Advertisement

GreatSchools Rating

Highland High School

Public | 9-12 | 1667 students

Last modified
Community Rating

4 stars

Community Rating by Year
2013:
No new ratings
2012:
Based on 1 rating
2011:
Based on 2 ratings
2010:
Based on 1 rating

Teacher quality

Principal leadership

Parent involvement

Rate this school

Click on stars to rate
Please select a star rating for this school.
    Helpful reviews answer questions:
  • What do you think others should know?
  • What do you like?
  • How could your school improve?
    Review Guidelines
    GreatSchools won’t post reviews that contain:
  • Inappropriate language
  • Allegations of criminal conduct
  • Names of students, teachers or staff
1200 characters remaining
Please indicate your relationship to the school.
Please read and accept our Terms of Use to join GreatSchools.
Indicates a required field

7 reviews of this school


Sort by:
Show reviews by:
Posted June 12, 2012

A few years ago, Highland's fantastic principal was replaced by a lackluster, obtuse individual with deficient leadership skills. Because of this, several staff members left Highland. Very few stellar teachers remain. The gifted program has suffered and the We The People program (where Highland participant's excelled nationally) is no longer. I am disappointed and concerned for my child's educational future. His experience has been negative thus far --in fact he'll need to repeat a class due to the poor/lack of instruction. How disheartening! Our neighborhood school is a disservice to our neighborhood.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted June 20, 2011

We had two students attend and graduate from Highland. Both were in the gifted program, both took honors and AP classes, and both played Varsity sports. Both went onto college out of state and have adjusted well to the demands of college by making the Dean's list. Highland had a very dynamic female principal for the past 5 years that was replaced last school year (2011) by a very inexperienced individual. I don't know much about this principal but we are still strong supporters of Highland and encourage parents of gifted and honors students send their children to this school. Its diversity prepares students for college and there are many quality teachers at this school. We the People is the best program in the state and Highland's team is one of the best in the nation. If your child is a follower and lacks drive and determiniaton, I would not send him/her to any public school. Highland is a good school for the serious student and I would recommend it for those students planning on attending college in a big city with a diverse student body.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted February 24, 2011

Would NOT recommend this school if any student may be attending a DODD school afterwards!!! I have two kids that went there (one of which graduated from there). My one kid who went there but not graduated from there, went on to a DODD school and the first year with the DODD school, my kid struggled. My kid will graduate from the DODD school this year but to no thanks from Highland. Highland is not up with the standards and preparing these kids. The are behind and if I believe right, is not even accredited.


Posted April 28, 2008

I love this school! It is so diverse and it really shows other students that there are different people out there. It keeps the students from being so sheltered like other schools in the area. It is rather unfortunate that the media these days has been showing Highland as a bad school. Actually, I'm really glad that I came here. Everyone is so welcoming and the teachers are excellent. The campus is nice because it is so large and it is very traditional. Although there are some bad aspects of this school, who's to say that all the other schools don't have bad aspects? If you look closely, each school does. It just happens to be that the media shows Highland as one of the worse schools.
—Submitted by a student


Posted April 21, 2008

I had two children graduate from Highland and they both are attending private colleges on scholarships. Their professors comment on the quality of their work. Highland's German teacher is excellent! Both of my children are fluent in German and skipped the 1st 2 semesters of college german. g
—Submitted by a parent


Posted November 29, 2007

this school is so diverse and has so many great kids. I am very sad that the news and many other people are giving it a horrible reputation.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted January 29, 2007

Highland teachers are exceptional. Period.
—Submitted by Julio Rodriguez, a parent


Community ratings and reviews do not represent the views of GreatSchools nor does GreatSchools check their accuracy or verify the reviewers' identities. Use your discretion when evaluating these reviews.

About these ratings

The Community Rating is the school’s average rating from its community members (e.g., parents, students, and school staff). The highest possible rating is five stars; the lowest is one star.

The test results by subgroup show how the designated group of students is performing in comparison to the general population.
Math

The state average for Math was 29% in 2012.

403 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
17%
Reading

The state average for Reading was 34% in 2012.

403 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
25%
Scale: % proficient or advanced

About the tests


In 2011-2012 New Mexico used the New Mexico Standards-Based Assessment (NMSBA) to test students in grades 3 through 8, 10 and 11 in Reading and Math. The NMSBA is a standards-based test, which means it measures specific skills defined for each grade by the state of New Mexico. The goal is for all students to score at or above proficient on the test.

See New Mexico's state standards

Source: New Mexico Public Education Department

Math

The state average for Math was 39% in 2012.

364 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
26%
Reading

The state average for Reading was 45% in 2012.

364 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
37%
Scale: % proficient or advanced

About the tests


In 2011-2012 New Mexico used the New Mexico Standards-Based Assessment (NMSBA) to test students in grades 3 through 8, 10 and 11 in Reading and Math. The NMSBA is a standards-based test, which means it measures specific skills defined for each grade by the state of New Mexico. The goal is for all students to score at or above proficient on the test.

See New Mexico's state standards

Source: New Mexico Public Education Department

Math

All Students17%
Female13%
Male21%
African American12%
Asian50%
Hispanic13%
Native American11%
White41%
Economically disadvantaged14%
Students with disabilities13%
English Language Learner Current3%
English Language Learner Exited20%

Reading

All Students25%
Female29%
Male22%
African American27%
Asian50%
Hispanic21%
Native American30%
White41%
Economically disadvantaged23%
Students with disabilities13%
English Language Learner Current4%
English Language Learner Exited31%
Scale: % proficient or advanced

About the tests


In 2011-2012 New Mexico used the New Mexico Standards-Based Assessment (NMSBA) to test students in grades 3 through 8, 10 and 11 in Reading and Math. The NMSBA is a standards-based test, which means it measures specific skills defined for each grade by the state of New Mexico. The goal is for all students to score at or above proficient on the test.

The different student groups are identified by the New Mexico Public Education Department. If there are fewer than 10 students in a particular group in a school, the state doesn't report data for that group.

See New Mexico's state standards

Source: New Mexico Public Education Department

Math

All Students26%
Female22%
Male29%
African American22%
Asian50%
Hispanic23%
Native American14%
White41%
Economically disadvantaged23%
Students with disabilities4%
English Language Learner Current14%
English Language Learner Exited23%

Reading

All Students37%
Female41%
Male33%
African American30%
Asian50%
Hispanic36%
Native American28%
White45%
Economically disadvantaged33%
Students with disabilities8%
English Language Learner Current11%
English Language Learner Exited41%
Scale: % proficient or advanced

About the tests


In 2011-2012 New Mexico used the New Mexico Standards-Based Assessment (NMSBA) to test students in grades 3 through 8, 10 and 11 in Reading and Math. The NMSBA is a standards-based test, which means it measures specific skills defined for each grade by the state of New Mexico. The goal is for all students to score at or above proficient on the test.

The different student groups are identified by the New Mexico Public Education Department. If there are fewer than 10 students in a particular group in a school, the state doesn't report data for that group.

See New Mexico's state standards

Source: New Mexico Public Education Department

Math

The state average for Math was 38% in 2011.

291 students were tested at this school in 2011.

2011

 
 
25%

2010

 
 
32%

2009

 
 
18%
Reading

The state average for Reading was 48% in 2011.

291 students were tested at this school in 2011.

2011

 
 
32%

2010

 
 
55%

2009

 
 
43%
Science

The state average for Science was 39% in 2011.

291 students were tested at this school in 2011.

2011

 
 
23%

2010

 
 
29%

2009

 
 
15%
Social Studies

The state average for Social Studies was 47% in 2011.

291 students were tested at this school in 2011.

2011

 
 
31%

2010

 
 
35%

2009

 
 
25%
Scale: % proficient or advanced

About the tests


In 2010-2011 New Mexico used the New Mexico High School Standards Assessment (NMHSSA) to test students in grade 11 in Reading, Math, Science and Social Studies. As of 2012, New Mexico will use only the New Mexico Standards-Based Assessment (NMSBA) to test students in grades 3 through 8, 10 and 11 in reading and math. The NMHSSA is a standards-based test, which means that it measures how well students are mastering specific skills defined by the state of New Mexico. The goal is for all students to score at or above proficient on the test.

See New Mexico's state standards

Source: New Mexico Public Education Department

Math

All Students25%
Female23%
Male26%
African American11%
Asian52%
Hispanic21%
Native American19%
White40%
Economically disadvantaged23%
Students with disabilities22%
English language learners12%

Reading

All Students32%
Female34%
Male30%
African American25%
Asian33%
Hispanic28%
Native American23%
White56%
Economically disadvantaged29%
Students with disabilities24%
English language learners5%

Science

All Students23%
Female19%
Male26%
African American11%
Asian24%
Hispanic20%
Native American15%
White47%
Economically disadvantaged22%
Students with disabilities20%
English language learners7%

Social Studies

All Students31%
Female24%
Male36%
African American18%
Asian38%
Hispanic26%
Native American31%
White54%
Economically disadvantaged30%
Students with disabilities24%
English language learners10%
Scale: % proficient or advanced

About the tests


In 2010-2011 New Mexico used the New Mexico High School Standards Assessment (NMHSSA) to test students in grade 11 in Reading, Math, Science and Social Studies. As of 2012, New Mexico will use only the New Mexico Standards-Based Assessment (NMSBA) to test students in grades 3 through 8, 10 and 11 in reading and math. The NMHSSA is a standards-based test, which means that it measures how well students are mastering specific skills defined by the state of New Mexico. The goal is for all students to score at or above proficient on the test.

The different student groups are identified by the New Mexico Public Education Department. If there are fewer than 10 students in a particular group in a school, the state doesn't report data for that group.

See New Mexico's state standards

Source: New Mexico Public Education Department

Breaking down the GreatSchools Rating

GreatSchools Ratings are based on the most recent standardized test results for schools. Use the breakdown ratings below to compare types of students at this school. Learn more »


Student ethnicity

Ethnicity This school State average
Hispanic 57% 56%
White 18% 29%
American Indian/Alaska Native 13% 11%
Black 8% 3%
Asian/Pacific Islander 4% 1%
Source: NCES, 2008-2009

Student subgroups

  This school District averageState average
Students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch program 55%N/A62%
Source: NCES, 2008-2009

Student-teacher ratio

  This school District averageState average
Students per FTE teacher 16N/A15
Source: NCES, 2008-2009
Notice an inaccuracy? Let us know!

4700 Coal Ave SE
Albuquerque, NM 87108
Phone: (505) 880-3744

ADVERTISEMENT

Compare this school
to nearby schools

Compare schools »

Compare

Add this school to compare
ADVERTISEMENT