Highland Park Elementary School

Highland Park Elementary School is a PK–6 school at 900 Park Square Dr in Bloomington, IN, with 336 students, making it one of the smaller elementaries in the Monroe County Community School Corp area. It has been remarkably consistent at a low level: ten straight years at 2 stars, with statewide rank percentile never leaving the 34–41 band. In 2025–2026 ILEARN, 27.0% of students were proficient in ELA, 35.9% in math, and 34.6% in science — roughly 14–19 points below the district in those subjects.

Highland Park spends more per student than almost all nearby schools — $17,215 in 2023–24, a 42% increase in four years — and has the smallest student-teacher ratio in the comparison group at 10.0. Yet Childs Elementary School and Binford Elementary School, both 5-star schools, spend about $3,700–$4,200 less per student and post roughly double the proficiency rates. Highland Park also has a high poverty concentration: 67.3% free/reduced lunch in 2024–25, compared with 12.8% at Childs and 20.7% at Binford. The standout success is chronic absenteeism, which fell from 27.6% in 2020–21 to 12.6% in 2024–25 — now better than the district and state and better than most neighbors.

Even so, achievement has not yet followed. ELA is the clearest gap, especially 4th grade at 15.9% proficient (26 points below state), while 5th-grade math and social studies are relative strengths. With only a few dozen students per grade, some swings may be sample-sensitive. A useful local comparison is Fairview Elementary School, which has a similar demographic profile and spending level but has risen to 3 stars and 65th percentile. For parents, Highland Park offers small classes, strong attendance, and high resourcing, but flat, below-district test scores.