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Highlands Elementary School

Q: Is Highlands Elementary School a good school?

Highlands Elementary School ranks 926 th of 1511 Pennsylvania elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 1-4

926^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,511 Pennsylvania Elementary Schools

Better than 39% of Pennsylvania elementary schools

Summary

Highlands Elementary School is a public elementary school located in Tarentum, Pennsylvania, serving 585 students in grades 1-4. The school is part of the Highlands School District, which is ranked 380 out of 606 school districts in the state and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Academically, Highlands Elementary School has consistently ranked in the bottom half of Pennsylvania elementary schools, with proficiency rates below the state average in both Math and English Language Arts across all grades. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, the school's proficiency rates were 45.6% in Math and 45% in English Language Arts, compared to the state averages of 41.7% and 48.5%, respectively. The school's performance is particularly low for White students, ranking in the bottom 20% of Pennsylvania elementary schools for this subgroup.

Despite the school's higher spending per student ($17,042 in 2022-2023) and lower student-teacher ratio compared to the state average, these resources have not translated into improved academic outcomes. In fact, nearby schools like Tenth Street Elementary School in the Riverview School District consistently outperform Highlands Elementary School, ranking in the top 5% of Pennsylvania elementary schools and having much higher proficiency rates in Math and English Language Arts.

559

Students ?

12.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$19,327

Per pupil spending ?

104.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

101 East 9th Ave
Tarentum, PA 15084

(724) 224-0300

District: Highlands School District

Students who attend Highlands Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Highlands Middle School
High:	Highlands Senior High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

66.4%

Two or more races:

15.9%

African American:

12.9%

See top rated Pennsylvania elementary schools

Compare Highlands Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 29th percentile in 2014 → 39th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 10 percentile points since 2014

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school45%

District avg39%

Pennsylvania avg45%

926^th of 1,511

Pennsylvania public elementary schools ?

Bottom 39%▲ up 13 pts since 2016

From bottom 26% (2016) to bottom 39% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Pennsylvania Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

380^th of 606Highlands School District among Pennsylvania districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	43.2	926 of 1511	38.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	36.4	1051 of 1526	31.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	36.4	1066 of 1534	30.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	44.2	975 of 1534	36.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	37.3	995 of 1433	30.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	34.8	1113 of 1544	27.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	35.9	1103 of 1530	27.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	31.0	1156 of 1547	25.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	32.8	1152 of 1554	25.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	41.9	1046 of 1467	28.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	56.2	864 of 1519	43.1%	★★☆☆☆
2012	56.0	928 of 1599	42.0%	★★☆☆☆
2011	75.0	338 of 1597	78.8%	★★★★☆
2010	69.4	517 of 1579	67.3%	★★★☆☆
2009	52.3	925 of 1549	40.3%	★★☆☆☆
2008	61.8	700 of 1551	54.9%	★★★☆☆
2007	65.3	600 of 1555	61.4%	★★★☆☆
2006	54.8	833 of 1545	46.1%	★★☆☆☆
2005	60.6	616 of 1299	52.6%	★★★☆☆
2004	66.2	505 of 1308	61.4%	★★★☆☆
2003	80.3	250 of 1302	80.8%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	63.7	94 of 413	77.2%	★★★★☆
2024	30.0	313 of 437	28.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	69.5	89 of 437	79.6%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	47.0	486 of 1030	52.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	27.6	806 of 1084	25.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	48.9	482 of 1043	53.8%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	41.8	921 of 1466	37.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	30.8	1068 of 1488	28.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	49.0	724 of 1369	47.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	41.7	926 of 1432	35.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	40.3	922 of 1414	34.8%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	43.4	886 of 1475	39.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	40.4	988 of 1495	33.9%	★★☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	45.7	36 of 100	64.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	41.2	71 of 128	44.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	32.3	78 of 117	33.3%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	25.6	974 of 1201	18.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	19.7	1066 of 1229	13.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	18.8	1095 of 1236	11.4%	★☆☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

African American (2025)77th percentile+39 vs school

Multi-racial (2025)64th percentile+25 vs school

Disabled (2025)53rd percentile+14 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)47th percentile+8 vs school

Male (2025)40th percentile~ school

Female (2025)37th percentile~ school

White (2025)19th percentile-20 vs school

By subject vs Pennsylvania (2024-2025) ?

Math46%+4 vs state

English Language Arts45%-4 vs state

★

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Schools Near Highlands Elementary School

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Ranking:

E = Elementary, M = Middle, H = High, A = Alternative, P = Private

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				PSSA Math (2025)					PSSA English Language Arts (2025)					Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
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 (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	PSSA Math 3rd Grade	PSSA Math 4th Grade	PSSA Math 5th Grade	PSSA Math 6th Grade	PSSA Math All Grades	PSSA English Language Arts 3rd Grade	PSSA English Language Arts 4th Grade	PSSA English Language Arts 5th Grade	PSSA English Language Arts 6th Grade	PSSA English Language Arts All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Highlands Elementary School	Public	1-4	101 East 9th Ave	Tarentum	15084	Allegheny County	Highlands School District	No	No	No	Yes	(724) 224-0300	559	43	12.8	104.7%	371 (66.4%)	72 (12.9%)	24 (4.3%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	89 (15.9%)	43.2	926^th of 1511 public elementary schools	38.7%		36.4	1051^st of 1526 public elementary schools	31.1%	125	49.6	41.7			45.6	50.4	39.6			45.0	$19,327	$3,356	$15,972
Highlands Early Childhood Center	Public	PK-K	1060 Atlantic Ave	Brackenridge	15014	Allegheny County	Highlands School District	No	No	No	Yes	(724) 224-5880	205	14	14.8	101.0%	130 (63.4%)	18 (8.8%)	13 (6.3%)	1 (0.5%)	1 (0.5%)	1 (0.5%)	41 (20.0%)								(n/a)											$27,458	$4,767	$22,690
Berkey School	Public	1-2	1739 Victoria Ave	Arnold	15068	Westmoreland County	New Kensington-Arnold School District	No	No	No	Yes	(724) 335-1713	289	28	10.5	108.7%	109 (37.7%)	99 (34.3%)	11 (3.8%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	69 (23.9%)								(n/a)											$20,283	$3,779	$16,504
Roy A. Hunt Elementary School	Public	3-6	1701 Alcoa Dr	Arnold	15068	Westmoreland County	New Kensington-Arnold School District	No	No	No	Yes	(724) 335-2511	609	51	11.9	96.1%	218 (35.8%)	219 (36.0%)	26 (4.3%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	143 (23.5%)	13	1302^nd of 1511 public elementary schools	13.8%		19.3	1229^th of 1526 public elementary schools	19.5%	73	19.4	20.3	11.1	25.4	18.9	19.4	20.2	9.6	30.9	19.7	$18,532	$3,038	$15,494
Stewart Elementary School	Public	4-5	2880 Leechburg Rd	Lower Burrell	15068	Westmoreland County	Burrell School District	No	No	No	Yes	(724) 334-1483	259	19	13.7	44.0%	233 (90.0%)	4 (1.5%)	8 (3.1%)	2 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (4.6%)	27	1114^th of 1511 public elementary schools	26.3%		39.2	1016^th of 1526 public elementary schools	33.4%	98		34.7	41.2		37.8		20.4	25.8		23.1	$19,546	$1,410	$18,136
Martin School	Public	PK-K	1800 Seventh Street Rd	New Kensington	15068	Westmoreland County	New Kensington-Arnold School District	No	No	No	Yes	(724) 335-4401	147	12	12.7	112.2%	52 (35.4%)	52 (35.4%)	4 (2.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	39 (26.5%)								(n/a)											$19,881	$3,945	$15,936
Bon Air Elementary School	Public	K-3	3260 Leechburg Rd	Lower Burrell	15068	Westmoreland County	Burrell School District	No	No	No	Yes	(724) 334-1463	447	34	13.1	50.8%	387 (86.6%)	6 (1.3%)	12 (2.7%)	4 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	38 (8.5%)								(n/a)	72.1				72.1	53.5				53.5	$16,742	$1,410	$15,332
Acmetonia Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	300 Pearl Street	Cheswick	15024	Allegheny County	Allegheny Valley School District	No	No	No	Yes	(724) 274-6500	458	39	11.7	102.0%	390 (85.2%)	14 (3.1%)	23 (5.0%)	3 (0.7%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (5.9%)	58.2	684^th of 1511 public elementary schools	54.7%		60.7	694^th of 1526 public elementary schools	54.5%	10	64.6	39.1	36.4	33.9	42.2	54.1	57.1	60.6	54.3	56.8	$25,808	$1,779	$24,029
East Union Intrmd School	Public	3-5	57 East Union Road	Cheswick	15024	Allegheny County	Deer Lakes School District	No	No	No	Yes	(724) 265-5330	335	30	11.3	46.3%	308 (91.9%)	3 (0.9%)	12 (3.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (3.6%)	58.9	673^rd of 1511 public elementary schools	55.5%		54.7	799^th of 1526 public elementary schools	47.6%	126	61.2	45.9	52.0		53.1	53.1	46.4	54.0		51.1	$31,788	$124	$31,664
Curtisville Pri Center	Public	K-2	1715 Saxonburg Boulevard	Tarentum	15084	Allegheny County	Deer Lakes School District	No	No	No	Yes	(724) 265-5340	390	31	12.3	40.8%	358 (91.8%)	9 (2.3%)	8 (2.1%)	3 (0.8%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (2.8%)								(n/a)											$18,517	$781	$17,736

Frequently Asked Questions about Highlands Elementary School

What district is Highlands Elementary School in?

Highlands School District

What schools do graduates of Highlands Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Highlands Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Highlands Middle School
High : Highlands Senior High School

What is the racial makeup of Highlands Elementary School?

Students at Highlands Elementary School are 66% White, 16% Two or more races, 13% African American, 4% Hispanic.

How many students attend Highlands Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 559 students attended Highlands Elementary School.

Is Highlands Elementary School a good school?

Highlands Elementary School ranks 926^th of 1511 Pennsylvania elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Rate Highlands Elementary School!

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

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.