Highland Hts Elementary

Summary:

Highland Hts Elementary is a public elementary school in Houston, Texas, serving around 450 students in grades PK-5. The school is part of the Houston Independent School District, which has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Highland Hts Elementary consistently ranks in the bottom 10% of Texas elementary schools, with significantly below-average performance on STAAR tests across all grade levels and subject areas. The school struggles to effectively serve its diverse student population, with the lowest rankings for African American, Hispanic, English Language Learner, Special Education, and Low Socioeconomic Status students. Despite spending more per student ($10,727 in 2020-2021) than the state average, the school's academic performance has remained consistently low over the past decade, with no significant improvement.

Interestingly, nearby schools such as Oak Forest Elementary, Osborne Elementary, and Garden Oaks Montessori have significantly higher academic performance and statewide rankings, despite serving similar student populations in terms of socioeconomic status and racial demographics. This suggests that Highland Hts Elementary may be facing unique challenges that have not been effectively addressed, and further investigation into the school's specific needs and the district's support for high-needs schools would be necessary to understand the root causes of the school's persistent underperformance.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

 865 Paul Quinn St
       Houston, TX  77091-4154


(713) 696-2920

District: Houston Independent School District (Isd)

SchoolDigger Rank:
3129th of 4,675 Texas Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $10,727 Help


Students who attend Highland Hts Elementary usually attend:

Middle:    Williams Middle
High:    Washington B T High School

Student/teacher ratio:  12.0 Help
Number of students:  444

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
50.0%
African American:
46.6%
Two or more races:
2.0%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  99.3% Help


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 Compare Highland Hts Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Highland Hts Elementary ranks worse than 66.9% of elementary schools in Texas. It also ranks 102nd among 170 ranked elementary schools in the Houston Independent School District (Isd). (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 34.85. (See more...)
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Racial makeup is: Hispanic (50%), African American (46.6%), two or more races (2%). (See more...)
Help
Compare Details 99.3% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
Help
Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Highland Hts Elementary is 12, which is the 28th best among 170 elementary schools in the Houston Independent School District (Isd). (See more...)
Help
Compare Highland Hts Elementary employs 37 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Highland Hts Elementary is $10,727, which is the 62nd highest among 170 elementary schools in the Houston Independent School District (Isd).
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Highland Hts Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Highland Hts Elementary 3129th of 4675 Texas public elementary schools. (See Highland Hts Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


English Language Learner students:
Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
African American students:
Hispanic students:


Houston Independent School District (Isd):

SchoolDigger ranks Houston Independent School District (Isd) 572nd of 968 Texas school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Highland Hts Elementary

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Highland Hts Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 82.31 289th 3465 91.7%
2005 26.34 2965th 3475 14.7%
2006 3.72 3454th 3476 0.6%
2007 37.50 2793rd 3724 25.0%
2008 50.26 2189th 3768 41.9%
2009 78.82 563rd 3884 85.5%
2010 39.54 2851st 3937 27.6%
2011 63.90 1573rd 4095 61.6%
2012 41.15 2823rd 4206 32.9%
2013 31.56 3332nd 4221 21.1%
2014 25.93 3583rd 4260 15.9%
2015 6.86 4206th 4320 2.6%
2016 2.22 4254th 4286 0.7%
2017 6.47 4282nd 4329 1.1%
2018 4.84 4336th 4359 0.5%
2019 7.85 4408th 4479 1.6%
2021 11.61 4411th 4578 3.6%
2022 11.80 4343rd 4581 5.2%
2023 6.67 4561st 4647 1.9%
2024 34.85 3129th 4675 33.1%
See the entire list of Texas Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Highland Hts Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 25.34 2790th 3226 13.5%
2019 31.48 2595th 3333 22.1%
2021 13.65 3390th 3446 1.6%
2022 24.83 2993rd 3487 14.2%
2023 13.35 3420th 3556 3.8%
2024 52.01 1542nd 3638 57.6%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Highland Hts Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 16.28 3480th 3558 2.2%
2019 13.91 3660th 3684 0.7%
2021 37.99 2187th 3799 42.4%
2022 28.10 3174th 3952 19.7%
2023 13.99 4015th 4086 1.7%
2024 90.78 151st 4261 96.5%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Highland Hts Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 7.73 4234th 4264 0.7%
2019 11.71 4227th 4309 1.9%
2021 11.52 4378th 4451 1.6%
2022 17.62 4141st 4477 7.5%
2023 10.23 4401st 4521 2.7%
2024 50.88 2129th 4560 53.3%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Highland Hts Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 7.87 4259th 4306 1.1%
2019 12.43 4181st 4348 3.8%
2021 12.47 4344th 4499 3.4%
2022 13.47 4298th 4561 5.8%
2023 11.00 4421st 4588 3.6%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Gifted and Talented students at Highland Hts Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 15.31 2924th 3106 5.9%
2019 4.25 3156th 3184 0.9%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for Gifted and Talented Students!

Rank History for At Risk students at Highland Hts Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 17.26 4051st 4240 4.5%
2019 14.20 4192nd 4295 2.4%
2021 15.15 4251st 4331 1.8%
2022 19.26 4101st 4461 8.1%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for At Risk Students!

Rank History for Male students at Highland Hts Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 4.99 4304th 4319 0.3%
2019 6.71 4316th 4357 0.9%
2021 14.98 4191st 4498 6.8%
2022 13.26 4299th 4563 5.8%
2023 5.09 4544th 4585 0.9%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at Highland Hts Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 14.57 2393rd 2483 3.6%
2019 14.22 2439th 2515 3.0%
2021 30.50 1836th 2444 24.9%
2022 27.02 1987th 2421 17.9%
2023 16.59 2294th 2443 6.1%
2024 58.29 839th 2421 65.3%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Highland Hts Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 9.40 4119th 4168 1.2%
2019 25.11 3569th 4188 14.8%
2021 9.71 4303rd 4329 0.6%
2022 17.00 4068th 4376 7.0%
2023 11.71 4262nd 4401 3.2%
2024 45.83 2367th 4431 46.6%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Data source: test scores: Texas Education Agency, 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.

Highland Hts Elementary Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 





Data source: Texas Education Agency

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Enrollment information for Highland Hts Elementary

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1989 4 339 0 7 0 n/a n/a 0 350
1990 2 277 1 6 0 n/a n/a 0 286
1991 1 241 0 9 0 n/a n/a 0 251
1992 2 276 0 7 2 n/a n/a 0 287
1993 3 338 0 4 2 n/a n/a 0 347
1994 1 302 0 0 3 n/a n/a 0 306
1995 1 331 0 24 3 n/a n/a 0 359
1996 1 331 0 24 3 n/a n/a 0 359
1997 0 343 0 18 0 n/a n/a 0 361
1998 0 339 0 19 0 n/a n/a 0 358
1999 1 330 0 18 2 n/a n/a 0 351
2000 1 325 0 13 2 n/a n/a 0 341
2001 0 363 0 14 2 n/a n/a 0 379
2002 0 473 0 17 2 n/a n/a 0 492
2003 0 473 0 17 2 n/a n/a 0 492
2004 0 422 0 12 1 n/a n/a 0 435
2005 2 394 0 25 0 n/a n/a 0 421
2006 1 298 0 24 0 n/a n/a 0 323
2007 0 293 0 40 0 n/a n/a 0 333
2008 2 268 0 46 0 n/a n/a 0 316
2009 5 263 0 50 3 n/a n/a 0 321
2010 4 308 7 333 3 n/a n/a 0 655
2011 12 300 0 327 2 0 2 0 643
2012 16 302 0 314 2 0 1 0 635
2013 17 288 2 319 2 1 2 0 631
2014 11 312 0 290 2 0 3 0 618
2015 9 243 0 310 1 0 4 0 567
2016 1 282 0 288 2 0 5 0 578
2017 1 285 0 271 1 0 4 0 562
2018 1 286 0 277 0 0 5 0 569
2019 3 236 0 277 1 0 2 0 519
2020 5 222 0 240 3 0 2 0 472
2021 5 206 0 232 2 0 1 0 446
2022 7 202 0 257 1 0 3 0 470
2023 5 201 0 236 4 1 3 0 450
2024 5 207 0 222 1 0 9 0 444

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 Hts Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1989 350 n/a n/a n/a
1990 286 24.0 11.9 n/a
1991 251 24.0 10.4 n/a
1992 287 18.9 15.1 80.5
1993 347 22.0 15.8 86.7
1994 306 21.0 14.6 78.8
1995 359 18.0 19.9 89.1
1996 359 18.0 19.9 89.1
1997 361 19.0 19.0 89.2
1998 358 18.0 19.9 77.4
1999 351 17.0 20.6 88.3
2000 341 17.0 20.1 83.6
2001 379 16.9 22.4 86
2002 492 26.0 18.9 86.6
2003 492 26.0 18.9 86.6
2004 435 29.0 15.0 84.8
2005 421 26.4 15.9 84.8
2006 323 21.5 15.0 87.3
2007 333 19.5 17.1 56.2
2008 316 18.0 17.6 64.6
2009 321 19.0 16.9 60.1
2010 655 42.5 15.4 63.2
2011 643 40.3 15.9 50.4
2012 635 34.0 18.6 37.2
2013 631 34.0 18.5 94.6
2014 618 35.0 17.6 92.1
2015 567 33.0 17.1 88.4
2016 578 34.0 17.0 82.7
2017 562 33.8 16.6 87.2
2018 569 36.3 15.6 89.5
2019 519 33.2 15.6 96.3
2020 472 31.8 14.8 92.4
2021 446 30.0 14.8 95.5
2022 470 30.3 15.5 98.5
2023 450 26.6 16.8 97.6
2024 444 37.0 12.0 99.3

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 Hts Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1989 350 n/a n/a n/a
1990 286 24.0 11.9 n/a
1991 251 24.0 10.4 n/a
1992 287 18.9 15.1 80.5
1993 347 22.0 15.8 86.7
1994 306 21.0 14.6 78.8
1995 359 18.0 19.9 89.1
1996 359 18.0 19.9 89.1
1997 361 19.0 19.0 89.2
1998 358 18.0 19.9 77.4
1999 351 17.0 20.6 88.3
2000 341 17.0 20.1 83.6
2001 379 16.9 22.4 86
2002 492 26.0 18.9 86.6
2003 492 26.0 18.9 86.6
2004 435 29.0 15.0 84.8
2005 421 26.4 15.9 84.8
2006 323 21.5 15.0 87.3
2007 333 19.5 17.1 56.2
2008 316 18.0 17.6 64.6
2009 321 19.0 16.9 60.1
2010 655 42.5 15.4 63.2
2011 643 40.3 15.9 50.4
2012 635 34.0 18.6 37.2
2013 631 34.0 18.5 94.6
2014 618 35.0 17.6 92.1
2015 567 33.0 17.1 88.4
2016 578 34.0 17.0 82.7
2017 562 33.8 16.6 87.2
2018 569 36.3 15.6 89.5
2019 519 33.2 15.6 96.3
2020 472 31.8 14.8 92.4
2021 446 30.0 14.8 95.5
2022 470 30.3 15.5 98.5
2023 450 26.6 16.8 97.6
2024 444 37.0 12.0 99.3

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 Hts Elementary

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $1,658 (17.3%) $7,951 (82.7%) $9,609
2020 $1,910 (16.7%) $9,527 (83.3%) $11,437
2021 $1,140 (10.6%) $9,587 (89.4%) $10,727

Data source: Texas Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Highland Hts Elementary

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 4408th of 4479 Elementary schoolsRanks 4561st of 4647 Elementary schools
 0.3%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade Reading (Highland Hts Elementary)719
 12%
   3rd Grade Reading (Houston Independent School District (Isd))3946
 7%
   3rd Grade Reading (Texas)4450
 6%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Highland Hts Elementary)1412
 2%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Houston Independent School District (Isd))4541
 4%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Texas)4843
 5%
3rd Grade Reading (Highland Hts Elementary)936
 27%
   3rd Grade Reading (Houston Independent School District (Isd))3926
 13%
   3rd Grade Reading (Texas)3926
 13%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Highland Hts Elementary)187
 11%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Houston Independent School District (Isd))3528
 7%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Texas)3123
 8%
4th Grade Reading (Highland Hts Elementary)820
 12%
   4th Grade Reading (Houston Independent School District (Isd))3840
 2%
   4th Grade Reading (Texas)4347
 4%
4th Grade Mathematics (Highland Hts Elementary)1115
 4%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Houston Independent School District (Isd))4443
 1%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Texas)4647
 1%
4th Grade Reading (Highland Hts Elementary)1736
 19%
   4th Grade Reading (Houston Independent School District (Isd))2824
 4%
   4th Grade Reading (Texas)2931
 2%
4th Grade Mathematics (Highland Hts Elementary)1343
 30%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Houston Independent School District (Isd))3528
 7%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Texas)2622
 4%
5th Grade Reading (Highland Hts Elementary)2520
 5%
   5th Grade Reading (Houston Independent School District (Isd))4449
 5%
   5th Grade Reading (Texas)5156
 5%
5th Grade Mathematics (Highland Hts Elementary)3820
 18%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Houston Independent School District (Isd))5344
 9%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Texas)5650
 6%
5th Grade Science (Highland Hts Elementary)237
 16%
   5th Grade Science (Houston Independent School District (Isd))4027
 13%
   5th Grade Science (Texas)4834
 14%
5th Grade Reading (Highland Hts Elementary)1829
 11%
   5th Grade Reading (Houston Independent School District (Isd))4125
 16%
   5th Grade Reading (Texas)5333
 20%
5th Grade Mathematics (Highland Hts Elementary)170
 17%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Houston Independent School District (Isd))1927
 8%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Texas)2823
 5%
5th Grade Science (Highland Hts Elementary)360
 36%
   5th Grade Science (Houston Independent School District (Isd))45
 1%
   5th Grade Science (Texas)189
 9%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students519450
 13.3%
African American236201
 14.8%
American Indian14
 300%
Asian00
Hispanic277236
 14.8%
Pacific Islander01
White35
 66.7%
Two or More Races23
 50%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients96.3%97.6%
 1.2%


Schools Near Highland Hts Elementary









Frequently Asked Questions about Highland Hts Elementary

Students who attend Highland Hts Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Williams Middle
High : Washington B T High School

Students at Highland Hts Elementary are 50% Hispanic, 47% African American, 2% Two or more races, 1% White.

In the 2023-24 school year, 444 students attended Highland Hts Elementary.

Highland Hts Elementary ranks 3129th of 4675 Texas elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Texas Education Agency.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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