Average
#1300 of 2,648 schools in NC
Top 49% in state
Highlands School
School · Macon County Schools · Highlands, NC
A Macon County Schools school where students score 10 points below what's typical for similar communities.
PO Box 940, Highlands, NC 28741
- Math 46% vs NC 57% (2025)
- Reading 59% vs NC 53% (2025)
- 84.5% 4-year graduation
Academics
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
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Students at Highlands School score 53% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 64%).
2025 NC proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NC average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 7 points since 2020, to 53% in 2025, across a 17-year record (2009–2025).
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 57% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 59% (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 42 test records from NC state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
43.6%
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 Highlands 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 52Somewhat Walkable
- Bike 16Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High1,693/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Highlands), 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
$68,874
Median home value
$596,100
Median rent
$862/mo
College educated
48.4%
Homeownership
73.1%
Poverty rate
8.2%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 28741; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
2 in Macon County Schools
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Macon Virtual AcademyEnrollment path unverified | 2.4 | K–12 | Not available | 34 | Compare → |
| Nantahala SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 7.5 | K–12 | Not available | 87 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Macon County Schools
- Schools in district
- 12
- Rank in district
- #9 of 12
- District spending per student
- $13,238NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 17.8%Census SAIPE · 2024
Highlands School is listed in Macon County Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Highlands School
Highlands School is a public school in Highlands, NC, part of Macon County Schools, serving approximately 319 students in grades Kindergarten-12th with a 9.4:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.4 out of 10 and ranks #1,300 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 57% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 59% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Highlands School
What grades does Highlands School serve?
Highlands School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 12th.
How many students attend Highlands School?
Highlands School has an enrollment of approximately 319 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Highlands School?
The student-teacher ratio at Highlands School is 9.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Highlands School rank in NC?
Highlands School ranks #1,300 of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is Highlands School's MySchoolScout rating?
Highlands School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.4 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 School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Highlands School has 57% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 59% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Highlands School a charter school?
No, Highlands School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Highlands School a Title I school?
No, Highlands School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Highlands School?
43.6% of students at Highlands 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
- Kindergarten – 12th
- Enrollment
- 319
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 9.4:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 34
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Remote Rural
- County
- Macon County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 19.4%
- Phone
- (828) 526-2147
- 4-Year Graduation
- 84.5%
- Area population (ZIP 28741)
- 4,266
- Area median age
- 61.8
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 28741; 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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