Average
#1558 of 2,102 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
5.4
Grades
Pre-K – 6th
Enrollment
499
Student-Teacher
10.4:1
Score
5.4
Grades
Pre-K – 6th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Appleton
#31 of 38
public schools
Wisconsin elementary schools
#875 of 1,099
In district
#29 of 36
Appleton Area School District
School environment
7.7 / 10
Very strong
About Highlands Elementary
Highlands Elementary serves 499 students from prekindergarten through sixth grade in Appleton, Wisconsin. This regular public school maintains an impressive student-teacher ratio of 10.4 to 1 with 48 full-time equivalent teachers, allowing for more individualized attention in the classroom. The school has earned recognition for its performance, ranking 34th out of 2,112 elementary schools statewide and placing in the 98th percentile among Wisconsin schools.
MySchoolScout rates Highlands Elementary 7.1 out of 10, reflecting solid educational outcomes for its students. Families at Highlands Elementary are part of a stable community in the 54914 ZIP code area, where the median household income reaches $73,546 and the poverty rate remains relatively low at 9.7%. About 31% of area residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher, contributing to an education-focused environment.
The neighborhood's median home value of $190,800 reflects a middle-class community that values homeownership and stability. Located on North Elinor Street, Highlands Elementary sits within Appleton's small city setting, providing students with the benefits of community engagement while maintaining access to broader educational and cultural resources throughout Outagamie County.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
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Data not available for this school
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Highlands Elementary — Students at Highlands Elementary score 20% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 23%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
66.5%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores WI FORWARD (2024-25)
Based on 10 test records from WI state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* 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: 5.0/10.
How Highlands Elementary Compares
See how Highlands Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has declined from 30% (2019) to 21% (2021). Reading/ELA proficiency has remained stable from 22% (2019) to 20% (2021).
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. Franklin Elementary (rated 7.8/10, 1.3 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Ronald C Dunlap Elementary School (rated 7.6/10, 0.7 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Fox River Academy (rated 7.0/10, 1.9 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 | 5.7 |
| Ronald C Dunlap Elementary School Appleton | 0.7 mi | 7.6 |
| West High Appleton | 0.9 mi | 4.5 |
| Renaissance School Appleton | 0.9 mi | 7.7 |
| 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 | 6.4 |
| Houdini Elementary Appleton | 1.2 mi | 6.4 |
| Appleton Community 4K Appleton | 1.1 mi | 5.6 |
| Wisconsin Connections Academy Appleton | 1.3 mi | 4.8 |
| Columbus Elementary Appleton | 1.3 mi | 5.9 |
| Appleton Bilingual School Appleton | 1.4 mi | 6.3 |
| ST FRANCIS XAVIER MIDDLE SCHOOL Appleton | 1.3 mi | 7.8 |
| Franklin Elementary Appleton | 1.3 mi | 7.8 |
| Kaleidoscope Academy Appleton | 1.4 mi | 6.3 |
| Fox River Academy Appleton | 1.9 mi | 7.0 |
| Jefferson Elementary Appleton | 1.9 mi | 6.6 |
| Appleview Appleton | 1.6 mi | — |
| Appleton Cooperative Educational Center Appleton | 1.8 mi | — |
| Einstein Middle Appleton | 1.5 mi | 7.1 |
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
Community Profile
The community surrounding Highlands Elementary has a median household income of $77,199. It is an area where 31% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $210,200, with a median rent of $936/month. The local poverty rate of 7.9% is relatively low. Residents enjoy a short average commute of 19 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Allen-Field Elementary Milwaukee, WI | 5.4 |
| Converse Elementary Beloit, WI | 5.4 |
| Forest Ridge Elementary Oak Creek, WI | 5.4 |
| Howe Elementary Green Bay, WI | 5.4 |
| Robbins Elementary Eau Claire, WI | 5.4 |
| Rogers Street Academy Milwaukee, WI | 5.4 |
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 is ranked #1558 out of 2,102 schools in WI.
What is Highlands Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Highlands Elementary has a composite rating of 5.4 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Highlands Elementary?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Highlands Elementary has 28.2% math proficiency and 23.6% reading/ELA proficiency.
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.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
- City Safety
- High (1,551/100K)
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Appleton). Data >1 year old.
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
- Phone
- (920) 852-5480
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Appleton Area School District- District Enrollment
- 15,230
- Schools in District
- 38
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $13,085
- District Rank
- #29 of 36
Other Schools in This District
How We Rate Schools
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.
Read our full methodologyRelated reading
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