Original Research by School Decision on Highland High School
Highland High School enrolls students in grades nine through twelve from Highland, a small Madison County city in the Metro-East about thirty miles east of St. Louis. The school serves a student body of roughly eight hundred fifty students, drawn from a community with a mixed character: a historic downtown of locally owned shops and restaurants around the Square and Plaza Park, and surrounding residential neighborhoods ranging from modest apartments to suburban subdivisions and luxury condos. The town was settled by Swiss and German immigrants and retains a family-oriented character with a sparse suburban feel.
The student population is predominantly white, with smaller percentages of Hispanic, multiracial, and Asian students, and very small numbers of Black and Native American students. Data on free-or-reduced-price lunch eligibility and English learner enrollment were not available, so a parent looking at the school may want to inquire directly about those populations and the support services available to them.
State testing data for the high school were not provided, and no graduation rate was available in the data received. Without those metrics it is not possible to characterize academic proficiency or college and career readiness from standardized measures. A parent evaluating Highland High should request recent assessment results and graduation outcomes from the school or the district and ask how the school's performance compares within Madison County and the state.
The housing market in Highland's zip code is moderately priced compared to state and national benchmarks. Homes are valued at a level somewhat below the Illinois average and well below the national median. Monthly rent is affordable relative to local income, and renting is financially preferable to mortgage ownership in the current rate environment. The area's unemployment rate is stable, and median household income is solid, supporting a working and middle-class base for the school district.
The district is in the midst of significant facility change. A new primary school building is under construction on a 43-acre site to serve pre-K through 2nd grade, which will consolidate early-grade students in a single modern facility and eliminate the current logistical challenge of students walking between buildings for art, music, and physical education. This reshapes the early-childhood experience for families in the district. The district also completed a bond that funds an addition to the middle school. Property taxes for school purposes have risen materially in recent years, a shift homeowners and prospective movers should factor into their housing costs and decisions.
Highland High will transition to the South 7 Conference for athletics beginning in the 2026-27 school year, moving away from the Mississippi Valley Conference. For student-athletes and families, this means changes to competition schedules, travel distances, and rival matchups across multiple sports.
The town itself is on a steady growth trajectory. Population has grown modestly, and civic life remains centered in the historic downtown anchored by the Louis Latzer Memorial Public Library and Plaza Park, where festivals and community gatherings draw families. Major employers in the area include Trouw Nutrition, The Korte Company, and St. Joseph's Hospital, reflecting strength in manufacturing, construction, and support services. Recent downtown investment includes luxury apartment development and conversion of the Olde Wicks Factory into a special events center. The city has renewed its incentive program to encourage new single-family home construction, with builders reporting strong demand and homes selling above asking price.
To get a full picture of this school, a parent should request recent state assessment data, graduation rates, course offerings, extracurricular programs, and information on college placement and dual-credit pathways. The school's profile in state testing and graduation metrics, its AP and career pathway offerings, and the scope of support for students with disabilities or language needs are the remaining pieces that would anchor a decision about fit.
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