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Highland Community Elementary

Q: Is Highland Community Elementary a good school?

Highland Community Elementary ranks 625 th of 1039 Wisconsin elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

625^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,039 Wisconsin Elementary Schools

Better than 40% of Wisconsin elementary schools

Summary

Highland Community Elementary is a small PK–5 school in rural Highland, WI, serving 124 students as part of the Highland School District. In 2025-26 it ranked 625 of 1,039 Wisconsin schools (40th percentile, 2 stars) — its best showing in the available history, up from 28th percentile in 2024-25 and 24th percentile in 2022-23. That still places it in the bottom cluster of nearby schools: Dodgeville Elementary (72nd percentile), Mineral Point Elementary (67th), Fennimore Elementary (66th), River Valley Intermediate School (63rd), Riverdale Elementary (54th), Richland Center Intermediate School (51st), Boscobel Elementary (45th), Iowa-Grant Elementary/Middle (43rd) and River Ridge Elementary (41st). Notably, the school is performing better than its district as a whole, which ranks 22nd percentile (1 star).

Results vary sharply by grade. Third grade is a bright spot: 60% proficient in ELA (state: 52.08%) and 66.67% in math (state: 54.75%), above every nearby school except Dodgeville Elementary in math and second only to Mineral Point Elementary in ELA. Fourth grade sits near state averages — 50% in both ELA and math, 75% in social studies, and 50% in science. Fifth grade is the clearest concern: 38.89% proficient in ELA and 27.78% in math, both well below state averages and the lowest among nearby schools with 5th-grade data. With only 124 students, single-year grade results can swing widely.

Attendance is a genuine strength: chronic absenteeism is 3.1% in 2024-25, far below the state's 17.3% and second-lowest among nearby schools behind Boscobel Elementary (1.9%). Spending is $18,213 per student with an 11.1 student-teacher ratio, favorable compared with several neighbors. About 41% of students qualify for free/reduced lunch, moderate locally. Still, effectiveness rankings for low-income students (22nd percentile in 2024-25) and for female students have been bottom-quartile in the years reported.

124

Students ?

11.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$18,213

Per pupil spending ?

41.1%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

≥ 95%

Kindergartners meeting all minimum immunization requirements (2025-26)

1030 Cardinal Dr
Highland, WI 53543

(608) 929-4525

District: Highland School District

Students who attend Highland Community Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Highland Community Middle
High:	Highland Community High

Racial breakdown:

White:

85.5%

Hispanic:

9.7%

Two or more races:

4.0%

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At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 25th percentile in 2016 → 40th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 15 percentile points since 2016

✓Small classes — about 11 students per teacher

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school51%

District avg51%

Wisconsin avg55%

625^th of 1,039

Wisconsin public elementary schools ?

Bottom 40%▲ up 14 pts since 2016

From bottom 25% (2016) to bottom 40% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Wisconsin Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

339^th of 432Highland School District among Wisconsin 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	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	47.8	625 of 1039	39.8%	★★☆☆☆
2025	36.3	756 of 1044	27.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	42.0	706 of 1061	33.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	30.2	816 of 1067	23.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	29.0	829 of 1067	22.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	25.8	835 of 1050	20.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	44.4	659 of 1037	36.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	27.3	826 of 1025	19.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	29.0	830 of 1071	22.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	32.6	801 of 1075	25.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	57.9	521 of 1076	51.6%	★★★☆☆
2014	58.1	470 of 1061	55.7%	★★★☆☆
2013	66.9	302 of 1053	71.3%	★★★★☆
2012	53.4	612 of 1045	41.4%	★★☆☆☆
2011	30.7	876 of 1046	16.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	33.6	831 of 1045	20.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	55.1	557 of 1030	45.9%	★★☆☆☆
2008	51.5	625 of 1021	38.8%	★★☆☆☆
2007	50.1	438 of 689	36.4%	★★☆☆☆
2006	48.6	467 of 712	34.4%	★★☆☆☆
2005	41.4	446 of 632	29.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2023	13.1	887 of 1010	12.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	27.6	799 of 1017	21.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	15.9	878 of 1004	12.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	49.3	573 of 1002	42.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	38.6	693 of 997	30.5%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2025	29.4	678 of 870	22.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	32.4	643 of 866	25.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	23.9	744 of 871	14.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	45.7	489 of 859	43.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	38.2	561 of 847	33.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	31.3	666 of 874	23.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	28.0	709 of 854	17.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2023	40.4	667 of 1011	34.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	40.3	681 of 1017	33.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	52.4	533 of 1003	46.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	39.4	684 of 1002	31.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	22.0	842 of 997	15.5%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2019	41.1	463 of 718	35.5%	★★☆☆☆

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)

White (2019)36th percentile~ school

Male (2023)34th percentile+11 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)22nd percentile-6 vs school

Female (2023)12th percentile-11 vs school

By subject vs Wisconsin (2025-2026) ?

Social Studies75%+9 vs state

Science50%-3 vs state

English Language Arts49%-4 vs state

Mathematics47%-6 vs state

★

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Schools Near Highland Community 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)				Forward Exam English Language Arts (2026)						Forward Exam Mathematics (2026)						Forward Exam Social Studies (2026)		Forward Exam Science (2026)		Vaccination (2025-26)		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	Forward Exam English Language Arts 3rd Grade	Forward Exam English Language Arts 4th Grade	Forward Exam English Language Arts 5th Grade	Forward Exam English Language Arts 6th Grade	Forward Exam English Language Arts 7th Grade	Forward Exam English Language Arts 8th Grade	Forward Exam Mathematics 3rd Grade	Forward Exam Mathematics 4th Grade	Forward Exam Mathematics 5th Grade	Forward Exam Mathematics 6th Grade	Forward Exam Mathematics 7th Grade	Forward Exam Mathematics 8th Grade	Forward Exam Social Studies 4th Grade	Forward Exam Social Studies 8th Grade	Forward Exam Science 4th Grade	Forward Exam Science 8th Grade	Vaccination: Kindergartners meeting all minimum immunization requirements	Vaccination: Exemption rate	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Highland Community Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1030 Cardinal Dr	Highland	53543	Iowa County	Highland School District	No	No	No	Yes	(608) 929-4525	124	11	11.1	41.1%	106 (85.5%)	1 (0.8%)	12 (9.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (4.0%)	47.8	625^th of 1039 public elementary schools	39.8%		36.3	756^th of 1044 public elementary schools	27.6%	131	60.0	50.0	38.9				66.7	50.0	27.8				75.0		50.0		≥ 95%		$18,213	$1,405	$16,809
Iowa-Grant Elementary/Middle	Public	PK, KG-8	498 County Road IG	Livingston	53554	Iowa County	Iowa-Grant School District	No	No	No	Yes	(608) 943-6313	423	37	11.5	45.4%	383 (90.5%)	4 (0.9%)	30 (7.1%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.9%)	50.3	589^th of 1039 public elementary schools	43.3%		49.4	592^nd of 1044 public elementary schools	43.3%	3	41.7	40.4	48.7	69.8	32.7	42.6	41.7	42.6	81.1	76.7	73.5	57.4	55.3	53.7	46.8	44.4	87%		$16,937	$1,184	$15,753
Riverdale Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	800 N 6th St	Muscoda	53573	Grant County	Riverdale School District	No	No	No	Yes	(608) 739-3101	337	28	12.1	56.4%	308 (91.4%)	1 (0.3%)	6 (1.8%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (5.9%)	58.1	480^th of 1039 public elementary schools	53.8%		61.1	442^nd of 1044 public elementary schools	57.7%	38	39.0	57.1	49.0	66.7			58.5	54.3	64.7	60.6			62.9		62.9		77%		$16,231	$739	$15,492
Dodgeville Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	404 N Johnson St	Dodgeville	53533	Iowa County	Dodgeville School District	No	No	No	Yes	(608) 935-3307	385	33	11.7	33.0%	322 (83.6%)	4 (1.0%)	27 (7.0%)	15 (3.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (4.4%)	71.6	294^th of 1039 public elementary schools	71.7%		63.3	407^th of 1044 public elementary schools	61.0%	113	58.3	67.1					79.2	67.1					71.2		60.3		69%		$15,327	$441	$14,886
Fennimore Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	830 Madison St	Fennimore	53809	Grant County	Fennimore Community School District	No	No	No	Yes	(608) 822-3285	380	32	11.7	46.6%	342 (90.0%)	1 (0.3%)	32 (8.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.3%)	67.3	352^nd of 1039 public elementary schools	66.1%		81.6	140^th of 1044 public elementary schools	86.6%	212	58.2	56.0	60.0				65.5	60.0	60.0				82.0		60.0		68%		$15,165	$1,091	$14,074
Mineral Point Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	611 Cothern St	Mineral Point	53565	Iowa County	Mineral Point Unified School District	No	No	No	Yes	(608) 987-0711	377	28	13.3	20.4%	355 (94.2%)	3 (0.8%)	7 (1.9%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (2.7%)	67.9	348^th of 1039 public elementary schools	66.5%		77.3	203^rd of 1044 public elementary schools	80.6%	145	66.0	57.6	56.5				54.7	59.1	63.0				78.8		68.2		91%		$15,458	$00	$15,458
River Valley Elementary	Public	PK, KG-2	830 W Daley St	Spring Green	53588	Sauk County	River Valley School District	No	No	No	Yes	(608) 588-2559	258	24	10.5	38.8%	239 (92.6%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (4.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (3.1%)								(n/a)																	91%		$19,959	$870	$19,089
River Valley Intermediate School	Public	3-6	660 W Daley St	Spring Green	53588	Sauk County	River Valley School District	No	No	No	Yes	(608) 588-2556	324	29	11.3	33.3%	303 (93.5%)	2 (0.6%)	11 (3.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.2%)	64.9	387^th of 1039 public elementary schools	62.8%					(n/a)	47.4	62.2	54.9	62.3			59.7	62.2	56.3	71.4			68.9		63.5				$17,162	$323	$16,839
Boscobel Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	200 Buchanan St	Boscobel	53805	Grant County	Boscobel Area School District	No	No	No	Yes	(608) 375-4165	311	30	10.3	58.8%	288 (92.6%)	5 (1.6%)	7 (2.3%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (2.9%)	51.1	576^th of 1039 public elementary schools	44.6%		66.7	365^th of 1044 public elementary schools	65.0%	211	38.9	54.0	54.8				52.8	56.0	59.5				66.0		44.0		80%		$18,682	$1,218	$17,463
Richland Center Intermediate School	Public	3-6	1801 State Highway 80	Richland Center	53581	Richland County	Richland School District	No	No	No	Yes	(608) 647-6381	275	32	8.6	66.5%	225 (81.8%)	3 (1.1%)	26 (9.5%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (6.9%)	56.2	513^th of 1039 public elementary schools	50.6%		38.4	743^rd of 1044 public elementary schools	28.8%	230	50.0	53.7	63.1	50.9			59.5	41.8	45.3	51.7			83.6		59.7				$20,040	$2,392	$17,648

Frequently Asked Questions about Highland Community Elementary

What district is Highland Community Elementary in?

Highland School District

Is Highland Community Elementary a good school?

Highland Community Elementary ranks 625^th of 1039 Wisconsin elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Highland Community Elementary?

Students at Highland Community Elementary are 85% White, 10% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races.

How many students attend Highland Community Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 124 students attended Highland Community Elementary.

What schools do graduates of Highland Community Elementary attend?

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

Middle : Highland Community Middle
High : Highland Community High

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Latest Wisconsin data All new data »

2018–19 through 2025–26 immunization rates (updated)Oct 20, 2026

2016–17 through 2017–18 immunization rates (updated)Oct 19, 2026

2025–26 ACT & Forward Exam scoresOct 1, 2026

2021–22 through 2024–25 school spending dataJul 16, 2026

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

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.