The top reported proficiency rate is 91% in Science. The lowest is 61% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Highland Sch
Highland School is a K-5 elementary school in Abington, a mature first-ring suburb of Philadelphia in Montgomery County. The school serves a student body drawn from one of the township's seventeen neighborhood communities and sits within the Abington School District, which is currently undertaking a major secondary-school transformation.
The student enrollment is small to mid-sized for an elementary school. Just over one-third of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating mixed economic circumstances within the attendance area. The racial and ethnic makeup is roughly half white, with substantial representation of Black, multiracial, and Hispanic students, along with a small Asian population. Data on special education enrollment and English learner status were not available.
On the most recent state assessments, Highland's proficiency in English language arts is solidly above the midpoint among Montgomery County districts. Mathematics performance sits somewhat lower, at about the midpoint. Science results, from the prior school year, show strong achievement. Overall, the school's proficiency index places it in the top quartile of county elementary schools, a meaningful position that reflects consistent strength across its tested grades.
The Abington community where Highland sits is neighborhood-oriented, with its own postal identity within the larger township. Abington itself is a built-out suburb with active planning for infill and revitalization, particularly around transit-oriented development along the Old York Road corridor and SEPTA regional rail lines. The housing market is moderate, with median home values in the mid-range for the region and typical monthly rent moderately above-average. The local economy centers on healthcare, education, retail, and small manufacturing, anchored by employers like Jefferson Abington Hospital and anchored retail like Willow Grove Park Mall.
Parents should know that the Abington School District passed a substantial bond referendum in May 2025 to build a new middle school. Property taxes will begin incrementally rising in July 2026, with construction slated to start in 2027. This investment directly shapes the district's fiscal and capital trajectory for the coming years and affects household budgets. Elementary schools like Highland are not directly impacted by the construction itself, but the broader district context matters for families planning to stay through secondary school.
The school's main data gaps are discipline records, attendance rates, and staffing information, which would provide a fuller picture of daily operations and school culture. State testing data for kindergarten through second grade are not available because Pennsylvania does not assess those grades. Overall, Highland's academic standing in county context is solid, and the elementary grades provide a foundational position before the district's secondary-school landscape shifts.
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