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Highland Elementary

Public Grades PK, KG-5

808^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 869 Minnesota Elementary Schools

Better than 7% of Minnesota elementary schools

Summary

Highland Elementary is a PK–5 school with 534 students in Columbia Heights, MN, part of the Columbia Heights Public School District, serving a high-poverty community where about 78% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The school ranks in the bottom 7% of Minnesota elementary schools (808th of 869) with 0 stars in 2025–2026, matching its district's 7th percentile ranking. Proficiency is well below state averages: 18.7% in math, 22.2% in reading, and 6.4% in science, compared with 44.9%, 48.6%, and 25.5% statewide. Science is the weakest subject and has fallen sharply from 23.6% proficiency in 2022–2023.

Compared with nearby schools, Highland Elementary sits near the bottom, but it is not the lowest. Valley View Elementary (0.6 miles away) trails Highland in math (12.7%) and reading (18.5%) but is slightly ahead in science (8.6%), while North Park School for Innovation posts higher reading (26.9%) and science (8.8%) but lower math (16.6%). Schools in nearby communities with lower poverty rates perform far better: Waite Park Elementary ranks in the 92nd percentile with 5 stars and Bel Air Elementary in the 76th with 4 stars. Some nearby high-poverty charter schools, including Global Academy and Bultum Academy, also outpace Highland in every subject, suggesting room to grow. Highland's student–teacher ratio of 15.6 is higher than most nearby schools.

There are some encouraging signs: math and reading have edged up slightly each year since 2023–2024. Fifth grade is a particular weak spot, with math and science proficiency near 6%. The school's relative effectiveness is lowest for English language learners, special education students, and students from low-income families — all in the bottom few percent statewide — which points to targeted support as a high-leverage area for improvement.

534

Students ?

15.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,593

Per pupil spending ?

78.3%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

All students in Minnesota receive free school meals.

92.3%

Kindergartners vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) (2025-26)

Exemptions: 0% (MMR)

1500 49th Ave NE
Columbia Heights, MN 55421-1991

(763) 528-4405

District: Columbia Heights Public School District

Students who attend Highland Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Columbia Academy
High:	Columbia Heights Senior High

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

51.1%

African American:

23.0%

White:

15.4%

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At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 14th percentile in 2016 → 7th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Minnesota average (19% vs 43% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (7th percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 7 percentile points since 2016

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school19%

District avg16%

Minnesota avg43%

808^th of 869

Minnesota public elementary schools ?

Bottom 7%▼ down 7 pts since 2016

From bottom 14% (2016) to bottom 7% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Minnesota Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 3Elementary Schools in the Columbia Heights Public School District

427^th of 458Columbia Heights Public School District among Minnesota 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	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	8.6	808 of 869	7.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	7.9	810 of 872	7.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	6.4	823 of 881	6.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	11.4	747 of 845	11.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	13.0	746 of 858	13.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	11.7	755 of 869	13.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	14.9	755 of 870	13.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	15.6	738 of 847	12.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	21.3	716 of 853	16.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	19.0	730 of 848	13.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	14.6	736 of 840	12.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	27.5	674 of 826	18.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	27.6	666 of 824	19.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	45.2	571 of 820	30.4%	★★☆☆☆
2011	26.8	682 of 814	16.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	25.4	685 of 803	14.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	24.4	377 of 434	13.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	47.6	511 of 781	34.6%	★★☆☆☆
2007	54.8	412 of 777	47.0%	★★☆☆☆
2006	76.4	126 of 756	83.3%	★★★★☆
2005	50.5	422 of 685	38.4%	★★☆☆☆
2004	20.1	599 of 676	11.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2003	23.2	581 of 674	13.8%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	37.0	205 of 315	34.9%	★★☆☆☆
2025	34.5	200 of 298	32.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	31.7	218 of 310	29.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	40.7	156 of 279	44.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	38.0	183 of 282	35.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	12.5	217 of 227	4.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	38.1	186 of 283	34.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	47.4	149 of 266	44.0%	★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	18.3	294 of 305	3.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	16.4	295 of 303	2.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	19.9	278 of 303	8.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	32.7	203 of 276	26.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	33.1	187 of 256	27.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	18.5	174 of 175	0.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	29.8	199 of 239	16.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	41.1	139 of 242	42.6%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	10.1	733 of 790	7.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	9.7	733 of 799	8.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	8.5	749 of 809	7.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	7.8	731 of 787	7.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	10.2	718 of 799	10.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	9.9	705 of 783	10.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	19.2	673 of 787	14.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	15.8	677 of 774	12.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	11.3	250 of 256	2.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	13.3	224 of 238	5.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	12.2	239 of 249	4.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	18.7	193 of 214	9.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	30.5	156 of 209	25.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	39.8	108 of 153	29.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	28.6	171 of 219	21.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	31.2	173 of 220	21.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	12.2	718 of 764	6.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	11.6	713 of 764	6.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	11.3	734 of 793	7.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	20.0	657 of 774	15.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	29.8	501 of 663	24.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	26.0	545 of 683	20.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	20.7	635 of 740	14.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	26.5	592 of 728	18.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	8.5	753 of 807	6.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	7.2	765 of 812	5.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	5.0	790 of 826	4.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	15.9	681 of 799	14.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	15.4	696 of 808	13.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	13.9	685 of 784	12.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	14.4	700 of 798	12.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	17.0	674 of 779	13.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2019	28.0	77 of 96	19.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	15.5	89 of 98	9.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	13.3	557 of 579	3.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	11.9	535 of 562	4.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	13.0	491 of 524	6.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	36.0	350 of 500	30.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	25.4	412 of 515	20.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	19.3	392 of 463	15.3%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	62.2	245 of 710	65.5%	★★★☆☆
2025	51.6	363 of 714	49.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	21.4	640 of 730	12.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	28.7	574 of 712	19.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	16.1	678 of 725	6.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	18.5	652 of 710	8.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	35.4	549 of 722	24.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	14.0	683 of 712	4.1%	☆☆☆☆☆

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)

White (2026)65th percentile+58 vs school

African American (2026)35th percentile+28 vs school

Multi-racial (2019)20th percentile+7 vs school

Female (2026)7th percentile~ school

Male (2026)7th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)6th percentile~ school

Special Education (2026)4th percentile-3 vs school

English Language Learner (2026)4th percentile-3 vs school

Hispanic (2026)2nd percentile-5 vs school

By subject vs Minnesota (2025-2026) ?

Reading22%-26 vs state

Math19%-26 vs state

Science6%-19 vs state

★

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Schools Near Highland Elementary

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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 Vaccination Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				MCA-IV Reading (2026)							MCA-IV Science (2026)			MCA-III Math (2026)							Vaccination (2025-26)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
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	MCA-IV Reading 3rd Grade	MCA-IV Reading 4th Grade	MCA-IV Reading 5th Grade	MCA-IV Reading 6th Grade	MCA-IV Reading 7th Grade	MCA-IV Reading 8th Grade	MCA-IV Reading All Grades	MCA-IV Science 5th Grade	MCA-IV Science 8th Grade	MCA-IV Science All Grades	MCA-III Math 3rd Grade	MCA-III Math 4th Grade	MCA-III Math 5th Grade	MCA-III Math 6th Grade	MCA-III Math 7th Grade	MCA-III Math 8th Grade	MCA-III Math All Grades	Vaccination: Kindergartners vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR)	Vaccination: Exemption rate	Total
Highland Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1500 49th Ave NE	Columbia Heights	55421	Anoka County	Columbia Heights Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(763) 528-4405	534	34	15.6	78.3%	82 (15.4%)	123 (23.0%)	273 (51.1%)	26 (4.9%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (5.1%)	8.6	808^th of 869 public elementary schools	7.0%		7.9	810^th of 872 public elementary schools	7.1%	2	18.3	24.1	24.1				22.2	6.4		6.4	24.4	24.7	6.3				18.7	92.3%	0%	$14,593
Global Academy	Public, Charter	K-8	3000 5th Street NW	New Brighton	55112	Ramsey County	Global Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(763) 404-8200	447	34	12.9	89.0%	63 (14.1%)	369 (82.6%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (3.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	43.4	532^nd of 869 public elementary schools	38.8%		44.1	529^th of 872 public elementary schools	39.3%	3	44.9	42.6	60.7	38.5	54.2	48.0	48.2	25.0	14.0	19.8	61.2	37.0	30.4	16.3	20.8	26.0	32.0	68.1%	0%	$15,261
Valley View Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	800 49th Ave NE	Columbia Heights	55421	Anoka County	Columbia Heights Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(763) 528-4205	568	36	15.6	79.2%	78 (13.7%)	72 (12.7%)	377 (66.4%)	12 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (5.1%)	6.4	825^th of 869 public elementary schools	5.1%		4.8	839^th of 872 public elementary schools	3.8%	14	17.0	16.7	22.0				18.5	8.6		8.6	13.6	15.6	8.6				12.7	≥ 98%	0%	$13,873
Bultum Academy	Public, Charter	PK, KG-8	1555 40th Ave NE	Columbia Heights	55421	Anoka County	Bultum Academy Charter School	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(763) 450-3522	249	20	12.5	83.1%	10 (4.0%)	239 (96.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	23.8	694^th of 869 public elementary schools	20.1%		26.8	676^th of 872 public elementary schools	22.5%	18	40.0	9.4	38.5	37.9	33.3	43.8	32.7	7.7	18.8	11.9	54.3	9.4	26.9	17.2	16.7	18.8	25.6	42.1%	0%
North Park School for Innovation	Public	PK, KG-5	5575 Fillmore St NE	Fridley	55432	Anoka County	Columbia Heights Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(763) 528-4305	433	31	13.9	80.8%	68 (15.7%)	102 (23.6%)	190 (43.9%)	18 (4.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	55 (12.7%)	10.7	794^th of 869 public elementary schools	8.6%		7.7	814^th of 872 public elementary schools	6.7%	20	19.6	29.6	31.6				26.9	8.8		8.8	22.8	18.2	8.8				16.6	88.9%	7.9%	$14,968
Bel Air Elementary	Public	1-5	1800 5th St NW	New Brighton	55112	Ramsey County	Mounds View Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(651) 621-6300	729	48	15.0	36.8%	437 (59.9%)	88 (12.1%)	67 (9.2%)	62 (8.5%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	73 (10.0%)	75	206^th of 869 public elementary schools	76.3%		70.8	262^nd of 872 public elementary schools	70.0%	56	52.0	59.7	62.0				57.5	31.8		31.8	66.5	76.6	54.7				65.3			$12,365
Prodeo Columbia Heights Primary	Public, Charter	PK, KG-1	4141 University Ave NE	Columbia Heights	55421	Anoka County	Prodeo Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(763) 205-9950	218	21	10.3	88.1%	19 (8.7%)	149 (68.3%)	41 (18.8%)	2 (0.9%)	5 (2.3%)	1 (0.5%)	1 (0.5%)								(n/a)																		83.3%	0%	$17,501
Prodeo Columbia Heights Elementary	Public, Charter	2-5	4141 University Ave NE	Columbia Heights	55421	Anoka County	Prodeo Academy	Yes	No	No	No	(763) 205-9950	227	29	7.8	90.7%	9 (4.0%)	152 (67.0%)	62 (27.3%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.9%)	1 (0.4%)	11.7	781^st of 869 public elementary schools	10.1%		13.7	763^rd of 872 public elementary schools	12.5%	18	12.5	34.7	23.9				24.1	3.0		3.0	15.9	36.6	9.0				20.9
Pike Lake Kindergarten Center	Public	PK-K	2101 14th St NW	New Brighton	55112	Ramsey County	Mounds View Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(651) 621-7400	733	44	16.7	52.0%	341 (46.5%)	153 (20.9%)	96 (13.1%)	69 (9.4%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	73 (10.0%)								(n/a)																		94.3%	1%	$15,618
Waite Park Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1800 34th Ave NE	Minneapolis	55418	Hennepin County	Minneapolis Public School District	No	No	No	No	(612) 668-1600	266	22	11.9	29.3%	157 (59.0%)	30 (11.3%)	31 (11.7%)	5 (1.9%)	3 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	40 (15.0%)	87.2	67^th of 869 public elementary schools	92.3%		86.1	82^nd of 872 public elementary schools	90.6%	15	61.0	59.6	75.8				64.5	53.1		53.1	82.9	67.4	81.8				76.7	87.5%	0%	$13,491

Frequently Asked Questions about Highland Elementary

What district is Highland Elementary in?

Columbia Heights Public School District

What schools do graduates of Highland Elementary attend?

Students who attend Highland Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Columbia Academy
High : Columbia Heights Senior High

What is the racial makeup of Highland Elementary?

Students at Highland Elementary are 51% Hispanic, 23% African American, 15% White, 5% Two or more races, 5% Asian.

How many students attend Highland Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 534 students attended Highland Elementary.

Is Highland Elementary a good school?

Highland Elementary ranks in the bottom 7.0% of Minnesota elementary schools.

Rate Highland Elementary!

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Latest Minnesota data All new data »

2019–20 through 2025–26 immunization rates (updated)NewOct 19, 2026

2024–25 through 2025–26 MCA-III & MCA-IV test scoresSep 30, 2026

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesJun 13, 2026

2024–25 MCA-III test scoresAug 29, 2025

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