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Highland Elementary School

Q: Is Highland Elementary School a good school?

Highland Elementary School ranks 136 th of 684 Kentucky elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

136^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 684 Kentucky Elementary Schools

Better than 80% of Kentucky elementary schools

Summary

Highland Elementary School serves 186 students in pre-K through grade 5 in Waynesburg, in rural Lincoln County, Kentucky. The school is small compared with the 10 nearby schools in the supplied comparison: it has the fewest students, while the next smallest, Waynesburg Elementary School, has 194. The clearest takeaway is Highland’s strong literacy performance: its reading results are high across all three tested grades, and grade 5 writing leads nearby schools with reported scores.

Reading and writing are Highland’s strongest subjects compared with the state, district and nearby schools. In 2025–2026, reading proficiency was 72% in grade 3, 74% in grade 4 and 75% in grade 5—above state results of 49%, 50% and 51%, respectively, and above the nearby-school averages in each grade. Grade 5 writing was 72%, compared with 35% statewide, 50% in Lincoln County and a nearby-school average of 46%. Editing and mechanics is a relative weakness: Highland scored 47%, below the state’s 48%, the district’s 55% and the nearby average of 51%. Math is above state results in the reportable grades, but below nearby-school averages: grade 3 was 45% versus a peer average of 46%, and grade 5 was 44% versus 49%. Highland’s grade 4 math score is not available because the state suppressed it.

Reading has improved substantially: Highland’s average across grades 3–5 rose from 40% in 2022–2023 to 74% in 2025–2026, while the state average rose from 47% to 50%. SchoolDigger’s rating climbed from the 39th percentile and 2 stars in 2023–2024 to the 80th percentile and 4 stars in 2025–2026, ranking 136th of 684 Kentucky elementary schools. SchoolDigger’s Female Students ranking, a measure of how well the school serves that group, rose from the 22nd to the 82nd percentile over the same period. Highland’s student-teacher ratio was 11.3 in 2024–2025, and 77.4% of students were free/reduced lunch eligible that year, close to the nearby average of 76.8%. One concern to weigh alongside the academic results is chronic absenteeism: 25% in 2025–2026, equal to the district figure and above the state’s 24%; every listed nearby school was lower.

186

Students ?

11.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

$18,813

Per pupil spending ?

77.4%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

75 Tick Ridge Rd
Waynesburg, KY 40489

(606) 365-2768

District: Lincoln County

Students who attend Highland Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Lincoln County Middle School
High:	Lincoln County High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

87.1%

Hispanic:

7.5%

Two or more races:

4.3%

See top rated Kentucky elementary schools

Compare Highland Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 51st percentile in 2016 → 80th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Kentucky average (58% vs 44% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 20% of Kentucky elementary schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 29 percentile points since 2016

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school58%

District avg47%

Kentucky avg44%

136^th of 684

Kentucky public elementary schools ?

Top 20%▲ up 29 pts since 2016

From top 49% (2016) to top 20% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Kentucky Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 5Elementary Schools in the Lincoln County

93^rd of 158Lincoln County among Kentucky 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	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	74.6	136 of 684	80.1%	★★★★☆
2025	51.0	329 of 685	52.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	39.6	421 of 685	38.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	38.4	427 of 687	37.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	56.8	259 of 684	62.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	21.9	443 of 517	14.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	41.3	463 of 700	33.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	41.5	423 of 691	38.8%	★★☆☆☆
2017	40.8	450 of 694	35.2%	★★☆☆☆
2016	51.0	340 of 690	50.7%	★★★☆☆
2015	30.0	542 of 698	22.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	40.1	457 of 705	35.2%	★★☆☆☆
2013	52.2	343 of 719	52.3%	★★★☆☆
2012	50.9	348 of 713	51.2%	★★★☆☆
2011	64.6	225 of 688	67.3%	★★★☆☆
2010	70.4	176 of 683	74.2%	★★★★☆
2009	51.4	349 of 658	47.0%	★★☆☆☆
2008	8.1	617 of 651	5.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	41.3	391 of 638	38.7%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2019	32.7	311 of 474	34.4%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	74.9	117 of 657	82.2%	★★★★☆
2025	40.2	412 of 648	36.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	26.9	501 of 644	22.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	21.9	533 of 639	16.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	54.5	258 of 641	59.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	38.2	474 of 671	29.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	36.4	477 of 663	28.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	73.5	112 of 674	83.4%	★★★★☆
2025	48.7	328 of 672	51.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	43.6	377 of 665	43.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	44.9	359 of 670	46.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	61.7	176 of 667	73.6%	★★★★☆
2019	53.8	299 of 664	55.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	42.1	395 of 631	37.4%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	69.5	156 of 651	76.0%	★★★★☆
2025	71.2	141 of 653	78.4%	★★★★☆
2024	52.4	290 of 652	55.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	48.1	332 of 652	49.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	56.2	238 of 657	63.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	46.0	405 of 676	40.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	47.5	374 of 665	43.8%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2019	44.6	398 of 661	39.8%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	70.8	154 of 650	76.3%	★★★★☆
2025	45.7	351 of 659	46.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	32.5	462 of 659	29.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	31.7	462 of 658	29.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	45.8	337 of 656	48.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	53.2	279 of 593	53.0%	★★★☆☆

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)

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)83rd percentile+3 vs school

Female (2026)82nd percentile~ school

White (2026)76th percentile-4 vs school

Male (2026)76th percentile-4 vs school

Special Education (2019)40th percentile+6 vs school

Disabled (2019)34th percentile~ school

By subject vs Kentucky (2025-2026) ?

Reading74%+24 vs state

Writing72%+37 vs state

Science48%+8 vs state

Social Studies47%+9 vs state

Editing and Mechanics47%~ state avg

Mathematics44%~ state avg

5.0

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Schools Near Highland Elementary School

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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)				KSA Mathematics (2026)			KSA Reading (2026)			KSA Science (2026)	KSA Writing (2026)	KSA Social Studies (2026)	KSA Editing and Mechanics (2026)	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/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	KSA Mathematics 3rd Grade	KSA Mathematics 4th Grade	KSA Mathematics 5th Grade	KSA Reading 3rd Grade	KSA Reading 4th Grade	KSA Reading 5th Grade	KSA Science 4th Grade	KSA Writing 5th Grade	KSA Social Studies 5th Grade	KSA Editing and Mechanics 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Highland Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	75 Tick Ridge Rd	Waynesburg	40489	Lincoln County	Lincoln County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 365-2768	186	16	11.3	77.4%	162 (87.1%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (7.5%)	2 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (4.3%)	74.6	136^th of 684 public elementary schools	80.1%		51	329^th of 685 public elementary schools	52.0%	193	45.0		44.0	72.0	74.0	75.0	48.0	72.0	47.0	47.0	$18,813	$2,507	$14,612
Waynesburg Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	345 US Hwy 328 W	Waynesburg	40489	Lincoln County	Lincoln County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 379-6413	194	18	10.5	87.1%	182 (93.8%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (3.6%)	2 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.5%)	47	365^th of 684 public elementary schools	46.6%		69.6	177^th of 685 public elementary schools	74.2%	188	46.0	31.0	48.0	34.0	51.0	52.0	31.0	57.0	39.0		$18,932	$2,545	$14,722
Crab Orchard Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	383 Lancaster St	Crab Orchard	40419	Lincoln County	Lincoln County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 355-2331	266	21	12.4	86.8%	251 (94.4%)	2 (0.8%)	6 (2.3%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (2.3%)	33.1	475^th of 684 public elementary schools	30.6%		40.2	427^th of 685 public elementary schools	37.7%	48	39.0	35.0	22.0	47.0	31.0	46.0	29.0		44.0	44.0	$17,385	$2,391	$13,346
Stanford Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	101 Old Fort Rd	Stanford	40484	Lincoln County	Lincoln County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 365-2191	572	49	11.6	75.0%	467 (81.6%)	25 (4.4%)	41 (7.2%)	7 (1.2%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (5.2%)	33.7	472^nd of 684 public elementary schools	31.0%		39.1	438^th of 685 public elementary schools	36.1%	34	21.0	24.0	27.0	36.0	43.0	58.0	34.0	42.0	38.0	43.0	$15,081	$1,863	$11,716
Hustonville Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	93 N College St	Hustonville	40437	Lincoln County	Lincoln County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 346-3831	439	28	15.5	78.1%	404 (92.0%)	2 (0.5%)	10 (2.3%)	3 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (4.6%)	83.4	74^th of 684 public elementary schools	89.2%		66	207^th of 685 public elementary schools	69.8%	133	65.0	69.0	53.0	68.0	58.0	71.0	52.0	59.0	51.0	66.0	$15,772	$1,754	$12,507
Eubank Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	285 W Hwy 70	Eubank	42567	Pulaski County	Pulaski County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 379-2712	319	23	14.1	84.0%	281 (88.1%)	2 (0.6%)	22 (6.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (4.1%)	40.6	418^th of 684 public elementary schools	38.9%		58.1	274^th of 685 public elementary schools	60.0%	144	38.0	43.0	40.0	47.0	57.0	47.0	47.0	21.0	30.0	25.0	$14,185	$1,701	$12,480
Jones Park Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	6295 East KY 70	Liberty	42539	Casey County	Casey County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 787-6942	312	22	13.9	77.6%	281 (90.1%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (5.1%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (4.5%)	13.9	620^th of 684 public elementary schools	9.4%		54.1	302^nd of 685 public elementary schools	55.9%	318	33.0	29.0	19.0	33.0	36.0	27.0	24.0		16.0	28.0	$18,375	$3,905	$14,470
Brodhead Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	27 School Street	Brodhead	40409	Rockcastle County	Rockcastle County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 758-8512	493	34	14.5	67.7%	465 (94.3%)	2 (0.4%)	15 (3.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (2.2%)	81.9	89^th of 684 public elementary schools	87.0%		75.5	134^th of 685 public elementary schools	80.4%	45	47.0	48.0	84.0	56.0	62.0	85.0	48.0	71.0	75.0	75.0	$13,517	$13,517	$11,761
Junction City Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	250 School St	Junction City	40440	Boyle County	Boyle County	No	No	No	Yes	(859) 936-7524	457	30	15.4	68.5%	378 (82.7%)	7 (1.5%)	36 (7.9%)	1 (0.2%)	4 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (6.8%)	78.4	116^th of 684 public elementary schools	83.0%		84.4	79^th of 685 public elementary schools	88.5%	37	54.0	53.0	67.0	66.0	49.0	68.0	47.0		63.0	70.0	$13,559	$1,065	$12,494
Lancaster Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	205 Lexington St	Lancaster	40444	Garrard County	Garrard County	No	No	No	Yes	(859) 792-3047	462	35	13.3	78.8%	372 (80.5%)	15 (3.2%)	25 (5.4%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	48 (10.4%)	73.7	143^rd of 684 public elementary schools	79.1%		63.5	226^th of 685 public elementary schools	67.0%	83	82.0	69.0	66.0	72.0	58.0	64.0	54.0	20.0	52.0	39.0	$15,984	$2,240	$13,588

Frequently Asked Questions about Highland Elementary School

What is the racial makeup of Highland Elementary School?

Students at Highland Elementary School are 87% White, 8% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

What district is Highland Elementary School in?

Lincoln County

How many students attend Highland Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 186 students attended Highland Elementary School.

What schools do graduates of Highland Elementary School attend?

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

Middle : Lincoln County Middle School
High : Lincoln County High School

Is Highland Elementary School a good school?

Highland Elementary School ranks 136^th of 684 Kentucky elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Rate Highland Elementary School!

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Latest Kentucky data All new data »

2024–25 school spending dataOct 15, 2026

2025–26 attendance data, dropout rates & graduation ratesOct 15, 2026

2025–26 KSA test scoresOct 15, 2026

2024–25 KSA test scoresOct 30, 2025

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