Highlands School District

1500 Pacific Avenue
Natrona Heights, PA 15065
(District boundaries shown in map)
4/
10
Bottom 50%
For the 2025 school year, there are 4 public schools serving 2,088 students in Highlands School District. This district's average testing ranking is 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public schools in Pennsylvania.
Public Schools in Highlands School District have an average math proficiency score of 30% (versus the Pennsylvania public school average of 36%), and reading proficiency score of 45% (versus the 55% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 28% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the Pennsylvania public school average of 39% (majority Hispanic and Black).

Overview

This School District
This State (PA)
# Schools
4 Schools
2,928 Schools
# Students
2,088 Students
1,668,648 Students
# Teachers
160 Teachers
124,158 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
13:1
13:1

District Rank

Highlands School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 675 school districts in Pennsylvania (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 75-79% has decreased from 80-84% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (PA)
#474 out of 684 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
This chart displays the overall district rank of Highlands   School District, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
29%
36%
This chart displays the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Highlands   School District and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
45%
55%
This chart displays the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Highlands   School District and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
47%
57%
This chart displays the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of Highlands   School District and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
75-79%
87%
This chart displays public school graduation rate of Highlands   School District and public school graduation rate of Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.

Students by Ethnicity:

0.45
0.59
# American Indian Students
5 Students
3,204 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
n/a
# Asian Students
22 Students
78,034 Students
% Asian Students
1%
5%
# Hispanic Students
61 Students
249,018 Students
% Hispanic Students
3%
15%
# Black Students
210 Students
237,342 Students
% Black Students
10%
14%
# White Students
1,507 Students
1,011,502 Students
% White Students
72%
61%
# Hawaiian Students
n/a
1,518 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
283 Students
88,750 Students
% of Two or more races Students
14%
5%

Students by Grade:

# Students in PK Grade:
63
8,485
# Students in K Grade:
143
114,122
# Students in 1st Grade:
135
120,768
# Students in 2nd Grade:
143
126,133
# Students in 3rd Grade:
143
120,907
# Students in 4th Grade:
164
125,578
# Students in 5th Grade:
141
126,001
# Students in 6th Grade:
153
126,714
# Students in 7th Grade:
138
128,950
# Students in 8th Grade:
164
129,786
# Students in 9th Grade:
193
141,323
# Students in 10th Grade:
177
138,358
# Students in 11th Grade:
169
131,939
# Students in 12th Grade:
162
129,584
# Ungraded Students:
-
-

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $22,138 in this school district is less than the state median of $23,696. The school district revenue/student has grown by 7% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $20,416 is less than the state median of $23,119. The school district spending/student has grown by 7% over four school years.
This School District
This State (PA)
Total Revenue
$46 MM
$39,541 MM
This chart displays total revenue of Highlands   School District and median value from total revenues of all school districts in Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Spending
$43 MM
$38,578 MM
This chart displays total spending of Highlands   School District and median value from total spendings of all school districts in Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Revenue / Student
$22,138
$23,696
This chart displays average revenue per public school student in Highlands   School District and average revenue per public school student of all school districts in Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Spending / Student
$20,416
$23,119
This chart displays average spending per public school student in Highlands   School District and average spending per public school student of all school districts in Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.

Best Highlands School District Public Schools (2025)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Highlands Sr. High School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
1500 Pacific Ave
Natrona Heights, PA 15065
(724) 226-1000
Grades: 9-12
| 701 students
Rank: #22.
Highlands Elementary School
(Math: 42% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
101 East 9th Ave
Tarentum, PA 15084
(724) 224-0300
Grades: 1-4
| 585 students
Rank: #33.
Highlands Middle School
(Math: 22% | Reading: 41%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
1350 Broadview Boulevard
Natrona Heights, PA 15065
(724) 226-0600
Grades: 5-8
| 596 students
Rank: n/an/a
1060 Atlantic Ave
Brackenridge, PA 15014
(724) 224-5880
Grades: PK-K
| 206 students

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools belong to Highlands School District?
Highlands School District manages 4 public schools serving 2,088 students.
What is the rank of Highlands School District?
Highlands School District is ranked #467 out of 675 school districts in Pennsylvania (bottom 50%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2021-2022 school year.
What is the racial composition of students in Highlands School District?
72% of Highlands School District students are White, 14% of students are Two or more races, 10% of students are Black, 3% of students are Hispanic, and 1% of students are Asian.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Highlands School District?
Highlands School District has a student/teacher ratio of 13:1, which is lower than the Pennsylvania state average of 14:1.
What is Highlands School District's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $20,416 is less than the state median of $23,119. The school district spending/student has grown by 7% over four school years.

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Quick Stats (2025)

  • District size: 4 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 2,088 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 13:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 28%
  • : 75-79% (Btm 50% in PA)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 29% (Btm 50%)
  • : 45% (Btm 50%)
  • : 47% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), PA Dept. of Education

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