Average
#382 of 864 schools in NM
Top 44% in state
Highland Elementary
Elementary School · LAS CRUCES
4201 EMERALD ST, Las Cruces, NM 88012
Enrollment
724
Student-Teacher
15.7:1
Score
6.5
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
724
Student-Teacher
15.7:1
Score
6.5
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Data vintage
2022-23
Data vintage2022-23
How this school compares
New Mexico schools
#382 of 864
In Las Cruces
#23 of 45
public schools
In district
#19 of 39
LAS CRUCES
Academic performance
8.8 / 10
Excellent
Shortlisting around Highland Elementary?
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Highland Elementary
Elementary School in Las Cruces · grades Pre-K – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.
Sonoma Elementary
0.5 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
Camino Real Middle
1.2 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
About Highland Elementary
Highland Elementary is a public elementary school in Las Cruces, NM, part of LAS CRUCES. Highland Elementary serves approximately 724 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 15.7:1 student-teacher ratio. Highland Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.5 out of 10 and ranks #382 of 864 schools in NM.
Structured state assessment records for Highland Elementary show 42% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 47% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
- This school 6.5 · Average
- District avg 6.3
- NM avg 6.2
What Parents Should Know
31% of students at Highland Elementary were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, above the national average. Chronic absenteeism means missing 15 or more school days, and at high rates it drags on classroom pacing for everyone. Ask what the school does to help families get kids to class consistently.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Highland Elementary — Students at Highland Elementary score 38% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 22%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
99.9%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores NM EDFACTS (2021-22)
Based on 23 test records from NM state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
↓ DecliningAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 5.2/10.
How Highland Elementary Compares
See how Highland Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Programs & Offerings
Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more
Location
4201 EMERALD ST, Las Cruces, NM 88012
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Highland Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. JORNADA ELEMENTARY (rated 7.8/10, 2.6 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is SONOMA ELEMENTARY (rated 7.3/10, 0.5 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, DESERT HILLS ELEMENTARY (rated 7.0/10, 3.0 miles away), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Las Cruces, see our Las Cruces schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 3.9 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| SONOMA ELEMENTARY Las Cruces | 0.5 mi | 7.3 |
| CAMINO REAL MIDDLE Las Cruces | 1.2 mi | 7.5 |
| ORGAN MOUNTAIN HIGH SCHOOL Las Cruces | 1.9 mi | 5.6 |
| MISSION LUTHERAN SCHOOL Las Cruces | 2.3 mi | — |
| MONTE VISTA ELEMENTARY Las Cruces | 2.4 mi | 6.5 |
| MESA MIDDLE Las Cruces | 2.8 mi | 7.3 |
| JORNADA ELEMENTARY Las Cruces | 2.6 mi | 7.8 |
| EXPLORE ACADEMY LAS CRUCES Las Cruces | 2.9 mi | 6.3 |
| DESERT HILLS ELEMENTARY Las Cruces | 3.0 mi | 7.0 |
| LOMA HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY Las Cruces | 3.1 mi | 5.3 |
| COLUMBIA ELEMENTARY Las Cruces | 2.9 mi | 6.6 |
| VISTA MIDDLE Las Cruces | 2.9 mi | 6.9 |
| SIERRA MIDDLE Las Cruces | 3.4 mi | 5.7 |
| BOOKER T. WASHINGTON Las Cruces | 3.8 mi | 4.8 |
| HERMOSA HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY Las Cruces | 4.2 mi | 6.2 |
| DESERT SPRINGS CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Las Curces | 4.3 mi | 7.3 |
| MESILLA VALLEY LEADERSHIP ACADEMY Las Cruces | 4.4 mi | 9.0 |
| LYNN MIDDLE Las Cruces | 4.5 mi | 5.2 |
| ALAMEDA ELEMENTARY Las Cruces | 4.2 mi | 4.2 |
| DONA ANA ELEMENTARY Las Cruces | 3.9 mi | 6.8 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 88012 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$66,988
Median Home Value
$222,300
Median Rent
$1,210/mo
Population
32,888
College Educated
34.7%
Homeownership
76.1%
Avg Commute
22.4 min
Poverty Rate
11.5%
Median Age
31.2
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| CESAR CHAVEZ ELEMENTARY Las Cruces, NM | 6.5 |
| COLLEGE LANE ELEMENTARY Hobbs, NM | 6.5 |
| EAST PICACHO ELEMENTARY Las Cruces, NM | 6.5 |
| ESPERANZA ELEMENTARY Farmington, NM | 6.5 |
| MONTE VISTA ELEMENTARY Las Cruces, NM | 6.5 |
| OSUNA ELEMENTARY Albuquerque, NM | 6.5 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Highland Elementary
What grades does Highland Elementary serve?
Highland Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Highland Elementary?
Highland Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 724 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Highland Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Highland Elementary is 15.7:1. 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 NM?
Highland Elementary ranks #382 of 864 schools in NM.
What is Highland Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Highland Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.5 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 42% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 47% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
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?
99.9% 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.
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Neighborhood Context
Powered by 
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 724
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 15.7:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 46
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 99.9%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- Doña Ana County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 30.9%
- Phone
- (575) 527-9636
Resources & Links
District
LAS CRUCES- District Enrollment
- 23,404
- Schools in District
- 39
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $14,965
- District Rank
- #19 of 39
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