkwy, Fort Thomas, KY 41075

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Highlands Middle School may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. Woodfill Elementary School (rated 8.6/10, 1.8 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Dayton High School (rated 8.5/10, 2.4 miles away, in nearby Dayton), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Highlands High School (rated 8.4/10), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Fort Thomas, see our Fort Thomas schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.3 mi
School Distance Rating
Highlands High School Fort Thomas 0.0 mi 8.4
Johnson Elementary School Fort Thomas 0.5 mi 8.0
Moyer Elementary School Fort Thomas 0.6 mi 7.6
ST THOMAS SCHOOL Fort Thomas 0.8 mi 4.6
ST CATHERINE OF SIENA Fort Thomas 0.9 mi 7.4
COUNTRY HILLS MONTESSORI FT THOMAS Fort Thomas 1.3 mi
ST THERESE SCHOOL Southgate 1.4 mi 5.8
Southgate Public School Southgate 1.5 mi 7.4
Woodfill Elementary School Fort Thomas 1.8 mi 8.6
Grandview Elementary School Bellevue 1.8 mi 4.5
Riverview East Academy Cincinnati 2.1 mi 4.0
NEWPORT CENTRAL CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL Newport 1.7 mi 5.6
Newport High School Newport 1.9 mi 7.9
Bellevue High School Bellevue 2.1 mi 7.3
Lincoln Elementary School Dayton 2.3 mi 6.6
Dayton High School Dayton 2.4 mi 8.5
HOLY TRINITY SCHOOL Newport 2.1 mi 7.4
Newport Primary School Newport 2.1 mi 5.2
MONTESSORI CENTER ROOM Cincinnati 2.7 mi
TRENT MONTESSORI PRESCHOOL Newport 2.3 mi

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 41075 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$99,075

Median Home Value

$298,700

Median Rent

$1,096/mo

Population

17,433

College Educated

55.1%

Homeownership

70.1%

Avg Commute

20.6 min

Poverty Rate

4.9%

Median Age

38

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Grayson County Middle School Leitchfield, KY 7.8
Henderson County South Middle School Henderson, KY 7.8
Jessie M Clark Middle School Lexington, KY 7.8
Morton Middle School Lexington, KY 7.8
North Oldham Middle School Goshen, KY 7.8
Russell County Middle School Russell Springs, KY 7.8

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Highlands Middle School

What grades does Highlands Middle School serve?

Highlands Middle School serves students in grades 6th through 8th.

How many students attend Highlands Middle School?

Highlands Middle School has an enrollment of approximately 733 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Highlands Middle School?

The student-teacher ratio at Highlands Middle School is 15.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Highlands Middle School rank in KY?

Highlands Middle School ranks #221 of 1,284 schools in KY.

What is Highlands Middle School's MySchoolScout rating?

Highlands Middle School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.8 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 Middle School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Highlands Middle School has 69% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 74% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Highlands Middle School a charter school?

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

Is Highlands Middle School a Title I school?

No, Highlands Middle School is not currently a Title I school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
35 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
27 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
6th – 8th
Enrollment
733
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.9:1
Teachers (FTE)
46
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Campbell County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
4.5%

District

Fort Thomas Independent
District Enrollment
3,167
Schools in District
5
Per-Pupil Spending
$12,975
District Rank
#4 of 5

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