The top reported proficiency rate is 61% in English language arts. The lowest is 45% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Highland Middle School
Highland Middle School is a regular public middle school serving grades six through eight in Highland, a small Madison County city in the Metro-East region about thirty miles east of St. Louis. The school sits within Highland CUSD 5 and draws students from a community rooted in manufacturing, construction services, and local employers like Trouw Nutrition and St. Joseph's Hospital.
The student body is predominantly white, reflecting the composition of the town itself. The enrollment of roughly six hundred students is split roughly evenly across the three grades. The school's enrollment is small enough that individual grade cohorts number in the low hundreds. Demographic breakdowns for free and reduced-price lunch eligibility, English learner status, and students with IEPs were not available in the data provided.
On state assessments, Highland Middle's performance shows a mixed picture. In English language arts, the school demonstrates stronger proficiency as students progress through middle grades, with eighth-graders reaching proficiency at a rate notably above peers in earlier grades. In mathematics, the trend runs the opposite direction: sixth-grade performance is comparatively stronger, with proficiency declining in seventh and eighth grades. Sixth-grade math proficiency is roughly in the mid-range; by eighth grade it has dropped to under half of students meeting the standard. This pattern may merit a conversation with the school about math support and progression. Science proficiency at eighth grade sits at a solid level. Testing participation across all tested grades is very high, indicating reliable reporting. State testing data for grades three through five were not reported for this school, which is typical for middle schools that do not house younger students.
Against the pool of Madison County districts, Highland Middle's overall proficiency index places it above the midpoint. The school had one student listed in grade nine, likely reflecting administrative coding rather than a ninth-grade program; graduation rate data do not apply because the school serves only middle grades. Chronic absenteeism data were not available.
The district is in the midst of infrastructure investment. A bond-funded addition to the middle school building is underway, and a separate bond will construct a new primary school facility serving pre-K through second grade on a separate campus. For the 2024 levy year the district increased its property tax levy meaningfully compared to the prior year, a lasting change to school-related property taxes that potential residents should factor into housing affordability calculations. Additionally, Highland High School is shifting to the South 7 Conference for athletics starting with the 2026-27 school year, moving away from long-standing Mississippi Valley Conference rivalries.
The town itself is on a steady-growth trajectory. New housing construction is incentivized through a city program offering cash payments for completed single-family homes, and recent reports indicate new homes selling above asking price. Downtown has seen investment in luxury apartments and event facilities, and the civic life remains anchored in a historic downtown square with retail, restaurants, and the Louis Latzer Memorial Public Library. Parks and recreation amenities are distributed throughout town, and the city is positioned near Interstate 70 and Route 40 for regional access.
Parents considering Highland Middle should know that the school sits within a district making long-term facility changes and funding adjustments that signal growth and investment, even as math performance in the upper middle grades warrants inquiry into instructional support and resources.
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