The top reported proficiency rate is 93% in Math. The lowest is 87% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Highland Elementary School
Highland Elementary School serves about six hundred students in the heart of a prosperous Toledo suburb that is itself experiencing residential growth. The school sits in Sylvania, an affluent community known for stable homeownership, multiple active new-home subdivisions, and recent commercial redevelopment around its historic downtown. Families in the area are predominantly white and upper-middle-class, with a smaller presence of Asian, Hispanic, and multiracial students.
The school's academic results are strong across the board. In math proficiency, students perform notably well. In English language arts and science, proficiency rates are comparably high, with nearly complete participation in state testing. The school's overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile among districts in Lucas County. Science testing covers only a subset of grades at the school, which is typical for elementary grades where some state assessments are restricted to higher grade levels. A social studies assessment from several years back also showed strong performance. State testing data was available only for the current school year, so trends over time cannot be calculated from what is reported here.
The enrollment spans kindergarten through fifth grade and is fairly balanced across grade levels, with a slight concentration in the upper elementary grades. A small share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and the vast majority of the school's enrollment is white, with smaller numbers of Asian, Hispanic, and multiracial students. Data on special education enrollment and English learner status were not reported. The school is a regular public elementary school with no Title I designation and no charter or magnet status.
What families should understand is that Highland operates within a district facing real budget constraints. In May 2026, voters rejected an operating levy that would have generated substantial annual funding. This was the district's first request for new operating money in nearly a decade. The failure sets up projected expenditure reductions of millions of dollars before the 2027-2028 school year, which will affect programs, staffing, and course offerings. Over the years leading into 2026, the district had already cut millions in spending, including teaching positions, counselor positions, and media specialists. The district also implemented a state-mandated shift to Science of Reading instruction in K-5 classrooms starting in 2024-2025, which changed how teachers deliver reading lessons district-wide.
Additionally, a 2024 property reappraisal raised Sylvania home values significantly, but the district's actual revenue gain from those higher assessments was modest because of how Ohio's property tax system works. For families moving to or already living in Sylvania, this means homes are now appraised much higher without a corresponding boost to school funding. A parent considering this school should understand that while current academic performance is solid, the district is navigating real financial headwinds that will shape the experience and resources available in coming years.
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