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Highland Park Central

Public Grades K-5

546^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 657 Kansas Elementary Schools

Better than 17% of Kansas elementary schools

Summary

Highland Park Central is a 318-student K–5 elementary school in Topeka Public Schools, serving a community where 94% of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals. Its 2025–26 results show encouraging improvement, but the most important finding is that proficiency remains below the state in all three tested subjects, with science the clearest area of concern.

Math is the school’s strongest subject in local comparisons: 32% of students were proficient, about 1 point above the nearby-school average and 7 points above Topeka Public Schools, though 9 points below the state. ELA proficiency was 31%, just 1 point above the district but 8 points below nearby schools’ average and 14 below the state. Science was weakest at 21%—2 points below the district, 12 below the nearby average and 17 below the state. There is a notable grade-level bright spot: fourth-grade math proficiency was 44%, close to the state’s 44% and second-highest among 10 comparable schools, behind only Shawnee Heights Elementary.

Results have improved substantially since 2022–23: proficiency rose 23 points in ELA, 22 in math and 13 in science, narrowing the gap with the state in each subject. Science did dip from 24% to 21% in the latest year. SchoolDigger ranks the school in the 17th statewide percentile with 1 star, up from the 1st percentile in 2020–21. Its student–teacher ratio is 12.5, close to the nearby average. Chronic absenteeism also improved, falling from 58% to 26%, but the latest rate remains above the district’s 24% and the state’s 18%. SchoolDigger’s subgroup rankings show stronger relative standing for Hispanic students: the school ranked in the 61st percentile for this group, compared with the 17th percentile overall. Its standout English learner ranking was earlier: 86th percentile in 2024–25, when the overall ranking was 12th; no current-year ranking for English learners is provided.

318

Students ?

12.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$16,671

Per pupil spending ?

93.7%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

2717 SE Illinois Ave
Topeka, KS 66605-1497

(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: Holding steady — 13th percentile in 2016 → 17th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Kansas average (28% vs 42% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (17th percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (26% vs 18% Kansas)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school28%

District avg26%

Kansas avg42%

546^th of 657

Kansas public elementary schools ?

Bottom 17%▲ up 4 pts since 2016

From bottom 13% (2016) to bottom 17% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Kansas Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

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

254^th of 268Topeka 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
2026	20.5	546 of 657	16.9%	★☆☆☆☆
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
2026	44.4	33 of 72	54.2%	★★★☆☆
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
2026	24.5	461 of 585	21.2%	★☆☆☆☆
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
2026	52.8	104 of 269	61.3%	★★★☆☆
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
2026	37.5	381 of 546	30.2%	★★☆☆☆
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
2026	21.3	500 of 594	15.8%	★☆☆☆☆
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
2026	26.7	241 of 318	24.2%	★☆☆☆☆
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
2026	49.1	294 of 576	49.0%	★★☆☆☆
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

Hispanic (2026)61st percentile+44 vs school

African American (2026)54th percentile+37 vs school

White (2026)49th percentile+32 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)30th percentile+13 vs school

Special Education (2026)24th percentile+7 vs school

Disabled (2021)22nd percentile+22 vs school

Female (2026)21st percentile+4 vs school

Male (2026)16th percentile~ school

By subject vs Kansas (2025-2026) ?

Mathematics32%-9 vs state

English Language Arts31%-14 vs state

Science21%-17 vs state

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Schools Near Highland Park Central

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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)				KAP English Language Arts (2026)					KAP Mathematics (2026)					KAP Science (2026)		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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	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	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%)	20.5	546^th of 657 public elementary schools	16.9%		14.8	580^th of 656 public elementary schools	11.6%	34	27.3	40.0	26.8		31.5	25.0	44.0	28.6		32.4	21.4	21.4	$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%)	7.9	621^st of 657 public elementary schools	5.5%		5.3	642^nd of 656 public elementary schools	2.1%	21	32.0	24.1	17.8		24.7	15.6	20.5	14.9		17.1	17.6	17.6	$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%)	20.8	544^th of 657 public elementary schools	17.2%		24.5	514^th of 656 public elementary schools	21.6%	30	37.1	38.5	27.6		34.7	22.9	32.3	28.1		27.6	34.5	34.5	$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%)	24.5	526^th of 657 public elementary schools	19.9%		20.9	543^rd of 656 public elementary schools	17.2%	17	33.8	41.9	38.8		37.7	22.7	29.5	29.4		27.0	39.7	39.7	$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%)	20.1	552^nd of 657 public elementary schools	16.0%		22.7	532^nd of 656 public elementary schools	18.9%	20	23.9	41.3	34.0		33.1	19.5	30.6	29.0		26.2	35.0	35.0	$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%)	25.8	516^th of 657 public elementary schools	21.5%		24.5	516^th of 656 public elementary schools	21.3%		25.0	36.6	40.9		34.1	25.0	43.9	40.9		36.4	25.0	25.0	$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%)	40.8	410^th of 657 public elementary schools	37.6%		41.3	400^th of 656 public elementary schools	39.0%	10	50.0	42.4	38.3	55.5	47.0	32.7	47.8	38.3	42.9	40.8	25.5	25.5	$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%)	35.9	458^th of 657 public elementary schools	30.3%		30.6	484^th of 656 public elementary schools	26.2%	26	50.9	54.2	31.3		45.6	44.4	32.6	33.3		37.1	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%)	28.3	505^th of 657 public elementary schools	23.1%		22.5	534^th of 656 public elementary schools	18.6%	29	43.3	40.0	44.1		42.6	31.3	31.4	31.6		31.4	31.6	31.6	$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 ()	21	543^rd of 657 public elementary schools	17.4%		24.1	521^st of 656 public elementary schools	20.6%	22	28.8	38.6	34.3		33.7	20.9	35.1	30.9		28.6	32.4	32.4	$17,702	$3,846	$13,857

Frequently Asked Questions about Highland Park Central

What schools do graduates of Highland Park Central attend?

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

High : Highland Park High

What district is Highland Park Central in?

Topeka Public Schools

How many students attend Highland Park Central?

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

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.

Is Highland Park Central a good school?

Highland Park Central ranks in the bottom 16.9% of Kansas elementary schools.

Rate Highland Park Central!

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Latest Kansas data All new data »

2025–26 attendance dataNewOct 13, 2026

2025–26 KAP test scoresNewOct 13, 2026

2023–24 school spending dataJan 8, 2026

2024–25 dropout ratesDec 4, 2025

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.