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Average

#1525 of 2,105 schools in WI

Highlands Elementary

Elementary School · Appleton Area School District

2037 N Elinor St, Appleton, WI 54914

Enrollment

499

Student-Teacher

10.4:1

Score

5.2

Grades

Pre-K – 6th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Wisconsin schools

#1,525 of 2,105

In Appleton

#29 of 38

public schools

In district

#27 of 36

Appleton Area School District

School environment

7.5 / 10

Very Good

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Highlands Elementary

5.2/10

Elementary School in Appleton · grades Pre-K – 6th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Odyssey-magellan

7.9/10

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

Ronald C Dunlap Elementary School

7.0/10

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

About Highlands Elementary

Highlands Elementary is a public elementary school in Appleton, WI, part of Appleton Area School District. Highlands Elementary serves approximately 499 students, and covers grades Pre-K-6th, and has a 10.4:1 student-teacher ratio. Highlands Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.2 out of 10 and ranks #1,525 of 2,105 schools in WI.

Structured state assessment records for Highlands Elementary show 37% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 31% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares1.4 pts below district
  • This school 5.2 · Average
  • District avg 6.6
  • WI avg 6.8

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress4.7Below Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-2.36 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics4.4Below Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency29.9% (2025 FORWARD)
Reading/ELA Proficiency25.3% (2025 FORWARD)
Math vs. State Avg-24.4 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-25.9 pts
Overall Proficiency28% (2025 FORWARD, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)33% (model expectation from 2025 FORWARD)
vs. Expected-5.2 pts
Adjusted Percentile25th
Resources & Environment7.5Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio10.4:1
Per-Pupil Spending$13,085
Chronic Absenteeism17.6%

Highlands Elementary — Students at Highlands Elementary score 28% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 33%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

66.5%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores WI FORWARD (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 36.6% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
53.0% (2025 FORWARD)
ELA Proficiency 30.8% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
50.9% (2025 FORWARD)

Based on 34 test records from WI state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

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

2009
Math
74%
ELA
77%
2010
Math
69%
ELA
76%
2011
Math
38%
ELA
24%
2012
Math
37%
ELA
21%
2013
Math
39%
ELA
24%
2014
Math
35%
ELA
34%
2015
Math
43%
ELA
25%
2016
Math
32%
ELA
36%
2017
Math
35%
ELA
24%
2018
Math
30%
ELA
22%
2019
Math
30%
ELA
22%
2020*
Math
21%
ELA
20%
2021*
Math
21%
ELA
20%
2022
Math
29.2%
ELA
22.7%
2025
Math
29.9%
ELA
25.3%

* 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: 4.7/10.

How Highlands Elementary Compares

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

Overall Score
5.2/10
28th percentile in WI
Academic
4.4/10
Below Average
Growth
4.7/10
Below Average
Environment
7.5/10
Very Good
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
67%
Teaching Staff
10:1 student-teacher ratio
48 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
17.6%

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

2037 N Elinor St, Appleton, WI 54914

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Highlands Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Fox River Academy (rated 8.2/10, 1.9 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Appleton Bilingual School (rated 7.5/10, 1.4 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Ronald C Dunlap Elementary School (rated 7.0/10, 0.7 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Appleton, see our Appleton schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.5 mi
School Distance Rating
Odyssey-Magellan Appleton 0.0 mi 7.9
Ronald C Dunlap Elementary School Appleton 0.7 mi 7.0
West High Appleton 0.9 mi 3.7
Renaissance School Appleton 0.9 mi 5.5
Appleton Technical Academy Appleton 0.9 mi 6.0
ST FRANCIS XAVIER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL- MARQUETTE Appleton 0.8 mi 5.9
Wilson Middle Appleton 1.2 mi 5.0
Houdini Elementary Appleton 1.2 mi 7.0
Appleton Community 4K Appleton 1.1 mi 3.7
Wisconsin Connections Academy Appleton 1.3 mi 5.9
Columbus Elementary Appleton 1.3 mi 4.8
Appleton Bilingual School Appleton 1.4 mi 7.5
ST FRANCIS XAVIER MIDDLE SCHOOL Appleton 1.3 mi 7.8
Franklin Elementary Appleton 1.3 mi 5.6
Kaleidoscope Academy Appleton 1.4 mi 4.6
Fox River Academy Appleton 1.9 mi 8.2
Jefferson Elementary Appleton 1.9 mi 5.6
Appleview Appleton 1.6 mi
Appleton Cooperative Educational Center Appleton 1.8 mi
Einstein Middle Appleton 1.5 mi 6.0

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 54914 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$77,199

Median Home Value

$210,200

Median Rent

$936/mo

Population

31,448

College Educated

31.4%

Homeownership

62.6%

Avg Commute

18.9 min

Poverty Rate

7.9%

Median Age

37.1

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Fall Creek Elementary Fall Creek, WI 5.2
Honey Creek Elementary Milwaukee, WI 5.2
Humboldt Park Elementary Milwaukee, WI 5.2
Irving Elementary West Allis, WI 5.2
Kennedy Elementary Green Bay, WI 5.2
Milwaukee Academy of Chinese Language Milwaukee, WI 5.2

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Highlands Elementary

What grades does Highlands Elementary serve?

Highlands Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 6th.

How many students attend Highlands Elementary?

Highlands Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 499 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Highlands Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Highlands Elementary is 10.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Highlands Elementary rank in WI?

Highlands Elementary ranks #1,525 of 2,105 schools in WI.

What is Highlands Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Highlands Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.2 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 Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Highlands Elementary has 37% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 31% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Highlands Elementary a charter school?

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

Is Highlands Elementary a Title I school?

No, Highlands Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Highlands Elementary?

66.5% of students at Highlands 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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
36 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
50 Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 6th
Enrollment
499
Student-Teacher Ratio
10.4:1
Teachers (FTE)
48
Free/Reduced Lunch
66.5%
Type
regular
Setting
Small City
County
Outagamie County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
17.6%

District

Appleton Area School District
District Enrollment
15,230
Schools in District
38
Per-Pupil Spending
$13,085
District Rank
#27 of 36

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