Highlands Elementary School

Highlands Elementary School in Kissimmee, FL, is a PK-5 public school serving 564 students within the Osceola County School District, a high-poverty area where 65% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. The school faces severe challenges, ranking in the 2nd percentile statewide—its lowest point in a decade—with academic performance that is among the worst in Florida. For example, only 23% of 3rd graders are proficient in English Language Arts (ELA) and 25% in math, compared to state averages of 60% and 66%, respectively. Chronic absenteeism is a crisis, with 38.1% of students missing significant school, higher than the district and state averages.

When compared to nearby schools, Highlands stands out for its consistently low outcomes. It is the lowest-ranked school in its vicinity, with its closest neighbor, Central Avenue Elementary, also at the 2nd percentile, while Hunters Creek Elementary in the Orange district ranks in the 69th percentile. Interestingly, Boggy Creek Elementary, just three miles away, achieves 59% proficiency in 5th grade science—far above Highlands' 25%—showing that challenges are highly localized. Nearby charter schools like Renaissance Charter School At Tapestry serve similar poverty levels but rank in the 29th percentile, suggesting that different models can yield better results.

Despite spending $12,962 per student—higher than many peers like Kissimmee Elementary School ($11,779)—Highlands fails to translate resources into achievement. There is a glimmer of hope in 5th grade ELA, where 38% of students are proficient, the school's highest subject score, though still below district and state averages. However, the school's state ranking has steadily declined from the 28th percentile in 2015-2016 to its current 2nd percentile, indicating systemic issues that require urgent, comprehensive intervention to improve attendance and foundational skills.