B+
Above Average
81/100

Highlands School

📚 K – 12 🏫 K-12
📍 545 Pierson Dr, Highlands, NC 28741
Overall
B+
81/100 · the blend of everything below
Achievement
B
Reading 57% · Math 62% proficient · 59th percentile in North Carolina
Graduation
B
90% earn a regular diploma in 4 years
Resources
A
Class size, funding, school size and type

Each score is graded separately against North Carolina schools. A school can be strong at moving students forward (growth) without having the highest test scores, or the reverse. How we score schools

81
Repit Score
out of 100
319
Students
enrolled
9.3:1
Student:Teacher
ratio
$16K
Per Student
spending

What Goes Into This Rating

FactorWeightScoreBasis
📚 Academics (reading & math)55%59/100reading 56th percentile, math 62nd percentile among North Carolina high schools (2020–21 state tests)
🎓 Graduation (4-year, diploma only)25%65/10090% graduate on time with a regular diploma
🏫 Resources (class size, funding, size, type)20%91/100Inputs from NCES school and district data

Students served: 33% students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. Compared with North Carolina schools serving a similar share of low-income students, this school’s reading and math results are −13 points worse than expected. (Context only; not part of the score.)

The overall Repit Score ranks this blend against every rated school in North Carolina. Schools are compared within their state because each state sets its own tests and proficiency bar. How we rate schools

Test Scores & Graduation

📖 Reading proficiency57% (+11 pts vs. state avg 46%)
Students scoring proficient on the state test, 2020–21
➗ Math proficiency62% (+20 pts vs. state avg 42%)
Students scoring proficient on the state test, 2020–21
🎓 Graduation rate90% (+6 pts vs. state avg 84%)
Four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate, class of 2020

Source: U.S. Department of Education EDFacts via the Urban Institute Education Data Portal. Federal reporting rounds small schools to ranges; we show the midpoint. Proficiency standards differ by state, so compare schools within the same state.

How Student Groups Do Here

Share of each group of students scoring proficient on the North Carolina state test (2020–21), compared with the same group of students across the state. Differences between groups are shown as reported; they reflect many factors inside and outside school.

StudentsReadingMathvs. same group statewideRank in state for this group
White67%62%reading -1 pts, math -2 pts47th percentile (list)
Hispanic35%45%reading -11 pts, math +4 pts34th percentile (list)
Low-income47%55%reading +8 pts, math +21 pts79th percentile (list)

Source: U.S. Department of Education EDFacts via the Urban Institute. Groups with fewer than 20 tested students are not shown. Results are achievement (proficiency), not growth; growth by group is not published for individual schools.

School Information

Address 545 Pierson Dr
City Highlands
ZIP Code 28741
District 3702760
NCES School ID 370276001139
Data Year 2024-25

Community Context for 28741

Understanding the community around Highlands School helps evaluate the school environment and neighborhood.

💰 Income & Economy

Median Household Income $65,606
Per Capita Income $62,228
Poverty Rate 4.4%
Households Earning $100K+ 35.5%

🎓 Education Level

Bachelor's Degree or Higher 48.2%
High School or Higher 90.5%

🏠 Housing

Median Home Value $509,400
Median Rent $787
Owner-Occupied 70.0%
Renter-Occupied 30.0%
View full data for ZIP 28741 →

Thinking about moving into this school’s area? See what homes and rents actually cost in ZIP 28741 — values, rent, and how it compares to nearby ZIPs. Free, no signup. See 28741 housing costs →

Student Demographics

Enrollment and demographic breakdown for Highlands School.

👫 Gender Distribution

Male 50.8%
Female 49.2%

🌎 Race & Ethnicity

White 67.7%
Hispanic/Latino 30.4%
Asian 0.3%
Two or More Races 0.9%
American Indian 0.6%

📋 Enrollment Summary

Total Enrollment 319
Teachers (FTE) 34.4
Student:Teacher Ratio 9.3:1

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Repit School Score for Highlands School?
Highlands School has a Repit School Score of 81 out of 100, earning a grade of B+. The score is based mainly on reading and math proficiency compared with other schools in the state, plus the on-time graduation rate, with class size and funding counting for a smaller share.
How many students attend Highlands School?
Highlands School has 319 students enrolled for the 2024-25 school year. The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.3:1.
What grades does Highlands School serve?
Highlands School serves grades K – 12 and is classified as a K-12. This is a public school.
How much funding does Highlands School receive per student?
Highlands School receives $15,639 in per-pupil spending from its district. This is above the national average.
🏠 Rental Market Around Highlands School in 28741 ▼
Avg Home Value
$1,084,801
Avg Monthly Rent
$1,107
1-Year Change
+8.5%
% Renters
30.0%

About Repit School Scores

Parents choosing a school deserve to see what it actually delivers. Since October 2026 the Repit School Score is built mainly on results:

  • Academics (largest share) — the share of students scoring proficient in reading and math on the state test, ranked against schools of the same level in the same state.
  • Graduation (high schools) — the four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate. Only regular diplomas count; GEDs and certificates of attendance do not.
  • Resources (smaller share) — class size, per-pupil funding, school size and type.

Scores compare schools within their own state, because every state writes its own tests and sets its own proficiency bar. Full methodology

Data sources: NCES CCD 2024-25, U.S. Dept. of Education EDFacts (test results & graduation) | Last updated: October 2026