Is Highland Middle School a good school?

Highland Middle School ranks in the bottom 21.2% of Colorado middle schools.

How many students attend Highland Middle School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 237 students attended Highland Middle School.

What is the racial makeup of Highland Middle School?

Students at Highland Middle School are 62% White, 34% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races.

What high school do graduates of Highland Middle School attend?

Students who attend Highland Middle School usually go on to attend Highland High School

Highland Middle School

Summary:

Highland Middle School is a public middle school located in Ault, Colorado, serving grades 6-8 with a student population of 235. The school is part of the Weld County School District No. Re-9, which is ranked 98 out of 116 districts in Colorado and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Highland Middle School faces several challenges, including underperformance on standardized tests, a relatively disadvantaged student population, and declining enrollment. The school's proficiency rates in English Language Arts (22.7%) and Math (12.4%) are significantly lower than the state averages of 44.1% and 34.2%, respectively. Additionally, the school's statewide ranking has fluctuated over the years, but it has generally been in the bottom half of Colorado middle schools, with a ranking of 382 out of 485 schools in the 2023-2024 school year. The school has a 1- or 2-star rating from SchoolDigger, indicating it is performing below average compared to other middle schools in the state.

When compared to nearby middle schools, such as Preston Middle School, Kinard Core Knowledge Middle School, and Windsor Middle School, Highland Middle School significantly underperforms in academic metrics and school rankings. These nearby schools, which are part of higher-performing Poudre School District R-1 and Weld County Reorganized School District No. Re-4, demonstrate that there is room for improvement in Highland Middle School's academic outcomes.

Detail:

Public 6-8

209 West 1st
Ault, CO 80610

(970) 834-2820

District: Weld County School District No. Re-9

SchoolDigger Rank:
382^nd of 485 Colorado Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $12,343

Students who attend Highland Middle School usually attend:

High:

Highland High School

Feeder schools for Highland Middle School:

Elementary:

Highland Elementary School

Student/teacher ratio: 13.2

Number of students: 237

Racial breakdown:

White:

62.4%

Hispanic:

34.2%

Two or more races:

3.0%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 42.2%

See top rated Colorado middle schools

Compare Highland Middle School to nearby middle schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Highland Middle School ranks worse than 78.8% of middle schools in Colorado. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 18.78. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Highland Middle School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.

The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (62.4%), Hispanic (34.2%), two or more races (3%). (See more...)

Compare Details 42.2% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Highland Middle School is 13.2. (See more...)

Compare Highland Middle School employs 17.9 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Highland Middle School is $12,343.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Highland Middle School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

SchoolDigger ranks Highland Middle School 382^nd of 485 Colorado public middle schools. (See Highland Middle School in the ranking list.)

Weld County School District No. Re-9:

SchoolDigger ranks Weld County School District No. Re-9 98^th of 116 Colorado school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Rating:

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Rank History for Highland Middle School

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Rank History for all students at Highland Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	CO State Percentile
2004	12.72	302^nd	336	10.1%
2005	21.99	276^th	340	18.8%
2006	31.85	255^th	346	26.3%
2007	35.92	258^th	360	28.3%
2008	41.73	230^th	362	36.5%
2009	39.08	250^th	377	33.7%
2010	43.29	251^st	409	38.6%
2011	52.74	219^th	422	48.1%
2012	51.71	219^th	425	48.5%
2013	47.30	253^rd	454	44.3%
2014	33.80	315^th	461	31.7%
2015	56.62	155^th	436	64.4%
2016	46.42	193^rd	400	51.8%
2017	35.85	251^st	424	40.8%
2018	23.86	308^th	418	26.3%
2019	24.81	333^rd	458	27.3%
2022	32.16	284^th	448	36.6%
2023	41.29	250^th	480	47.9%
2024	18.78	382^nd	485	21.2%

See the entire list of Colorado Middle School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Highland Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	CO State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2018	28.17	168^th	222	24.3%

See the entire list of Best Colorado Middle Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Highland Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	CO State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2018	28.59	222^nd	315	29.5%
2019	30.01	241^st	352	31.5%

See the entire list of Best Colorado Middle Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Highland Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	CO State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2018	24.30	233^rd	317	26.5%
2019	26.13	243^rd	343	29.2%

See the entire list of Best Colorado Middle Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for White students at Highland Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	CO State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2019	18.86	234^th	283	17.3%
2023	39.12	172^nd	286	39.9%

See the entire list of Best Colorado Middle Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Colorado Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: Colorado Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 1)

100%

Reviews:

by a student
Tuesday, November 6, 2018

It's bad

Enrollment information for Highland Middle School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
1989	74	0	1	19	0	n/a	n/a	94
1990	78	0	1	26	1	n/a	n/a	106
1991	181	0	3	76	3	n/a	n/a	263
1992	174	1	2	75	1	n/a	n/a	253
1993	182	0	1	75	3	n/a	n/a	261
1994	188	0	0	87	2	n/a	n/a	277
1995	217	1	0	100	1	n/a	n/a	319
1996	217	1	0	100	1	n/a	n/a	319
1997	223	0	0	88	2	n/a	n/a	313
1998	225	1	0	108	3	n/a	n/a	337
1999	210	1	0	94	2	n/a	n/a	307
2000	159	1	2	48	0	n/a	n/a	210
2001	167	1	0	55	3	n/a	n/a	226
2002	143	1	1	82	2	n/a	n/a	229
2003	143	1	1	82	2	n/a	n/a	229
2004	130	3	1	85	2	n/a	n/a	221
2005	131	1	1	81	4	n/a	n/a	218
2006	136	1	1	72	6	n/a	n/a	216
2007	138	2	2	62	3	n/a	n/a	207
2008	129	3	1	49	2	n/a	n/a	184
2009	126	3	2	53	1	n/a	n/a	185
2010	125	3	1	58	0	n/a	n/a	187
2011	119	2	2	73	0	0	2	198
2012	116	1	0	62	0	0	2	181
2013	108	0	0	64	1	0	2	175
2014	98	1	0	78	1	1	5	184
2015	133	1	0	79	1	0	4	218
2016	140	0	1	72	0	0	2	215
2017	145	0	1	62	2	0	3	213
2018	146	0	1	60	3	0	5	215
2019	139	0	0	72	3	1	4	219
2020	153	0	0	78	2	2	4	239
2021	147	0	0	76	1	2	6	232
2022	175	0	1	71	2	0	9	258
2023	145	0	1	77	3	0	9	235
2024	148	0	1	81	0	0	7	237

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Highland Middle School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1989	94	2.0	47.0	33
1990	106	2.0	53.0	40.6
1991	263	2.0	131.5	42.2
1992	253	13.0	19.4	41.9
1993	261	12.0	21.8	44.8
1994	277	12.0	23.1	46.6
1995	319	19.5	16.4	38.2
1996	319	19.5	16.4	38.2
1997	313	18.0	17.4	35.8
1998	337	21.0	16.0	40.9
1999	307	25.1	12.2	34.5
2000	210	20.8	10.1	41.4
2001	226	20.1	11.2	37.2
2002	229	19.3	11.9	47.6
2003	229	19.3	11.9	47.6
2004	221	16.3	13.6	48.9
2005	218	17.0	12.8	51.8
2006	216	18.0	12.0	52.3
2007	207	16.2	12.8	50.2
2008	184	16.6	11.1	45.1
2009	185	14.3	12.9	45.4
2010	187	15.5	11.9	56.7
2011	198	14.5	13.6	52
2012	181	13.5	13.3	56.4
2013	175	14.1	12.3	48.6
2014	184	14.1	13.0	53.3
2015	218	15.0	14.5	44
2016	215	15.0	14.3	44.7
2017	213	15.2	13.9	48.4
2018	215	15.5	13.7	46.5
2019	219	14.9	14.6	49.3
2020	239	15.7	15.1	53.1
2021	232	15.8	14.6	50.4
2022	258	16.8	15.3	31.8
2023	235	18.0	13.0	40.9
2024	237	17.9	13.2	42.2

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Highland Middle School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1989	94	2.0	47.0	33
1990	106	2.0	53.0	40.6
1991	263	2.0	131.5	42.2
1992	253	13.0	19.4	41.9
1993	261	12.0	21.8	44.8
1994	277	12.0	23.1	46.6
1995	319	19.5	16.4	38.2
1996	319	19.5	16.4	38.2
1997	313	18.0	17.4	35.8
1998	337	21.0	16.0	40.9
1999	307	25.1	12.2	34.5
2000	210	20.8	10.1	41.4
2001	226	20.1	11.2	37.2
2002	229	19.3	11.9	47.6
2003	229	19.3	11.9	47.6
2004	221	16.3	13.6	48.9
2005	218	17.0	12.8	51.8
2006	216	18.0	12.0	52.3
2007	207	16.2	12.8	50.2
2008	184	16.6	11.1	45.1
2009	185	14.3	12.9	45.4
2010	187	15.5	11.9	56.7
2011	198	14.5	13.6	52
2012	181	13.5	13.3	56.4
2013	175	14.1	12.3	48.6
2014	184	14.1	13.0	53.3
2015	218	15.0	14.5	44
2016	215	15.0	14.3	44.7
2017	213	15.2	13.9	48.4
2018	215	15.5	13.7	46.5
2019	219	14.9	14.6	49.3
2020	239	15.7	15.1	53.1
2021	232	15.8	14.6	50.4
2022	258	16.8	15.3	31.8
2023	235	18.0	13.0	40.9
2024	237	17.9	13.2	42.2

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Highland Middle School

Year	Total Expenditures Per Pupil
2019	$9,899
2020	$9,912
2021	$10,495
2022	$10,095
2023	$12,343

Data source: Colorado Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Highland Middle School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 333^rd of 458 Middle schools	Ranks 250^th of 480 Middle schools	20.6%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
6th Grade English Language Arts (Highland Middle School)	14.7	32.3	17.6%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Weld County School District No. Re-9)	14.7	32.3	17.6%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Colorado)	43.6	43.4	0.2%
6th Grade Math (Highland Middle School)	22.1	21.7	0.4%
6th Grade Math (Weld County School District No. Re-9)	22.1	21.7	0.4%
6th Grade Math (Colorado)	29.5	26.3	3.2%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Highland Middle School)	29.4	19.4	10%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Weld County School District No. Re-9)	29.4	19.4	10%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Colorado)	46.5	45	1.5%
7th Grade Math (Highland Middle School)	31.4	28.3	3.1%
7th Grade Math (Weld County School District No. Re-9)	31.4	28.3	3.1%
7th Grade Math (Colorado)	31.6	25.1	6.5%
8th Grade Science (Highland Middle School)	30.6	48.1	17.5%
8th Grade Science (Weld County School District No. Re-9)	30.6	48.1	17.5%
8th Grade Science (Colorado)	31.5	31.3	0.2%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Highland Middle School)	21.7	29.6	7.9%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Weld County School District No. Re-9)	21.7	29.6	7.9%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Colorado)	46.9	42.4	4.5%
8th Grade Math (Highland Middle School)	19.6	44.4	24.8%
8th Grade Math (Weld County School District No. Re-9)	19.6	44.4	24.8%
8th Grade Math (Colorado)	36.9	32.7	4.2%
All Grades English Language Arts (Highland Middle School)	21.2	27	5.8%
All Grades English Language Arts (Weld County School District No. Re-9)	26.4	24.2	2.2%
All Grades English Language Arts (Colorado)	45.8	43.7	2.1%
All Grades Math (Highland Middle School)	24.2	21.3	2.9%
All Grades Math (Weld County School District No. Re-9)	22.6	21.6	1%
All Grades Math (Colorado)	34.7	32.9	1.8%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	219	235	7.3%
African American	0	0
American Indian	3	3
Asian	0	1
Hispanic	72	77	6.9%
Pacific Islander	1	0	100%
White	139	145	4.3%
Two or More Races	4	9	125%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	49.3%	40.9%	8.5%

Schools Near Highland Middle School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				CMAS English Language Arts (2024)				CMAS Math (2024)				CMAS Science (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2023)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	CMAS English Language Arts 6th Grade	CMAS English Language Arts 7th Grade	CMAS English Language Arts 8th Grade	CMAS English Language Arts All Grades	CMAS Math 6th Grade	CMAS Math 7th Grade	CMAS Math 8th Grade	CMAS Math All Grades	CMAS Science 8th Grade	Total
Highland Middle School	Public	6-8	209 West 1st	Ault	80610	Weld County	Weld County School District No. Re-9	No	No	No	No	(970) 834-2820	237	18	13.2	42.2%	148 (62.4%)	0 (0.0%)	81 (34.2%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (3.0%)	18.8	382^nd of 485 public middle schools	21.2%		41.3	250^th of 480 public middle schools	47.9%	132	29.3	14.8	20.7	22.7	14.6			12.4	24.1	$12,343
Eaton Middle School	Public	6-8	601 1st Street	Eaton	80615	Weld County	Weld County School District No. Re-2	No	No	No	Yes	(970) 454-3358	487	31	15.9	37.0%	354 (72.7%)	2 (0.4%)	119 (24.4%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (2.3%)	39.7	255^th of 485 public middle schools	47.4%		50.7	213^th of 480 public middle schools	55.6%	42	49.4	36.0	30.8	39.5	39.4	21.9	23.5	29.0	21.2	$12,346
Severance Middle School	Public	6-8	1801 Avery Plaza Street	Windsor	80550	Weld County	Weld County Reorganized School District No. Re-4	No	No	No	No	(970) 833-7200	714	44	16.3	27.7%	486 (68.1%)	10 (1.4%)	190 (26.6%)	7 (1.0%)	5 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (2.2%)	47.4	227^th of 485 public middle schools	53.2%		54.5	182^nd of 480 public middle schools	62.1%	45	38.6	45.5	41.2	41.7			35.1	32.7	34.1	$11,641
Franklin Middle School	Public	6-8	818 35th Avenue	Greeley	80634	Weld County	GreeleySchool District No. 6	No	No	No	Yes	(970) 348-3200	400	31	12.8	92.0%	51 (12.8%)	13 (3.3%)	318 (79.5%)	10 (2.5%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (1.8%)	1 (0.3%)	20.3	369^th of 485 public middle schools	23.9%		15.4	403^rd of 480 public middle schools	16.0%	34	33.0	33.1	18.9	27.8	18.2	18.7	17.2	18.0	9.9	$16,045
Windsor Charter Academy Middle School	Public, Charter	6-8	810 Automation Drive	Windsor	80550	Weld County	Weld County Reorganized School District No. Re-4	Yes	No	No	No	(970) 833-5190	371	24	15.3	17.5%	299 (80.6%)	3 (0.8%)	50 (13.5%)	3 (0.8%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	14 (3.8%)	85.9	53^rd of 485 public middle schools	89.1%		86.3	51^st of 480 public middle schools	89.4%	2		70.0		65.4	40.0	64.2	64.8	56.5		$4,568
Heath Middle School	Public	6-8	2223 16th Street	Greeley	80631	Weld County	GreeleySchool District No. 6	No	No	No	Yes	(970) 348-3400	571	38	14.9	88.3%	91 (15.9%)	24 (4.2%)	413 (72.3%)	26 (4.6%)	1 (0.2%)	6 (1.1%)	10 (1.8%)	10.4	449^th of 485 public middle schools	7.4%		10.4	452^nd of 480 public middle schools	5.8%	3	13.6	16.1	21.0	17.3	3.4	7.1	14.9	9.1	9.6	$14,747
Windsor Middle School	Public	6-8	900 Main Street	Windsor	80550	Weld County	Weld County Reorganized School District No. Re-4	No	No	No	No	(970) 686-8200	764	50	15.2	19.8%	600 (78.5%)	7 (0.9%)	134 (17.5%)	3 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (2.5%)	57.2	175^th of 485 public middle schools	63.9%		55.8	165^th of 480 public middle schools	65.6%	10	43.6	51.6	47.7	47.7		31.4		33.7	42.5	$12,079
Brentwood Middle School	Public	6-8	2600 24th Avenue Court	Greeley	80634	Weld County	GreeleySchool District No. 6	No	No	No	No	(970) 348-3000	554	33	16.7	81.6%	137 (24.7%)	26 (4.7%)	350 (63.2%)	26 (4.7%)	4 (0.7%)	1 (0.2%)	10 (1.8%)	24.6	344^th of 485 public middle schools	29.1%		28.4	322^nd of 480 public middle schools	32.9%	22	28.8	35.9	34.4	33.1	9.9	18.9	22.7	17.3	17.3	$14,242
Prairie Heights Middle School	Public	6-8	3737 65th Avenue	Evans	80634	Weld County	GreeleySchool District No. 6	No	No	No	No	(970) 348-3600	548	32	17.1	82.5%	118 (21.5%)	17 (3.1%)	364 (66.4%)	28 (5.1%)	3 (0.5%)	7 (1.3%)	11 (2.0%)	20.7	363^rd of 485 public middle schools	25.2%		29.5	315^th of 480 public middle schools	34.4%	48	21.6	37.6	30.1	29.9	8.0	13.2	19.8	13.7	18.2	$15,558
Preston Middle School	Public	6-8	4901 Corbett Drive	Fort Collins	80528	Larimer County	Poudre School District R-1	No	No	No	No	(970) 488-7300	549	30	18.5	26.4%	416 (75.8%)	11 (2.0%)	82 (14.9%)	20 (3.6%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	18 (3.3%)	77	86^th of 485 public middle schools	82.3%		79	86^th of 480 public middle schools	82.1%		58.9	63.0	71.5	64.2	43.4	45.7	50.0	46.3	40.0	$16,627

Highland Middle School

Weld County School District No. Re-9:

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Rank History for Highland Middle School

Rank History for all students at Highland Middle School

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Highland Middle School

Rank History for Female students at Highland Middle School

Rank History for Male students at Highland Middle School

Rank History for White students at Highland Middle School

Review counts

Enrollment information for Highland Middle School

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Highland Middle School

Student/Teacher Ratio Highland Middle School

Per Pupil Expenditures for Highland Middle School

Impact of COVID-19 on Highland Middle School

Rankings

Test Scores

Student Body

Schools Near Highland Middle School