Highlands MS

Highlands MS is one of the reasonably sized junior highs in Natrona Heights, Pennsylvania, overseen by Highlands SD, with 575 students on its rolls from grades 5 through 8.

Across the 4 schools in Highlands SD (2,004 students total), Highlands MS accounts for its share of the district's footprint.

On demographics, Highlands MS reports that 73% of the student body identifies as White. Other groups include 13% multiracial, 9% Black, 3% Hispanic. Compared to Allegheny County overall, the school's racial mix sits in roughly the same range.

Looking at school resources, On paper, Highlands MS has 59 full-time-equivalent teachers, translating to a class-load average of around 9.7:1. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 13.2:1, putting Highlands MS tighter than the state norm the norm. Around 104% of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, a number frequently used as a low-income enrollment indicator. By comparison, Allegheny County runs at roughly 54%, so the school's eligibility rate is somewhat above the surrounding baseline.

On a demographically-adjusted basis, Highlands MS tracks the demographic baseline. The model predicts 33.2% given the school's FRL share; actual proficiency is 37.6%.

Zooming out to the county, the surrounding county (Allegheny County) reports that median household earnings sit near $78,548, roughly 46% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and census figures put the poverty rate at about 7%. Highlands MS is one of 277 public schools in Allegheny County (combined enrollment of about 141,392 students).

The closest other public school is Highlands SHS, roughly 0.3 miles away. Within five miles, there are 8 other public schools. Among the 7 schools in that immediate cluster with test data (this one included), Highlands MS ranks 5th on composite proficiency, beneath the local average of 41.4%.

Geographically, the school is in a commuter-belt area.

Trend over the last 7 years. Over the past 7-year window, the student count held roughly steady: 564 students in 2018 compared to 575 in 2025. The White share of enrollment ticked down from 81% to 73% over that span. Class-load math has fell: from 12.5:1 in 2018 to 9.7:1 in 2025.

In the discussion threads here, recent activity here tends to focus on science fair prep, picture-day reminders, and bus-route questions. Anyone with firsthand experience at this school can post or comment.