Highland Elementary School

Highland Elementary School operates as a close-knit elementary campus in Gadsden, Alabama, operated by Etowah County. Current enrollment sits at 216 students spanning grades pre-K through 6. Enrollment runs roughly 55% smaller than the state mean of about 480.

Etowah County runs 22 schools in total, collectively educating 8,739 students. Highland Elementary School is one of those campuses.

Looking at the student body, Highland Elementary School reports that the student body is overwhelmingly White (86%). Other groups include 8% multiracial, 3% Black, 3% Hispanic. That is visibly more White than the county at large, where the share is closer to 77%.

In terms of school funding signals, The school employs 12 full-time-equivalent teachers, for a student-teacher ratio near 18.0:1. That figure is higher than the state norm's 17.0:1 average. Roughly 54% of students at Highland Elementary School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, often used as a Title I proxy.

On a demographically-adjusted basis, Highland Elementary School sits in the middle band of the BeatsExpectations distribution. Schools with this campus's student mix typically land near 44.9%; this one delivers 42.6%.

Across the wider county, the surrounding county (Etowah County) records that median household income runs about $54,563, 18% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate sits near 12%. Highland Elementary School is one of 42 public schools in Etowah County (combined enrollment of about 15,139 students).

The closest other public school is Thompson Elementary School, roughly 3.1 miles away. 8 of the 8 nearest public schools sit inside a five-mile radius. Ranking that nearby cluster on reported proficiency puts Highland Elementary School at 1st of 8; the average score across the group is 35.2%.

Geographically, the school is in a small-town area.

Trend over the last 7 years. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at Highland Elementary School has rose 14%, going from 189 students in 2018 to 216 in 2025. Over the same period, the White share decreased from 90% to 86%. The student-to-teacher ratio grew from 15.5:1 in 2018 to 18.0:1 today.

On the community side, the feed for Highland Elementary School typically covers classroom updates, athletics, and weather closures. The community welcomes input from current and former families.