The top reported proficiency rate is 57% in English language arts. The lowest is 43% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Highland Park H S
Highland Park High School serves about two hundred students in grades nine through twelve. The enrollment is roughly evenly distributed across the four grades, with slightly more in tenth grade. A little more than half of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, and the school's racial makeup is diverse: slightly more than four in ten students are Hispanic, slightly less than half are White, about a tenth are Asian, and smaller numbers are Black or multiracial.
The school's most recent state assessment results come from the most recent school year available. In English language arts, the vast majority of students meet or exceed proficiency standards, with the strongest performance in mastery rates. In mathematics, performance is lower; nearly all students demonstrate approach-level competency, but only about half meet the grade-level standard, and masteries are rare. Science shows strong results across the board, with nearly all students meeting or exceeding standards and a substantial share achieving mastery. In social studies, all students at least approach proficiency, and a majority meet standards, with more than a third reaching mastery.
Across all tested subjects combined, Highland Park High School's overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile relative to other districts in Potter County. This is a meaningful position: the school's academic performance is notably stronger than the median district in the county.
The school is located on Amarillo Boulevard on the city's eastern side. Amarillo itself is growing modestly but steadily, with most new residential development concentrated in the southwest and south sides; the eastern corridors where Highland Park sits are older, more established neighborhoods with variable housing stock and character. The city's economy centers on healthcare, government, food processing, defense, energy, and aerospace manufacturing. Amarillo has modest walkability in its downtown core, where civic institutions including the library, city hall, and Hodgetown Stadium cluster near the historic Polk Street district, while most of the city is car-oriented. Downtown revitalization efforts led by Center City of Amarillo, Inc., a designated Main Street City and Cultural District, have added dining, arts, and mixed-use housing alongside older retail and office space.
Highland Park Independent School District, the school's parent district, recently passed a significant bond in May 2023 that will reshape district facilities and academic offerings over the coming years. The bond funds a new Pre-K through second grade elementary campus, a Career and Technology Center, new athletic fields, security upgrades, and technology devices for students and staff. The district is currently breaking ground on a residential development called Buffalo Highlands that will house both the new early-elementary campus and new housing, with construction expected to begin in 2027 and continue over several years. This represents substantial growth and investment in a small district, and families considering Highland Park should understand that the district is in active expansion mode, which affects both school operations and the neighborhood's residential character. The bond also raises property taxes; a family purchasing a median-priced home in the district should expect a lasting increase in tax obligation from the expanded interest and sinking rate.
The data on special populations such as English learners and students with disabilities was not available, so interested families may want to look into those details directly with the school. State graduation rate data for the school was also not provided. Overall, Highland Park High offers a small, diverse, suburban high school setting with strong comparative academic performance in science and social studies, more variable results in mathematics, and a district positioned for significant residential and facility growth over the next several years.
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