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Highlands Middle School

Public Grades 5-8

33^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,368 Illinois Middle Schools

Better than 98% of Illinois middle schools

Summary

Highlands Middle School is a high-performing public middle school located in La Grange Highlands, Illinois, serving grades 5-8 with a student population of 433. The school is part of the LaGrange Highlands School District 106, which is ranked 18 out of 811 districts in Illinois and has a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Highlands Middle School consistently ranks among the top middle schools in Illinois, with a statewide ranking between 19 and 106 over the past 10 years. The school's performance on standardized tests is exceptional, with 87.4% of students proficient or better in English Language Arts and 71.6% proficient or better in Mathematics for the 2024-2025 school year, significantly higher than the state averages of 53.1% and 38.5%, respectively. Highlands Middle School also excels in serving diverse student populations, ranking among the top 8 middle schools in Illinois for Hispanic students and top 14 for special education students in recent years.

When compared to nearby middle schools, such as S.E. Gross Middle School and Clarendon Hills Middle School, Highlands Middle School consistently outperforms its peers on standardized test scores, particularly in English Language Arts and Mathematics. Additionally, Highlands Middle School has relatively low chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 7.7% to 26.3% over the past few years, which are lower than the state average. The school's higher spending per student, ranging from $15,857 to $17,115, may contribute to its ability to provide additional resources, programs, and support for its students, leading to their exceptional academic outcomes.

429

Students ?

11.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$17,948

Per pupil spending ?

2.3%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1850 W Plainfield Rd
La Grange Highlands, IL 60525-3730

(708) 579-6890

District: LaGrange Highlands School District 106

Students who attend Highlands Middle School usually attend:

High:

Lyons Township High School

Feeder schools for Highlands Middle School:

Elementary:

Highlands Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

White:

77.2%

Hispanic:

13.5%

Asian:

4.2%

See top rated Illinois middle schools

Compare Highlands Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 97th percentile in 2014 → 98th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Illinois average (73% vs 44% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 2% of Illinois middle schools

✓Small classes — about 12 students per teacher

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school73%

District avg74%

Illinois avg44%

33^rd of 1,368

Illinois public middle schools ?

Top 2%▼ down 1 pts since 2015

See the entire ranking list of Illinois Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

18^th of 811LaGrange Highlands School District 106 among Illinois 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	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	96.2	33 of 1368	97.6%	★★★★★
2024	93.6	74 of 1363	94.6%	★★★★★
2023	94.3	56 of 1367	95.9%	★★★★★
2022	89.7	106 of 1369	92.3%	★★★★★
2019	94.6	51 of 1356	96.2%	★★★★★
2018	94.5	51 of 1293	96.1%	★★★★★
2017	96.9	33 of 1293	97.4%	★★★★★
2016	97.1	24 of 1294	98.1%	★★★★★
2015	98.7	19 of 1302	98.5%	★★★★★
2014	93.8	39 of 1322	97.0%	★★★★★
2013	92.6	50 of 1367	96.3%	★★★★★
2012	87.8	50 of 1365	96.3%	★★★★★
2011	88.1	43 of 1344	96.8%	★★★★★
2010	86.2	72 of 1327	94.6%	★★★★★
2009	83.4	125 of 1318	90.5%	★★★★★
2008	84.3	109 of 1293	91.6%	★★★★★
2007	87.1	58 of 1287	95.5%	★★★★★
2006	89.9	33 of 1272	97.4%	★★★★★
2005	92.4	24 of 1209	98.0%	★★★★★
2004	93.6	19 of 1204	98.4%	★★★★★
2003	90.8	60 of 1185	94.9%	★★★★★

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2023	90.5	21 of 674	96.9%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	95.9	22 of 1248	98.2%	★★★★★
2024	92.8	67 of 1251	94.6%	★★★★★
2023	94.7	44 of 1275	96.5%	★★★★★
2022	90.1	100 of 1286	92.2%	★★★★★
2019	93.4	47 of 1276	96.3%	★★★★★
2018	95.8	35 of 1226	97.1%	★★★★★

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	98.5	8 of 669	98.8%	★★★★★
2024	92.7	27 of 643	95.8%	★★★★★
2023	87.9	40 of 661	93.9%	★★★★★
2022	89.6	45 of 662	93.2%	★★★★★
2019	94.7	10 of 639	98.4%	★★★★★
2018	86.2	45 of 590	92.4%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	94.7	43 of 1271	96.6%	★★★★★
2024	93.3	70 of 1264	94.5%	★★★★★
2023	92.7	66 of 1292	94.9%	★★★★★
2022	87.3	116 of 1286	91.0%	★★★★★
2019	94.5	50 of 1296	96.1%	★★★★★
2018	89.5	95 of 1223	92.2%	★★★★★

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	97.9	14 of 812	98.3%	★★★★★
2023	94.7	33 of 805	95.9%	★★★★★
2022	85.1	46 of 781	94.1%	★★★★★
2019	91.6	33 of 792	95.8%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	89.4	58 of 884	93.4%	★★★★★
2024	87.7	72 of 875	91.8%	★★★★★
2023	89.1	57 of 895	93.6%	★★★★★
2022	80.2	113 of 898	87.4%	★★★★☆
2019	88.3	57 of 905	93.7%	★★★★★
2018	90.3	50 of 889	94.4%	★★★★★

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)

Hispanic (2025)99th percentile~ school

Special Education (2025)98th percentile~ school

Female (2025)98th percentile~ school

Disabled (2023)97th percentile~ school

Male (2025)97th percentile~ school

White (2025)93rd percentile-4 vs school

By subject vs Illinois (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts87%+34 vs state

Mathematics72%+33 vs state

Science66%+23 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a student
Sunday, March 18, 2018

Highlands is a great school! It is a great place for students to learn, with friendly teachers and staff in a friendly environment. Close Quote

Schools Near Highlands Middle School

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				ISA Science (2025)		IAR English Language Arts (2025)					IAR Mathematics (2025)					% Polio (2024)	% Measles (2024)	% Mumps (2024)	% Rubella (2024)	% Hepatitis B (2024)	% Varicella (2024)	% DTP (2024)	% Pneumococcal (2024)	% Meningococcal (2024)	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 (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	ISA Science 5th Grade	ISA Science 8th Grade	IAR English Language Arts 5th Grade	IAR English Language Arts 6th Grade	IAR English Language Arts 7th Grade	IAR English Language Arts 8th Grade	IAR English Language Arts All Grades	IAR Mathematics 5th Grade	IAR Mathematics 6th Grade	IAR Mathematics 7th Grade	IAR Mathematics 8th Grade	IAR Mathematics All Grades	% Polio All Grades	% Measles All Grades	% Mumps All Grades	% Rubella All Grades	% Hepatitis B All Grades	% Varicella All Grades	% DTP All Grades	% Pneumococcal All Grades	% Meningococcal All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Highlands Middle School	Public	5-8	1850 W Plainfield Rd	La Grange Highlands	60525	Cook County	LaGrange Highlands School District 106	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(708) 579-6890	429	37	11.6		331 (77.2%)	4 (0.9%)	58 (13.5%)	18 (4.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (4.2%)	96.2	33^rd of 1368 public middle schools	97.6%		93.6	74^th of 1363 public middle schools	94.6%	41	58.8	73.5	82.2	90.7	89.6	86.8	87.4	67.3	73.1	83.3	64.0	71.6	97.1	96.6	96.6	96.6	97.1	96.6	96.2		71.9	$17,948	$578	$17,370
Wm F Gurrie Middle School	Public	7-8	1001 S Spring Ave	La Grange	60525	Cook County	La Grange School District 105 South	No	(n/a)	No	No	(708) 482-2720	278	33	8.3	34.2%	149 (53.6%)	5 (1.8%)	99 (35.6%)	9 (3.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (5.8%)	80.7	242^nd of 1368 public middle schools	82.3%		87.7	138^th of 1363 public middle schools	89.9%	104		49.6			73.1	70.7	71.9			57.9	50.4	54.1	97.4	97.4	97.4	97.4	97.4	97.4	97.4		97.4	$25,578	$393	$25,186
Pleasantdale Middle School	Public	5-8	7450 Wolf Rd	Burr Ridge	60527	Cook County	Pleasantdale School District 107	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(708) 246-3210	352	35	10.1	18.2%	258 (73.3%)	1 (0.3%)	58 (16.5%)	16 (4.5%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.6%)	17 (4.8%)	96.3	30^th of 1368 public middle schools	97.8%		95.6	49^th of 1363 public middle schools	96.4%	19	64.7	77.3	84.7	88.5	92.3	87.5	88.2	72.9	64.4	72.7	77.3	71.8	94.6	94.3	94.3	94.3	94.3	94.3	95.5		65.6	$23,095	$465	$22,630
McClure Junior High School	Public	6-8	4225 Wolf Rd	Western Springs	60558	Cook County	Western Springs School District 101	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(708) 246-7590	469	40	11.8		409 (87.2%)	4 (0.9%)	9 (1.9%)	4 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	43 (9.2%)	95.5	44^th of 1368 public middle schools	96.8%		97.4	28^th of 1363 public middle schools	97.9%	16		69.7		90.4	85.9	93.1	89.8		59.0	78.5	72.4	69.6	99.3	99.3	99.3	99.3	99.1	99.3	99.3		98.2	$15,850	$266	$15,585
Hinsdale Middle School	Public	6-8	100 S Garfield St	Hinsdale	60521	DuPage County	Hinsdale CCSD 181	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(630) 861-4700	755	62	12.1		469 (62.1%)	9 (1.2%)	47 (6.2%)	168 (22.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	62 (8.2%)	95.8	40^th of 1368 public middle schools	97.1%		97.5	26^th of 1363 public middle schools	98.1%	14		76.1		86.1	85.9	83.6	85.2		82.5	75.7	68.4	75.3	99.0	99.2	99.2	99.2	98.9	99.0	99.1		98.5	$21,462	$327	$21,136
Park Junior High School	Public	7-8	325 N Park Rd	La Grange Park	60526	Cook County	La Grange School District 102	No	(n/a)	No	No	(708) 215-7100	661	54	12.3	15.7%	439 (66.4%)	38 (5.7%)	138 (20.9%)	13 (2.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (4.8%)	92.5	85^th of 1368 public middle schools	93.8%		91.3	106^th of 1363 public middle schools	92.2%	21		63.8			85.3	83.7	84.4			69.9	61.4	65.3	99.0	99.1	99.1	99.1	99.1	98.8	99.1		98.7	$18,597	$263	$18,334
Gower Middle School	Public	5-8	7941 S Madison St	Burr Ridge	60527	DuPage County	Gower School District 62	No	(n/a)	No	No	(630) 986-5383	409	33	12.3		223 (54.5%)	12 (2.9%)	72 (17.6%)	66 (16.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	36 (8.8%)	92.3	88^th of 1368 public middle schools	93.6%		96.6	37^th of 1363 public middle schools	97.3%	51	66.7	73.8	75.0	72.3	85.1	83.2	78.5	47.3	53.8	77.0	64.5	60.1	97.5	97.5	97.5	97.5	97.5	97.5	97.5		70.0	$19,523	$114	$19,409
S E Gross Middle School	Public	6-8	3524 Maple Ave	Brookfield	60513	Cook County	Brookfield Lagrange Park School District 95	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(708) 485-0600	498	39	12.7		285 (57.2%)	7 (1.4%)	169 (33.9%)	6 (1.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (6.0%)	71.3	344^th of 1368 public middle schools	74.9%		75.6	278^th of 1363 public middle schools	79.6%	66		54.0		69.5	85.4	69.4	75.2		34.8	42.4	24.5	34.2	99.2	99.4	99.4	99.4	99.6	99.2	99.4	10.6	87.3	$13,893	$49	$13,843
Clarendon Hills Middle School	Public	6-8	301 Chicago Ave	Clarendon Hills	60514	DuPage County	Hinsdale CCSD 181	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(630) 861-4800	448	43	10.5		319 (71.2%)	2 (0.4%)	26 (5.8%)	62 (13.8%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.4%)	36 (8.0%)	97.3	25^th of 1368 public middle schools	98.2%		98.6	13^th of 1363 public middle schools	99.0%	12		76.6		90.1	93.2	86.5	89.6		92.9	86.4	76.6	84.7	99.0	99.0	99.0	99.0	98.5	99.0	99.0		97.1	$22,522	$332	$22,190
Westview Hills Middle School	Public	6-8	630 65th St	Willowbrook	60527	DuPage County	Maercker School District 60	No	(n/a)	No	No	(630) 515-4830	455	33	13.9	44.6%	195 (42.9%)	32 (7.0%)	103 (22.6%)	97 (21.3%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	25 (5.5%)	82	223^rd of 1368 public middle schools	83.7%		78.1	248^th of 1363 public middle schools	81.8%	25		45.1		72.5	69.4	64.8	68.9		68.3	63.5	57.2	63.0	96.9	96.9	96.9	96.9	96.9	96.9	96.9		96.7	$18,735	$562	$18,173

Frequently Asked Questions about Highlands Middle School

Is Highlands Middle School a good school?

Yes! Highlands Middle School is one of the best middle schools in the state. It ranks 33^rd of 1368 Illinois middle schools.

What district is Highlands Middle School in?

LaGrange Highlands School District 106

What is the racial makeup of Highlands Middle School?

Students at Highlands Middle School are 77% White, 14% Hispanic, 4% Asian, 4% Two or more races.

How many students attend Highlands Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 429 students attended Highlands Middle School.

What high school do graduates of Highlands Middle School attend?

Students who attend Highlands Middle School usually go on to attend Lyons Township High School

Rate Highlands Middle School!

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Schools in La Grange Highlands, IL

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau, the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Illinois State Board 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.