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Highlands Elementary School

Public Grades PK, KG-5

1791^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,056 Illinois Elementary Schools

Better than 13% of Illinois elementary schools

Summary

Highlands Elementary School is a public elementary school in Hazel Crest, Illinois, serving 290 students in grades PK-5. The school is part of the Prairie-Hills Education Service District 144, which is ranked 780 out of 811 districts in the state and has a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Academically, Highlands Elementary School consistently performs below the state and district averages in both English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics proficiency. In the 2024-2025 school year, only 23.4% of students were proficient or better in ELA, compared to 27% for the district and 53.1% for the state. In Mathematics, the school's proficiency rate was 15.6%, while the district and state had 14.1% and 38.5%, respectively. The school also has a high chronic absenteeism rate, ranging from 25.4% to 37.6% over the past few years, which is significantly higher than the state average.

While Highlands Elementary School performs similarly or slightly better than other schools in the Prairie-Hills Education Service District 144, such as Mae Jemison School and Chateaux School, it lags behind the performance of schools in the neighboring Country Club Hills School District 160, such as Fieldcrest Elementary School and Meadowview School. Despite the relatively high per-student spending and moderately high student-teacher ratio, the school's performance suggests that addressing the socioeconomic challenges and improving instructional practices may be key focus areas for Highlands Elementary School to improve student outcomes.

311

Students ?

28.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$19,612

Per pupil spending ?

93.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

3420 Laurel Ln
Hazel Crest, IL 60429-1011

(708) 335-9773

District: Prairie-Hills Education Service District 144

Students who attend Highlands Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Prairie-Hills Junior High School
High:	Hillcrest High School

Racial breakdown:

African American:

90.0%

Hispanic:

6.8%

Two or more races:

2.6%

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Compare Highlands Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 54th percentile in 2015 → 13th in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Illinois average (18% vs 44% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (13th percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (38% vs 25% Illinois)

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school18%

District avg17%

Illinois avg44%

1,791^st of 2,056

Illinois public elementary schools ?

Bottom 13%▼ down 42 pts since 2015

From top 46% (2015) to bottom 13% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Illinois Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

5^th of 7Elementary Schools in the Prairie-Hills Education Service District 144

780^th of 811Prairie-Hills Education Service District 144 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	14.8	1791 of 2056	12.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	17.0	1769 of 2067	14.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	16.8	1794 of 2077	13.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	27.0	1461 of 2082	29.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	26.1	1384 of 1948	29.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	46.0	1050 of 2086	49.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	45.8	1030 of 2037	49.4%	★★☆☆☆
2017	56.6	817 of 2044	60.0%	★★★☆☆
2016	32.3	1364 of 2046	33.3%	★★☆☆☆
2015	48.7	934 of 2052	54.5%	★★★☆☆
2014	46.4	1177 of 2093	43.8%	★★☆☆☆
2013	29.5	1599 of 2167	26.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	40.2	1505 of 2166	30.5%	★★☆☆☆
2011	42.5	1435 of 2147	33.2%	★★☆☆☆
2010	32.1	1625 of 2139	24.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	54.3	1173 of 2120	44.7%	★★☆☆☆
2008	61.1	1008 of 2092	51.8%	★★★☆☆
2007	41.1	1486 of 2095	29.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	28.2	1684 of 2086	19.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	10.2	1822 of 2022	9.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2004	21.8	1691 of 2030	16.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2003	17.3	1700 of 2020	15.8%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	38.1	412 of 688	40.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	36.0	414 of 655	36.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	37.0	412 of 692	40.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	63.6	147 of 684	78.5%	★★★★☆
2021	60.4	86 of 428	79.9%	★★★★☆
2019	78.5	72 of 711	89.9%	★★★★★
2018	77.1	87 of 698	87.5%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	45.6	486 of 1049	53.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	32.9	568 of 907	37.4%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	15.7	1690 of 1942	13.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	19.7	1603 of 1942	17.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	19.9	1602 of 1957	18.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	28.8	1355 of 1970	31.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	28.8	1170 of 1680	30.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	43.4	1099 of 2019	45.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	47.8	969 of 1964	50.7%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	26.1	1419 of 1800	21.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	27.3	1389 of 1793	22.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	23.5	1526 of 1808	15.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	44.1	924 of 1763	47.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	48.1	681 of 1514	55.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	68.8	386 of 1816	78.7%	★★★★☆
2018	69.6	338 of 1765	80.8%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	14.9	1705 of 1947	12.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	14.9	1761 of 1959	10.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	15.2	1786 of 1984	10.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	25.9	1414 of 1977	28.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	20.0	1402 of 1707	17.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	50.0	920 of 2019	54.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	43.3	1026 of 1972	48.0%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	30.5	879 of 1292	32.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	22.2	1024 of 1113	8.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

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)

Disabled (2025)54th percentile+41 vs school

African American (2025)40th percentile+27 vs school

Special Education (2025)32nd percentile+19 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)21st percentile+8 vs school

Female (2025)13th percentile~ school

Male (2025)12th percentile~ school

By subject vs Illinois (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts23%-30 vs state

Mathematics16%-23 vs state

Science14%-26 vs state

★

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Schools Near Highlands Elementary 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 3rd Grade	IAR English Language Arts 4th 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 3rd Grade	IAR Mathematics 4th Grade	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 Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3420 Laurel Ln	Hazel Crest	60429	Cook County	Prairie-Hills Education Service District 144	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(708) 335-9773	311	11	28.2	93.6%	1 (0.3%)	280 (90.0%)	21 (6.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.6%)	14.8	1791^st of 2056 public elementary schools	12.9%		17	1769^th of 2067 public elementary schools	14.4%	22	14.5		16.7	35.1	21.4				23.4	18.8	16.2	12.5				15.6	91.8	93.8	93.8	93.8	99.6	92.2	93.0	6.6		$19,612	$3,390	$16,221
Nob Hill Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3701 168th St	Country Club Hills	60478	Cook County	Prairie-Hills Education Service District 144	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(708) 335-9770	164	11	15.6	98.8%	1 (0.6%)	139 (84.8%)	20 (12.2%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.8%)	22.9	1597^th of 2056 public elementary schools	22.3%		12.7	1950^th of 2067 public elementary schools	5.7%	353	8.3		34.8	54.2	16.7				35.2	34.8	16.0	4.2				18.1	97.3	98.4	98.4	98.4	99.5	98.4	95.1	18.7		$19,127	$3,370	$15,757
Mae Jemison School	Public	PK, KG-5	3450 W 177th St	Hazel Crest	60429	Cook County	Prairie-Hills Education Service District 144	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(708) 225-3636	368	19	19.6	94.8%	6 (1.6%)	305 (82.9%)	46 (12.5%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (1.9%)	11.4	1891^st of 2056 public elementary schools	8.0%		15.3	1832^nd of 2067 public elementary schools	11.4%	59	0.0		12.7	34.3	9.0				18.5	19.7	17.9	6.0				14.6	97.1	98.7	98.7	98.7	99.4	98.4	98.1	4.5		$20,259	$3,096	$17,163
Prairie-Hills STEAM Academy	Public	PK, KG-5	3055 W 163Rd St	Markham	60428	Cook County	Prairie-Hills Education Service District 144	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(708) 210-2888	102	6	16.1	98.0%	5 (4.9%)	82 (80.4%)	11 (10.8%)	1 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.0%)	2 (2.0%)	35.1	1312^th of 2056 public elementary schools	36.2%		44.7	1057^th of 2067 public elementary schools	48.9%	255	4.2		52.6	61.1	37.5				49.2	31.6	27.8	16.7				24.6	98.1	97.2	97.2	97.2	97.2	96.2	97.2	10.4		$15,352	$2,914	$12,438
Markham Park Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	16239 Lawndale Ave	Markham	60428	Cook County	Prairie-Hills Education Service District 144	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(708) 210-2869	292	13	23.3	93.5%	1 (0.3%)	194 (66.4%)	95 (32.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.7%)	9.4	1957^th of 2056 public elementary schools	4.8%		13.9	1896^th of 2067 public elementary schools	8.3%	61	16.4		12.1	17.9	27.3				20.5	3.0	7.7	5.6				5.6	95.6	96.0	96.0	96.0	95.6	96.0	95.6	11.3		$20,957	$3,194	$17,763
Chateaux School	Public	PK, KG-5	3600 Chambord Ln	Hazel Crest	60429	Cook County	Prairie-Hills Education Service District 144	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(708) 335-9776	249	13	19.1	96.4%	2 (0.8%)	224 (90.0%)	16 (6.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	1 (0.4%)	5 (2.0%)	15.2	1779^th of 2056 public elementary schools	13.5%		14.8	1858^th of 2067 public elementary schools	10.1%	79	16.7		22.7	23.5	27.0				24.3	27.3	20.6	2.7				17.4	89.8	92.2	92.2	92.2	92.5	92.2	90.9	5.1		$20,667	$3,492	$17,175
Jesse C White Learning Academy	Public	PK, KG-8	16910 S Western Ave	Hazel Crest	60429	Cook County	Hazel Crest School District 152-5	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(708) 825-2190	425	36	11.8	98.6%	1 (0.2%)	383 (90.1%)	27 (6.4%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (2.4%)	18.2	1714^th of 2056 public elementary schools	16.6%		16.1	1805^th of 2067 public elementary schools	12.7%	91	5.4	27.5	48.5	13.2	13.2	8.7	7.0	23.5	18.1	53.1	7.9	0.0	4.2	9.1	4.0	11.2	95.7	95.9	95.9	95.9	95.9	95.9	95.7	8.4	28.7	$23,848	$5,557	$18,291
Fieldcrest Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4100 Wagman St	Oak Forest	60452	Cook County	Prairie-Hills Education Service District 144	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(708) 210-2872	217	13	16.6	94.9%	19 (8.8%)	87 (40.1%)	95 (43.8%)	8 (3.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (3.7%)	24.5	1570^th of 2056 public elementary schools	23.6%		39.7	1158^th of 2067 public elementary schools	44.0%	412	14.7		25.0	45.5	25.7				31.7	44.4	21.2	11.4				26.0	97.4	97.4	97.4	97.4	97.4	97.7	97.4	7.2		$19,525	$3,011	$16,514
Zenon J Sykuta School	Public	PK, KG-2	4301 180th St	Country Club Hills	60478	Cook County	Country Club Hills School District 160	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(708) 957-6210	273	19	14.3	45.4%	1 (0.4%)	214 (78.4%)	37 (13.6%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (7.0%)								(n/a)																	89.6	89.6	89.6	89.6	89.6	89.6	89.6	18.8		$28,240	$3,558	$24,682
Meadowview School	Public	3-5	4701 179th St	Country Club Hills	60478	Cook County	Country Club Hills School District 160	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(708) 957-6220	293	15	19.5	65.5%	1 (0.3%)	252 (86.0%)	23 (7.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (5.8%)	15.8	1770^th of 2056 public elementary schools	13.9%		19.9	1688^th of 2067 public elementary schools	18.3%	82	19.8		25.0	25.7	34.7				28.5	16.7	12.4	9.0				12.4	94.9	94.9	94.9	94.9	94.9	94.9	94.9			$25,194	$2,787	$22,406

Frequently Asked Questions about Highlands Elementary School

What district is Highlands Elementary School in?

Prairie-Hills Education Service District 144

Is Highlands Elementary School a good school?

Highlands Elementary School ranks in the bottom 12.9% of Illinois elementary schools.

What schools do graduates of Highlands Elementary School attend?

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

Middle : Prairie-Hills Junior High School
High : Hillcrest High School

How many students attend Highlands Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 311 students attended Highlands Elementary School.

What is the racial makeup of Highlands Elementary School?

Students at Highlands Elementary School are 90% African American, 7% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races.

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Schools in Hazel Crest, 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.