Average
#1192 of 2,648 schools in NC
Top 45% in state
Highland Elementary
Elementary School · Harnett County Schools · Sanford, NC
A Harnett County Schools elementary school serving grades Kindergarten – 5th.
1915 Buffalo Lake Road, Sanford, NC 27330
- Math 62% vs NC 59% (2025)
- Reading 53% vs NC 53% (2025)
- 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Highland Elementary score 57% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 60%).
2025 NC proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NC average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 18 points since 2020, reaching 57% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 52% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 51% (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 NC state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
54.8%
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 Elementary 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 23Car-Dependent
- Bike 29Somewhat Bikeable
- County Safety: Elevated1,237/100K
Powered by
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
$60,726
Median home value
$213,000
Median rent
$966/mo
College educated
23.1%
Homeownership
61%
Poverty rate
17.3%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 27330; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independence AcademyPrivate · tuition | Not rated | K | 2.0 mi | 10 | Compare → |
| Benhaven ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 8.1 | PK–5 | 3.1 mi | 1,031 | Compare → |
| Johnsonville ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 7.7 | PK–5 | 3.2 mi | 471 | Compare → |
| Anderson Creek AcademyCharter · enrollment unverified | 8.2 | K–5 | 4.2 mi | 292 | 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.
Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.
Harnett County Schools
- Schools in district
- 29
- Rank in district
- #5 of 27
- District spending per student
- $10,877NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 13.4%Census SAIPE · 2024
Highland Elementary is listed in Harnett County Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Highland Elementary
Highland Elementary is a public elementary school in Sanford, NC, part of Harnett County Schools, serving approximately 894 students in grades Kindergarten-5th with a 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.6 out of 10 and ranks #1,192 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 52% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 51% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Highland Elementary
What grades does Highland Elementary serve?
Highland Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend Highland Elementary?
Highland Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 894 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Highland Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Highland Elementary is 14.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Highland Elementary rank in NC?
Highland Elementary ranks #1,192 of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is Highland Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Highland Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.6 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?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Highland Elementary has 52% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 51% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Highland Elementary a charter school?
No, Highland Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Highland Elementary a Title I school?
No, Highland Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Highland Elementary?
54.8% of students at Highland 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.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 5th
- Enrollment
- 894
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 14.4:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 62
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Fringe Rural
- County
- Harnett County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 31.2%
- Phone
- (919) 499-2200
- Area population (ZIP 27330)
- 41,473
- Area average commute
- 24.7 min
- Area median age
- 36.8
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 NC · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 NC · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- 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 27330; 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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