Is Highland Middle School a good school?

Yes. Highland Middle School ranks in the top 6.2% of Illinois middle schools.

How many students attend Highland Middle School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 719 students attended Highland Middle School.

What is the racial makeup of Highland Middle School?

Students at Highland Middle School are 78% White, 10% Hispanic, 6% Asian, 5% 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 Libertyville High School

Highland Middle School

Summary:

Highland Middle School is a public middle school located in Libertyville, Illinois, serving grades 6-8 with a total enrollment of 755 students. The school is part of the Libertyville School District 70, which is ranked 46th out of 813 districts in Illinois and has a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Highland Middle School consistently ranks among the top middle schools in Illinois, ranking 85th out of 1,363 schools in the 2023-2024 school year and receiving a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger. The school's performance on state assessments is exceptional, with 82.3% of students proficient or better in English Language Arts and 85.5% in Science across all grades, significantly outperforming the state averages. The school also demonstrates strong performance across various student subgroups, with male students ranking 58th out of 1,264 Illinois middle schools and Asian students ranking 38th out of 184 schools.

In comparison to nearby schools, such as Twin Groves Middle School, Lake Bluff Middle School, and Fremont Junior High/Middle School, Highland Middle School consistently outperforms them on state assessments and overall school rankings. The school's commitment to investing in student resources and support, with a relatively low student-teacher ratio, has contributed to its sustained excellence and high performance over the years.

Detail:

Public 6-8

310 W Rockland Rd
Libertyville, IL 60048-2739

(847) 362-9020

District: Libertyville School District 70

SchoolDigger Rank:
85^th of 1,363 Illinois Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $22,154

Students who attend Highland Middle School usually attend:

High:

Libertyville High School

Feeder schools for Highland Middle School:

Elementary:	Adler Park School
	Butterfield School
	Copeland Manor Elementary School
	Rockland Elementary School

Student/teacher ratio: 11.0

Number of students: 719

Racial breakdown:

White:

78.3%

Hispanic:

9.7%

Asian:

6.0%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 4.3%

See top rated Illinois middle schools

Compare Highland Middle School to nearby middle schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Highland Middle School ranks better than 93.8% of middle schools in Illinois. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 92.68. (See more...)

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 (78.3%), Hispanic (9.7%), Asian (6%). (See more...)

Compare Details

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Highland Middle School is 11. (See more...)

Compare Highland Middle School employs 65.1 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Highland Middle School is $22,154.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Highland Middle School:

SchoolDigger ranks Highland Middle School 85^th of 1363 Illinois public middle schools. (See Highland Middle School in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Multi-racial students:

Special Education students:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Disabled students:

Male students:

Asian students:

Hispanic students:

White students:

Libertyville School District 70:

SchoolDigger ranks Libertyville School District 70 46^th of 813 Illinois school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for Highland Middle School.

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Your rating for Highland Middle School?

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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	IL State Percentile
2003	91.60	50^th	1185	95.8%
2004	90.65	49^th	1204	95.9%
2005	88.18	84^th	1209	93.1%
2006	87.81	56^th	1272	95.6%
2007	87.01	61^st	1287	95.3%
2008	87.25	59^th	1293	95.4%
2009	87.37	53^rd	1318	96.0%
2010	86.95	56^th	1327	95.8%
2011	86.67	62^nd	1344	95.4%
2012	85.66	94^th	1365	93.1%
2013	91.07	67^th	1367	95.1%
2014	91.25	64^th	1322	95.2%
2015	95.06	54^th	1302	95.9%
2016	92.51	71^st	1294	94.5%
2017	93.97	53^rd	1293	95.9%
2018	93.76	59^th	1293	95.4%
2019	92.41	70^th	1356	94.8%
2021	92.69	69^th	1241	94.4%
2022	95.08	56^th	1369	95.9%
2023	96.03	45^th	1367	96.7%
2024	92.68	85^th	1363	93.8%

See the entire list of Illinois Middle School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Highland Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	IL State Percentile
2018	74.27	38^th	164	76.8%
2019	80.25	27^th	179	84.9%
2021	89.45	11^th	97	88.7%
2022	97.55	2^nd	195	99.0%
2023	87.94	17^th	194	91.2%
2024	77.03	42^nd	184	77.2%

See the entire list of Best Illinois Middle Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Highland Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	IL State Percentile
2018	94.42	14^th	602	97.7%
2019	79.23	72^nd	792	90.9%
2021	53.00	160^th	548	70.8%
2022	85.48	44^th	781	94.4%
2023	90.64	46^th	805	94.3%
2024	72.92	158^th	802	80.3%

See the entire list of Best Illinois Middle Schools for Special Education Students!

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

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	IL State Percentile
2018	66.67	275^th	1161	76.3%
2019	71.75	225^th	1217	81.5%
2022	76.78	152^nd	1221	87.6%
2023	75.75	176^th	1234	85.7%
2024	70.12	240^th	1219	80.3%

See the entire list of Best Illinois 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	IL State Percentile
2018	93.75	46^th	1226	96.2%
2019	91.16	82^nd	1276	93.6%
2021	87.98	84^th	1017	91.7%
2022	93.31	67^th	1286	94.8%
2023	94.11	52^nd	1275	95.9%
2024	88.26	110^th	1251	91.2%

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

Rank History for Disabled students at Highland Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	IL State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	73.52	84^th	674	87.5%
2024	91.15	28^th	639	95.6%

See the entire list of Best Illinois Middle Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Male students at Highland Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	IL State Percentile
2018	91.51	70^th	1223	94.3%
2019	92.22	64^th	1296	95.1%
2021	92.93	55^th	1048	94.8%
2022	95.27	42^nd	1286	96.7%
2023	96.37	35^th	1292	97.3%
2024	94.34	58^th	1264	95.4%

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

Rank History for Asian students at Highland Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	IL State Percentile
2018	74.56	37^th	209	82.3%
2019	86.77	12^th	201	94.0%
2021	82.19	13^th	112	88.4%
2022	82.18	29^th	198	85.4%
2023	85.34	14^th	192	92.7%
2024	76.09	38^th	184	79.3%

See the entire list of Best Illinois Middle Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Highland Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	IL State Percentile
2018	79.56	80^th	590	86.4%
2019	79.66	76^th	639	88.1%
2021	58.10	154^th	517	70.2%
2022	85.95	59^th	662	91.1%
2023	84.83	58^th	661	91.2%
2024	82.17	67^th	643	89.6%

See the entire list of Best Illinois Middle Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Highland Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	IL State Percentile
2018	87.57	64^th	889	92.8%
2019	83.36	95^th	905	89.5%
2021	83.70	89^th	813	89.1%
2022	87.49	73^rd	898	91.9%
2023	90.70	47^th	895	94.7%
2024	84.69	101^st	875	88.5%

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

Data source: test scores: Illinois State Board 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: Illinois State Board of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 2.3)

33%

67%

Reviews:

by a parent
Thursday, September 6, 2018

The inside scoop: Lots of overpaid teachers live in the district because Illinois has one of the highest property taxes in the US. Teacher's kids, some of whom are not even average students, get preferential treatment and quite a few services from the schools. ADHD and HFA, high functioning autism, overdiagnosed in some students. There is also an alarming increase in kids with anxiety disorders, some actually requiring meds. Too many social workers and speech language pathologists employed in the district. Just wondering if my super high property taxes, which go to the school system, are really reaching my kids. Close Quote

by a parent
Monday, March 5, 2018

Discouraging and frustrating! The atmosphere at this school is not pro-student OR pro-parent. Highland is something that families GET through -- the complete opposite of the elementary and high school experiences in Libertyville. Highland is about control and keeping parents OUT! Students are not respected and neither are the parents. There are some wonderful teachers, but their efforts are overshadowed by the climate of authoritarianism and antagonism. And apparently responding to emails is optional with some of the teachers. As an educator myself, I'd like to think that I'm working WITH students and families. That is not the vibe at Highland. Sadly, it's the only middle school in Libertyville and we're stuck with it. They almost operate like they know they're the only game in town Appeals to the superintendent have gone nowhere which is weird because he seems to understand. Libertyville deserves SO MUCH BETTER! Close Quote

Enrollment information for Highland Middle School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1988	617	2	42	9	3	n/a	n/a	0	673
1989	640	7	63	10	n/a	n/a	n/a	0	720
1990	710	6	44	2	n/a	n/a	n/a	0	762
1991	732	5	52	6	0	n/a	n/a	0	795
1992	736	4	49	9	1	n/a	n/a	0	799
1993	745	6	53	12	4	n/a	n/a	0	820
1994	759	7	56	11	7	n/a	n/a	0	840
1995	731	12	57	16	5	n/a	n/a	0	821
1996	731	12	57	16	5	n/a	n/a	0	821
1997	743	12	51	10	1	n/a	n/a	0	817
1998	783	11	40	23	1	n/a	n/a	0	858
1999	805	8	49	20	0	n/a	n/a	0	882
2000	809	9	46	23	0	n/a	n/a	0	887
2001	821	12	46	21	1	n/a	n/a	0	901
2002	863	20	46	28	1	n/a	n/a	0	958
2003	863	20	46	28	1	n/a	n/a	0	958
2004	870	16	43	24	1	n/a	n/a	0	954
2005	882	21	40	26	0	n/a	n/a	0	969
2006	858	20	45	26	6	n/a	n/a	2	957
2007	827	16	50	25	4	n/a	n/a	4	926
2008	825	15	60	26	1	n/a	n/a	12	939
2009	801	18	57	32	1	n/a	n/a	18	927
2010	799	15	51	34	0	n/a	n/a	33	932
2011	796	14	45	50	4	2	36	0	947
2012	816	12	54	34	6	1	56	0	979
2013	820	15	49	34	6	0	52	0	976
2014	821	14	57	33	5	0	36	0	966
2015	813	10	47	39	6	0	37	0	952
2016	762	10	52	38	6	1	40	0	909
2017	710	7	53	50	2	1	42	0	865
2018	705	8	52	41	3	1	47	0	857
2019	733	8	47	35	2	0	48	0	873
2020	700	13	52	48	2	1	47	0	863
2021	662	14	66	57	2	1	53	0	855
2022	582	8	68	70	2	2	38	0	770
2023	591	8	49	68	2	1	36	0	755
2024	563	7	43	70	1	1	34	0	719

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

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	673	42.6	15.7	n/a
1989	720	48.0	15.0	n/a
1990	762	48.0	15.8	n/a
1991	795	54.9	14.4	n/a
1992	799	54.3	14.7	n/a
1993	820	55.5	14.8	n/a
1994	840	56.6	14.8	n/a
1995	821	56.6	14.5	n/a
1996	821	56.6	14.5	n/a
1997	817	57.0	14.3	n/a
1998	858	58.0	14.8	n/a
1999	882	58.2	15.2	n/a
2000	887	57.7	15.4	n/a
2001	901	56.8	15.9	n/a
2002	958	59.8	16.0	n/a
2003	958	59.8	16.0	n/a
2004	954	59.8	16.0	n/a
2005	969	62.5	15.5	n/a
2006	957	46.0	20.8	n/a
2007	926	60.0	15.4	n/a
2008	939	57.0	16.5	n/a
2009	927	59.7	15.5	n/a
2010	932	61.7	15.1	n/a
2011	947	61.0	15.5	n/a
2012	979	61.0	16.0	6.4
2013	976	72.7	13.4	5.8
2014	966	62.0	15.5	5.5
2015	952	63.0	15.1	6
2016	909	64.0	14.2	5.7
2017	865	62.2	13.9	5
2018	857	64.0	13.3	5.8
2019	873	64.0	13.6	5.4
2020	863	62.0	13.9	5
2021	855	n/a	n/a	n/a
2022	770	62.0	12.4	4.3
2023	755	66.2	11.3	n/a
2024	719	65.1	11.0	n/a

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
1988	673	42.6	15.7	n/a
1989	720	48.0	15.0	n/a
1990	762	48.0	15.8	n/a
1991	795	54.9	14.4	n/a
1992	799	54.3	14.7	n/a
1993	820	55.5	14.8	n/a
1994	840	56.6	14.8	n/a
1995	821	56.6	14.5	n/a
1996	821	56.6	14.5	n/a
1997	817	57.0	14.3	n/a
1998	858	58.0	14.8	n/a
1999	882	58.2	15.2	n/a
2000	887	57.7	15.4	n/a
2001	901	56.8	15.9	n/a
2002	958	59.8	16.0	n/a
2003	958	59.8	16.0	n/a
2004	954	59.8	16.0	n/a
2005	969	62.5	15.5	n/a
2006	957	46.0	20.8	n/a
2007	926	60.0	15.4	n/a
2008	939	57.0	16.5	n/a
2009	927	59.7	15.5	n/a
2010	932	61.7	15.1	n/a
2011	947	61.0	15.5	n/a
2012	979	61.0	16.0	6.4
2013	976	72.7	13.4	5.8
2014	966	62.0	15.5	5.5
2015	952	63.0	15.1	6
2016	909	64.0	14.2	5.7
2017	865	62.2	13.9	5
2018	857	64.0	13.3	5.8
2019	873	64.0	13.6	5.4
2020	863	62.0	13.9	5
2021	855	n/a	n/a	n/a
2022	770	62.0	12.4	4.3
2023	755	66.2	11.3	n/a
2024	719	65.1	11.0	n/a

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.

Immunization Rates