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Highland Park Central

Q: Is Highland Park Central a good school?

Highland Park Central ranks in the bottom 11.6% of Kansas elementary schools.

Q: How many students attend Highland Park Central?

In the 2024-25 school year, 318 students attended Highland Park Central.

Q: What is the racial makeup of Highland Park Central?

Students at Highland Park Central are 47% Hispanic, 21% African American, 16% White, 15% Two or more races.

Q: What schools do graduates of Highland Park Central attend?

Students who attend Highland Park Central usually go on to attend: High : Highland Park High

Public Grades K-5

580^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 656 Kansas Elementary Schools

Better than 12% of Kansas elementary schools

Summary

Highland Park Central is an elementary school in Topeka, Kansas that serves students from pre-kindergarten to 5th grade. The school has consistently ranked in the bottom 10-15% of elementary schools in the state, with low performance on state assessments and high rates of chronic absenteeism.

Highland Park Central faces significant challenges in serving its high-poverty student population. The school has extremely high rates of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 76% to 93% in recent years. Compared to other elementary schools in the Topeka Public Schools district, Highland Park Central underperforms on metrics like test scores and chronic absenteeism. For example, Jardine Elementary, Lowman Hill Elementary, and Randolph Elementary all have higher test scores and lower chronic absenteeism rates than Highland Park Central.

The district's magnet schools, such as Meadows Elementary and Williams Science and Fine Arts Magnet, significantly outperform Highland Park Central on most metrics, suggesting that school choice and specialized programming may be beneficial for students. Despite the school's challenges, Highland Park Central has a relatively low student-teacher ratio, indicating that the school's struggles are not due to overcrowding or lack of individual attention.

318

Students ?

12.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$16,671

Per pupil spending ?

93.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

2717 SE Illinois Ave
Topeka, KS 66605

(785) 235-7000

District: Topeka Public Schools

Students who attend Highland Park Central usually attend:

High:

Highland Park High

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

46.9%

African American:

21.1%

White:

15.7%

See top rated Kansas elementary schools

Compare Highland Park Central to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 5th percentile in 2015 → 12th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 7 percentile points since 2015

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Kansas average (26% vs 42% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (12th percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (58% vs 20% Kansas)

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school26%

District avg26%

Kansas avg42%

580^th of 656

Kansas public elementary schools ?

Bottom 12%▲ up 7 pts since 2015

From bottom 5% (2015) to bottom 12% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Kansas Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

12^th of 14Elementary Schools in the Topeka Public Schools

247^th of 264Topeka Public Schools among Kansas 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	Kansas percentile	Rating
2025	14.8	580 of 656	11.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	10.8	601 of 653	8.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	5.0	650 of 660	1.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	4.6	664 of 668	0.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	4.3	666 of 670	0.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	6.8	645 of 667	3.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	15.2	577 of 656	12.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	15.1	590 of 659	10.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	17.0	573 of 656	12.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	9.7	647 of 678	4.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	13.4	606 of 668	9.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2012	6.8	632 of 660	4.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	10.6	597 of 631	5.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	10.9	588 of 630	6.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2009	22.2	540 of 621	13.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	15.6	561 of 614	8.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	13.7	549 of 600	8.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	31.1	470 of 585	19.7%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kansas percentile	Rating
2025	29.1	58 of 70	17.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	41.8	40 of 72	44.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	25.0	68 of 74	8.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	19.3	65 of 68	4.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	19.5	64 of 73	12.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	31.0	47 of 65	27.7%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kansas percentile	Rating
2021	27.9	166 of 214	22.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	29.4	146 of 193	24.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	24.3	122 of 140	12.9%	★☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kansas percentile	Rating
2025	66.9	18 of 129	86.0%	★★★★☆
2024	44.1	65 of 124	47.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	27.7	101 of 117	13.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	21.6	114 of 117	2.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	20.5	106 of 108	1.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	29.1	99 of 122	18.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	41.0	69 of 129	46.5%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kansas percentile	Rating
2021	4.5	590 of 591	0.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	7.6	576 of 591	2.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	11.5	534 of 574	7.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kansas percentile	Rating
2025	40.7	156 of 262	40.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	28.0	210 of 260	19.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	17.9	232 of 245	5.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	13.3	251 of 254	1.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	12.0	227 of 229	0.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	17.5	222 of 235	5.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	36.6	140 of 207	32.4%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kansas percentile	Rating
2025	29.0	431 of 533	19.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	18.0	500 of 546	8.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	12.5	519 of 541	4.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	9.7	507 of 512	1.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	15.1	477 of 509	6.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	23.9	434 of 512	15.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kansas percentile	Rating
2021	6.6	596 of 605	1.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	9.0	564 of 586	3.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	22.8	473 of 575	17.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kansas percentile	Rating
2025	19.7	270 of 313	13.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	26.6	234 of 306	23.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	20.8	252 of 296	14.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	17.1	286 of 305	6.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	27.9	166 of 214	22.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	29.4	146 of 193	24.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	24.3	122 of 140	12.9%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kansas percentile	Rating
2025	53.1	269 of 576	53.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	7.2	576 of 596	3.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	13.8	546 of 592	7.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	33.2	422 of 574	26.5%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

English Language Learner (2025)86th percentile+74 vs school

White (2025)53rd percentile+42 vs school

Hispanic (2025)40th percentile+29 vs school

Disabled (2021)22nd percentile+22 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)19th percentile+8 vs school

African American (2025)17th percentile+6 vs school

Special Education (2025)14th percentile~ school

Male (2021)1st percentile~ school

Female (2021)<1st percentile~ school

By subject vs Kansas (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts29%-16 vs state

Mathematics24%-14 vs state

Science24%-18 vs state

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Schools Near Highland Park Central

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				KAP English Language Arts (2025)					KAP Mathematics (2025)					KAP Science (2025)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
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	KAP English Language Arts 3rd Grade	KAP English Language Arts 4th Grade	KAP English Language Arts 5th Grade	KAP English Language Arts 6th Grade	KAP English Language Arts All Grades	KAP Mathematics 3rd Grade	KAP Mathematics 4th Grade	KAP Mathematics 5th Grade	KAP Mathematics 6th Grade	KAP Mathematics All Grades	KAP Science 5th Grade	KAP Science All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Highland Park Central	Public	K-5	2717 SE Illinois Ave	Topeka	66605	Shawnee County	Topeka Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(785) 235-7000	318	25	12.5	93.7%	50 (15.7%)	67 (21.1%)	149 (46.9%)	2 (0.6%)	2 (0.6%)	1 (0.3%)	47 (14.8%)	14.8	580^th of 656 public elementary schools	11.6%		10.8	601^st of 653 public elementary schools	8.0%	21	35.2	23.1	25.6		28.7	33.3	15.0	21.7		24.3	23.9	23.9	$16,671	$2,933	$13,739
Ross Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1400 SE 34th St	Topeka	66605	Shawnee County	Topeka Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(785) 274-6280	563	48	11.6	87.4%	97 (17.2%)	117 (20.8%)	234 (41.6%)	1 (0.2%)	6 (1.1%)	8 (1.4%)	100 (17.8%)	5.3	642^nd of 656 public elementary schools	2.1%		7	636^th of 653 public elementary schools	2.6%	6	28.6	15.4	16.2		20.6	16.3	11.4	2.6		10.5	10.4	10.4	$18,095	$3,859	$14,236
Williams Science and Fine Arts Magnet School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	1301 SE Monroe St	Topeka	66612	Shawnee County	Topeka Public Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(785) 235-7330	447	41	10.7	92.8%	88 (19.7%)	118 (26.4%)	137 (30.6%)	6 (1.3%)	4 (0.9%)	4 (0.9%)	90 (20.1%)	24.5	514^th of 656 public elementary schools	21.6%		9.3	616^th of 653 public elementary schools	5.7%	102	43.6	29.3	32.3		34.8	39.3	14.0	29.2		27.5	35.4	35.4	$17,925	$3,747	$14,178
Scott Dual Language Magnet	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	401 SE Market St	Topeka	66607	Shawnee County	Topeka Public Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(785) 235-7480	402	30	13.2	91.5%	20 (5.0%)	9 (2.2%)	361 (89.8%)	1 (0.2%)	3 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.0%)	20.9	543^rd of 656 public elementary schools	17.2%		22.5	532^nd of 653 public elementary schools	18.5%	11	44.7	18.5	39.4		33.1	23.4	11.8	28.4		20.9	35.8	35.8	$16,469	$3,955	$12,514
Jardine Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2600 SW 33rd St	Topeka	66611	Shawnee County	Topeka Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(785) 295-3000	729	51	14.2	73.8%	256 (35.1%)	126 (17.3%)	205 (28.1%)	8 (1.1%)	2 (0.3%)	2 (0.3%)	130 (17.8%)	22.7	532^nd of 656 public elementary schools	18.9%		20.2	547^th of 653 public elementary schools	16.2%	15	42.4	31.2	38.3		37.7	31.1	18.4	19.7		23.3	36.1	36.1	$14,313	$3,731	$10,582
Lowman Hill Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1101 SW Garfield Ave	Topeka	66604	Shawnee County	Topeka Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(785) 235-7060	294	23	12.5	82.7%	108 (36.7%)	33 (11.2%)	111 (37.8%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.7%)	1 (0.3%)	39 (13.3%)	24.5	516^th of 656 public elementary schools	21.3%		27.7	496^th of 653 public elementary schools	24.0%	20	27.9	40.4	31.9		33.6	27.9	29.2	38.3		31.9	29.8	29.8	$20,295	$3,379	$16,916
Shawnee Heights Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	2410 SE Burton Dr	Topeka	66605	Shawnee County	Shawnee Heights	No	No	No	No	(785) 357-5400	429	33	13.0	37.5%	260 (60.6%)	15 (3.5%)	94 (21.9%)	4 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	56 (13.1%)	41.3	400^th of 656 public elementary schools	39.0%		38.2	428^th of 653 public elementary schools	34.5%	28	37.7	56.8	45.0	35.8	42.7	37.1	52.3	31.1	38.8	38.9	34.4	34.4	$14,240	$1,031	$13,209
Randolph Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1400 SW Randolph Ave	Topeka	66604	Shawnee County	Topeka Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(785) 438-4480	346	26	13.1	72.8%	158 (45.7%)	40 (11.6%)	89 (25.7%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.6%)	2 (0.6%)	55 (15.9%)	30.6	484^th of 656 public elementary schools	26.2%		24.8	516^th of 653 public elementary schools	21.0%	32	46.3	28.6	47.9		41.1	45.4	18.0	30.6		31.8	28.6	28.6	$15,894	$2,921	$12,972
State Street Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	500 NE Sumner St	Topeka	66616	Shawnee County	Topeka Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(785) 235-7280	411	34	11.9	88.8%	132 (32.1%)	23 (5.6%)	194 (47.2%)	1 (0.2%)	5 (1.2%)	2 (0.5%)	54 (13.1%)	22.5	534^th of 656 public elementary schools	18.6%		23.5	526^th of 653 public elementary schools	19.4%	8	42.3	37.9	33.3		37.3	30.8	19.0	29.3		26.5	25.3	25.3	$17,882	$3,868	$14,014
Meadows Elementary	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	201 SW Clay St	Topeka	66606	Shawnee County	Topeka Public Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(785) 235-7150	0	32	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	24.1	521^st of 656 public elementary schools	20.6%		29.9	479^th of 653 public elementary schools	26.6%	42	33.3	31.8	37.7		34.3	35.9	22.4	31.0		29.7	33.8	33.8	$17,702	$3,846	$13,857

Frequently Asked Questions about Highland Park Central

How many students attend Highland Park Central?

In the 2024-25 school year, 318 students attended Highland Park Central.

Is Highland Park Central a good school?

Highland Park Central ranks in the bottom 11.6% of Kansas elementary schools.

What is the racial makeup of Highland Park Central?

Students at Highland Park Central are 47% Hispanic, 21% African American, 16% White, 15% Two or more races.

What district is Highland Park Central in?

Topeka Public Schools

What schools do graduates of Highland Park Central attend?

Students who attend Highland Park Central usually go on to attend:

High : Highland Park High

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