Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives

Highlander

Rhode Island · Public School District
2
Schools
613
Students
$19,974
Per-Pupil Spend
+39% nat'l
86.3%
Free Lunch Rate
+34pp vs nat'l
84.5%
Graduation Rate
-2.0pp vs nat'l
District Overview

Highlander is a public school district in Rhode Island serving 613 students across 2 schools. It includes 1 elementary, 1 high schools, among them 2 charter schools. Its graduation rate of 84.5% is near the national average of 86.5%. Per-pupil spending of $19,974 is above average for a US public school district. 86% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting significant economic need in the community. Opportunity scores across its schools are moderate, with a district median of 45/100.

⇄ Compare with another district
All Schools (2)
Elementary School1 school
SchoolGradesStudents
Highlander Elementary CharterCharterPK–06269
High School1 school
SchoolGradesStudents
Highlander Secondary Charter SCharter07–12344
District Finances
Per-Pupil Expenditure$19,974+39% nat'l avg
National avg $14,347
Revenue Sources
52%
22%
State
51.8%
Local (property tax)
22.2%
Federal
26.1%

Funding is shared between state (52%) and local sources (22%), with notable federal support (26%).

Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey. District-level data.
District Snapshot
2
Schools
613
Students
86%
Free Lunch
$20K
Per-Pupil
Graduation Rate84.5%
Opportunity Score45/100
StateRhode Island →
School Rankings
Strengths & Considerations
High per-student investment
Spends $19,974 per pupil — 39% above the national average of $14,347.
High economic need in community
86% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch — above the national rate of 52.2% — reflecting broader economic challenges.
Heavy reliance on federal aid
26% of revenue comes from federal sources. High federal reliance typically signals a limited local tax base or high concentration of low-income families.
Limited school choice
With only 2 schools in the district, families have fewer options for different programs or learning environments.
Location
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Highlander?
Highlander has 2 public schools, serving a total of 613 students.
What is the graduation rate for Highlander?
The graduation rate is 84.5%, which is below the national average of 86.5%.
How much does Highlander spend per student?
Highlander spends $19,974 per pupil — 39% above the national average of $14,347.
What percentage of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch in Highlander?
86% of students in Highlander qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, compared to the national rate of 52.2%.
Are there charter schools in Highlander?
Yes — 2 of the 2 schools in Highlander are charter schools.
What grade levels does Highlander serve?
Highlander serves grades PK through 12, covering elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the opportunity score for Highlander?
The median opportunity score across schools in Highlander is 45/100. The national median is 50/100. Opportunity scores reflect long-term economic mobility prospects for children who grow up in these communities.
About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.