HIGHLAND ELEMENTARY

HIGHLAND ELEMENTARY is an elementary campus of heavily attended scale in LAS CRUCES, New Mexico, part of LAS CRUCES, serveing 704 students in grades pre-K through 5. By comparison, New Mexico's public schools average about 287 students each, so HIGHLAND ELEMENTARY sits 145% bigger than that benchmark.

Across the 39 schools in LAS CRUCES (22,670 students total), HIGHLAND ELEMENTARY accounts for its share of the district's footprint.

Demographically, HIGHLAND ELEMENTARY logs that the largest single group is Hispanic, at 74% of enrollment. Other groups include 18% White, 4% multiracial.

In terms of school funding signals, The school lists 49 full-time-equivalent teachers, for a student-teacher ratio near 14.4:1. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 12.9:1, putting HIGHLAND ELEMENTARY higher than the state norm the norm. Around 100% of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, which schools and policymakers use as a rough income-mix signal.

After controlling for student poverty, HIGHLAND ELEMENTARY tracks the demographic baseline. The model predicts 33.4% given the school's FRL share; actual proficiency is 41.8%.

In the surrounding community, Doñan Ana County reports that median household earnings sit near $56,848, about 32% of the adult population holds a bachelor's degree or above, and census figures put the poverty rate at about 19%. Across Doñan Ana County's 81 public schools (combined enrollment of about 36,561 students), HIGHLAND ELEMENTARY is one campus in the mix.

Nearest neighbor: SONOMA ELEMENTARY, around 0.5 miles off. Counting just inside five miles, 8 other public schools cluster around HIGHLAND ELEMENTARY. Ranking that nearby cluster on reported proficiency puts HIGHLAND ELEMENTARY at 3rd of 8; the average score across the group is 37.8%.

The school occupies a downtown site.

Five-year trend. HIGHLAND ELEMENTARY's enrollment has decreased 15% since 2018, when it stood at 826 (now 704). Over the same period, the White share decreased from 22% to 18%. Class-load math has tightened: from 17.4:1 in 2018 to 14.4:1 in 2025.

On allk12, the page collects discussion, questions, and updates around science fair prep, picture-day reminders, and bus-route questions. Posting is open to anyone connected to the school.