Average
#2111 of 2,846 schools in PA
Highlands MS
Middle School · Highlands Sd · Natrona Heights, PA
A Highlands Sd middle school where students score 4 points above what's typical for similar communities.
1350 Broadview Boulevard, Natrona Heights, PA 15065
- Math 29% vs PA 37% (2024)
- Reading 46% vs PA 53% (2024)
- 11.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Highlands MS score 37% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 33%).
2024 PSSA proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. PA average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 35 points across the 16-year record (2009–2024) and has held near 38% recently.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 40% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 54% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 38 test records from PA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
100%
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 MS 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 Pittsburgh map →
Getting around & local context
- Walk 49Car-Dependent
- Bike 44Somewhat Bikeable
- County Safety: Low0/100K
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
$66,838
Median home value
$147,200
Median rent
$770/mo
College educated
27.6%
Homeownership
77.6%
Poverty rate
9.8%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 15065; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
2 from a 5-mile search
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mary Queen of Apostles SchoolPrivate · tuition | 7.3private | PK–9 | 2.4 mi | 220 | Compare → |
| Charles a Huston MSEnrollment path unverified | 3.7 | 6–8 | 3.0 mi | 403 | 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.
Highlands Sd
- Schools in district
- 4
- Rank in district
- #2 of 4
- District spending per student
- $17,691NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 20.3%Census SAIPE · 2024
Highlands MS is listed in Highlands SD; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Highlands MS
Highlands MS is a public middle school in Natrona Heights, PA, part of Highlands Sd, serving approximately 596 students in grades 5th-8th with a 11.5:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 5.0 out of 10 and ranks #2,111 of 2,846 schools in PA. State assessment records show 40% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 54% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Highlands MS
What grades does Highlands MS serve?
Highlands MS serves students in grades 5th through 8th.
How many students attend Highlands MS?
Highlands MS has an enrollment of approximately 596 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Highlands MS?
The student-teacher ratio at Highlands MS is 11.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Highlands MS rank in PA?
Highlands MS ranks #2,111 of 2,846 schools in PA.
What is Highlands MS's MySchoolScout rating?
Highlands MS has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.0 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 MS?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Highlands MS has 40% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 54% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Highlands MS a charter school?
No, Highlands MS is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Highlands MS a Title I school?
No, Highlands MS is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Highlands MS?
100.0% of students at Highlands MS 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
- 5th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 596
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 11.5:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 52
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Allegheny County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 32.9%
- Phone
- (724) 226-0600
- Area population (ZIP 15065)
- 10,927
- Area average commute
- 23.8 min
- Area median age
- 49.5
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 · 2024 PSSA · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2024 PSSA. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2024 PSSA · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2024 PSSA. 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 15065; 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, 2009-2024; directory SY 2023–24
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