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Highland Elementary School

Q: Is Highland Elementary School a good school?

Highland Elementary School ranks 1546 th of 2240 Florida elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public, Magnet Grades PK, KG-5

1546^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,240 Florida Elementary Schools

Better than 31% of Florida elementary schools

Summary

Highland Elementary School in Lake Worth, FL, serves 976 students in grades PK through 5 and is part of the Palm Beach School District, a high-poverty community where 78% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.

The most defining feature of Highland Elementary is its dramatic academic turnaround. After ranking in the bottom 5th percentile for three consecutive years, the school has surged to the 31st percentile in the 2025-2026 school year, earning a 2-star rating for the first time in years. This improvement is driven by exceptional math performance, particularly in upper grades: 5th-grade math proficiency reached 74%, outperforming nearby schools like South Olive Elementary (66%) and Palmetto Elementary (73%). However, English Language Arts (ELA) scores remain a significant weakness, with proficiency ranging from 38% to 43%—17 to 24 points below the district average. This "math strong, ELA weak" profile is more pronounced at Highland than at most nearby schools.

Compared to its neighbors, Highland stands out as a success story in a challenging area. While Barton Elementary remains in the bottom 5th percentile, Highland has climbed 1,629 positions in state rankings. The school also spends $16,059 per student, the third highest among nearby schools, suggesting recent investments may be paying off. Chronic absenteeism, while improving from 33.3% to 26.4%, remains a challenge—higher than the district average of 23.4% and second-highest among nearby schools. Highland is a school on the rise, but it has not yet closed the gap with higher-performing neighbors like South Olive, which serves a lower-poverty community and outperforms Highland in nearly every subject.

976

Students ?

14.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

$16,059

Per pupil spending ?

78.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

500 Highland Ave
Lake Worth, FL 33460

(561) 202-0500

District: Palm Beach

Students who attend Highland Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Lake Worth Community Middle
High:	Lake Worth High School

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

70.0%

African American:

19.9%

White:

5.5%

See top rated Florida elementary schools

Compare Highland Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 14th percentile in 2016 → 31st in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 17 percentile points since 2016

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Florida average (53% vs 62% meeting standards)

!English Language Arts scores 19 pts below the Florida average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school53%

District avg63%

Florida avg62%

1,546^th of 2,240

Florida public elementary schools ?

Bottom 31%▲ up 17 pts since 2016

From bottom 14% (2016) to bottom 31% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Florida Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

82^nd of 126Elementary Schools in the Palm Beach

33^rd of 70Palm Beach among Florida 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	Florida percentile	Rating
2026	34.4	1546 of 2240	31.0%	★★☆☆☆
2025	22.1	1843 of 2258	18.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	17.5	1971 of 2256	12.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	7.9	2175 of 2240	2.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	9.7	2103 of 2219	5.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	11.8	2078 of 2247	7.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	18.7	1871 of 2182	14.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	23.0	1711 of 2118	19.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	20.7	1759 of 2112	16.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	17.3	1801 of 2087	13.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	15.6	1858 of 2064	10.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	8.3	1961 of 2029	3.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2012	13.7	1802 of 1984	9.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	11.1	1848 of 1985	6.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	12.3	1771 of 1919	7.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2009	11.6	1712 of 1847	7.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2008	26.4	1391 of 1789	22.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	15.0	1594 of 1786	10.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	10.4	1567 of 1688	7.2%	☆☆☆☆☆

By subject vs Florida (2025-2026) ?

Math66%~ state avg

Science48%-12 vs state

English Language Arts41%-19 vs state

★

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Schools Near Highland 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 (2026)				Ranking (2025)				FAST English Language Arts (2026)						FAST Math (2026)						Statewide Science Science (2026)		EOC Algebra 1 (2026)	EOC Biology 1 (2026)	EOC Civics (2026)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
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 (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	FAST English Language Arts 3rd Grade	FAST English Language Arts 4th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 5th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 6th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 7th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 8th Grade	FAST Math 3rd Grade	FAST Math 4th Grade	FAST Math 5th Grade	FAST Math 6th Grade	FAST Math 7th Grade	FAST Math 8th Grade	Statewide Science Science 5th Grade	Statewide Science Science 8th Grade	EOC Algebra 1 End of Course	EOC Biology 1 End of Course	EOC Civics End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Highland Elementary School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	500 Highland Ave	Lake Worth	33460	Palm Beach County	Palm Beach	No	Yes	No	Yes	(561) 202-0500	976	68	14.3	78.2%	54 (5.5%)	194 (19.9%)	683 (70.0%)	5 (0.5%)	32 (3.3%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (0.8%)	34.4	1546^th of 2240 public elementary schools	31.0%		22.1	1843^rd of 2258 public elementary schools	18.4%	297	41.0	38.0	43.0				61.0	65.0	74.0				48.0					$16,059	$1,429	$14,631
North Grade K-8	Public, Magnet	K-8	824 N K St	Lake Worth	33460	Palm Beach County	Palm Beach	No	Yes	No	Yes	(561) 202-9300	769	46	16.7	61.6%	98 (12.7%)	91 (11.8%)	555 (72.2%)	8 (1.0%)	7 (0.9%)	1 (0.1%)	9 (1.2%)	19.4	1947^th of 2240 public elementary schools	13.1%		19.7	1915^th of 2258 public elementary schools	15.2%	32	37.0	51.0	41.0	65.0	91.0	100.0	46.0	50.0	38.0	83.0	100.0	95.0	37.0	90.0	100.0		100.0	$14,300	$673	$13,627
South Grade Elementary School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	716 S K St	Lake Worth	33460	Palm Beach County	Palm Beach	No	Yes	No	Yes	(561) 202-9400	624	44	14.1	73.7%	15 (2.4%)	85 (13.6%)	499 (80.0%)	1 (0.2%)	21 (3.4%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.3%)	24.6	1798^th of 2240 public elementary schools	19.7%		21.4	1862^nd of 2258 public elementary schools	17.5%	64	26.0	33.0	51.0				55.0	55.0	53.0	100.0			52.0					$16,317	$1,170	$15,147
Barton Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1700 Barton Rd	Lake Worth	33460	Palm Beach County	Palm Beach	No	No	No	Yes	(561) 540-9100	1,185	69	17.0	68.6%	49 (4.1%)	320 (27.0%)	738 (62.3%)	3 (0.3%)	65 (5.5%)	1 (0.1%)	9 (0.8%)	9.5	2151^st of 2240 public elementary schools	4.0%		14.5	2050^th of 2258 public elementary schools	9.2%	101	28.0	35.0	30.0				48.0	50.0	38.0				26.0					$14,497	$1,729	$12,767
Palm Springs Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	101 Davis Rd	Palm Springs	33461	Palm Beach County	Palm Beach	No	No	No	Yes	(561) 804-3000	1,069	76	14.1	68.1%	80 (7.5%)	176 (16.5%)	777 (72.7%)	24 (2.2%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (0.9%)	17.9	1978^th of 2240 public elementary schools	11.7%		16.3	2003^rd of 2258 public elementary schools	11.3%	25	42.0	39.0	43.0				52.0	34.0	42.0	100.0			44.0					$15,259	$1,876	$13,382
Somerset Academy The Dr. Bernard Kimmel Campus	Public, Charter	K-8	4696 Davis Rd	Lake Worth	33461	Palm Beach County	Palm Beach	Yes	No	No	Yes	(561) 868-6100	515	27	18.7	66.4%	31 (6.0%)	206 (40.0%)	257 (49.9%)	7 (1.4%)	3 (0.6%)	2 (0.4%)	9 (1.7%)	18.9	1960^th of 2240 public elementary schools	12.5%		14	2061^st of 2258 public elementary schools	8.7%	101	38.0	45.0	47.0	57.0	58.0	60.0	43.0	52.0	32.0	28.0	40.0	38.0	46.0		94.0	72.0	76.0	$11,291	$704	$10,587
South Olive Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	7101 S Olive Ave	West Palm Beach	33405	Palm Beach County	Palm Beach	No	No	No	Yes	(561) 202-0200	504	37	13.6	45.4%	173 (34.3%)	30 (6.0%)	270 (53.6%)	11 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	19 (3.8%)	62.3	827^th of 2240 public elementary schools	63.1%		61.4	848^th of 2258 public elementary schools	62.4%	21	55.0	63.0	63.0				76.0	57.0	66.0	100.0			70.0					$17,889	$884	$17,005
Palm Beach Maritime Academy Elementary	Public, Charter	K-5	1518 W Lantana Rd	Lantana	33462	Palm Beach County	Palm Beach	Yes	No	No	Yes	(561) 547-3775	579	38	15.1	67.4%	81 (14.0%)	190 (32.8%)	285 (49.2%)	9 (1.6%)	5 (0.9%)	3 (0.5%)	6 (1.0%)	44.3	1287^th of 2240 public elementary schools	42.5%		35.8	1479^th of 2258 public elementary schools	34.5%	192	42.0	53.0	55.0				68.0	67.0	67.0				55.0					$13,005	$922	$12,082
Lantana Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	710 W Ocean Ave	Lantana	33462	Palm Beach County	Palm Beach	No	No	No	Yes	(561) 202-0300	517	41	12.6	72.1%	78 (15.1%)	282 (54.5%)	143 (27.7%)	3 (0.6%)	5 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.2%)	20.1	1922^nd of 2240 public elementary schools	14.2%		28.1	1701^st of 2258 public elementary schools	24.7%	221	37.0	40.0	38.0				51.0	55.0	50.0	100.0			38.0					$19,621	$1,755	$17,865
Palmetto Elementary School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	5801 Parker Ave	West Palm Beach	33405	Palm Beach County	Palm Beach	No	Yes	No	Yes	(561) 202-0400	508	41	12.5	67.3%	39 (7.7%)	34 (6.7%)	420 (82.7%)	8 (1.6%)	4 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.6%)	61.3	844^th of 2240 public elementary schools	62.3%		39.5	1375^th of 2258 public elementary schools	39.1%	531	53.0	72.0	74.0				56.0	72.0	73.0	100.0			57.0					$19,735	$1,939	$17,797

Frequently Asked Questions about Highland Elementary School

What schools do graduates of Highland Elementary School attend?

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

Middle : Lake Worth Community Middle
High : Lake Worth High School

Is Highland Elementary School a good school?

Highland Elementary School ranks 1546^th of 2240 Florida elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Highland Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 976 students attended Highland Elementary School.

What is the racial makeup of Highland Elementary School?

Students at Highland Elementary School are 70% Hispanic, 20% African American, 6% White, 3% American Indian.

What district is Highland Elementary School in?

Palm Beach

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Latest Florida data All new data »

2025–26 EOC, FAST & Statewide Science test scoresJun 26, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataMar 20, 2026

2024–25 graduation ratesJan 13, 2026

2024–25 EOC, FAST & Statewide Science test scoresJun 26, 2025

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