The following statewide rankings are based solely on the PSSA results of the high school's junior class:
2016- 504th
2015- 463rd
2014- 462nd
2013- 433rd
2012- 464th
Academic achievement
In 2010, the Highland High School achieved AYP status. In 2009, the school was in "Warning" status due to low student achievement. In 2009, Highlands High School's 11th grade ranked 68th out of 123 western Pennsylvania 11th grades for academic achievement on three years of PSSAs in reading, writing, math, and one year of science. ;PSSA results ;11th Grade Reading
2010 - 62% on grade level. Boys 52%/girls 71%. In Pennsylvania, 66% of 11th graders were on grade level.
2009 - 62%, Boys 57%/girls 67%. State - 65%
2008 - 64%, State - 65%
;11th Grade Math:
2010 - 49% on grade level. Boys 47%/girls 51%. In Pennsylvania, 59% of 11th graders were on grade level.
2009 - 51%. Boys 52%/girls 49%. State - 56%
2008 - 63%, State - 56%
;11th Grade Science:
2010 - 36% on grade level. State - 39% of 11th graders were on grade level.
2009 - 32%, State - 40%
2008 - 27%, State - 39%
According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 24% of Highlands School District graduates required remediation in mathematics and or reading before they were prepared to take college level courses in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education or community colleges. Less than 66% of Pennsylvania high school graduates who enroll in a four-year college in Pennsylvania will earn a bachelor's degree within six years. Among Pennsylvania high school graduates pursuing an associate degree, only one in three graduate in three years. Per the Pennsylvania Department of Education, one in three recent high school graduates who attend Pennsylvania's public universities and community colleges takes at least one remedial course in math, reading or English.
Dual enrollment
The high school offers a dual enrollment program. This state program permits high school students to take courses at local higher education institutions, to earn college credits. Students remain enrolled at their high school. The courses count towards high school graduation requirements and towards earning a college degree. The students continue to have full access to activities at their high school. Highlands has partnered with Penn State New Kensington and Community College of Allegheny County. The college credits are offered at a deeply discounted rate. The state offers a small grant to assist students in costs for tuition, fees and books. Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions. For the 2009-10 funding year, the school district received a state grant of $23,672 for the program.
Graduation requirements
The Highlands School Board requires that a student earn 24.2 credits to graduate, including 4 English credits, 4 Mathematics credits, 4 Science credits, 4 Social Studies credits, 2 Arts and Humanities credits, 2.2 Health/Phys. Ed. credits, and 4 Electives credits. Every student must successfully complete one credit of English, math and social studies every year. By law, all Pennsylvania secondary school students must complete a project as a part of their eligibility to graduate from high school. The type of project, its rigor, and its expectations are set by the individual school district. At Highlands High School, students are required to complete a career portfolio over four years. It includes individual and group projects, visitations to post-secondary schools, community service hours, and career job shadowing, coupled with career awareness activities. By Pennsylvania School Board regulations, for the graduating class of 2016, students must demonstrate successful completion of secondary level course work in Algebra I, Biology, English Composition, and Literature for which the Keystone Exams serve as the final course exams. Students' Keystone Exam scores count for at least one third of the final course grade.
Tutoring
Tutoring is available to high school students, after school Monday through Thursday from 2:45 pm to 3:45 pm, in math, English, science and social studies.
AP courses
Students have access to several Advanced Placement courses, including AP English, AP Calculus, AP U.S. History, AP U.S. Government and Politics, and AP Economics. Upon successful completion of the course and achieving a score of 3, 4 or 5 on the exam administered by the College Board, a student can earn college credits. The exams are offered in the area on an annual schedule.
Alleged bullying
An alleged hazing incident happened on October 5, 2014 at the Highlands High School soccer fields. Sixteen-year-old Highlands student and soccer player Austin Babinsack, who has autism, was duct-taped to the goalpost by two 17-year-old classmates and fellow members of the school soccer team. He was left there for 15 to 20 minutes until passers-by noticed and freed him. Soccer coach Jim Turner and the two students were suspended for at least five days. The majority of staff and students united with the soccer players, as they felt there was no ill intentions and believed that the media as well as Austin's mother were trying to exploit the situation and make it into something it was not.
The district offers a variety of clubs, activities and sports. Highlands School District is a member of the WPIAL and PIAA. Highlands School District teams compete at the class AAA or AA level. Eligibility to participate is set in school board policy. Students must be passing four major subjects to be eligible. Students declared ineligible are not permitted to practice or play from Monday through the end of the following Sunday. By Pennsylvania law, all K–12 students in the district, including those who attend a private nonpublic school, cyber charter school, or charter school, and those who are homeschooled, are eligible to participate in the extracurricular programs, including all athletics. They must meet the same eligibility rules as the students enrolled in the district's schools. The district offers the following sports programs: Boys - baseball 9-12, basketball 7-12, cross country 9-12, marching band 9-12, football 7-12, golf 9-12, soccer 7-12, swimming 9-12, tennis 9-12, track & field 7-12, wrestling 9-12 Girls - basketball 7-12, cross country 9-12, marching band 9-12, soccer 7-12, softball 7-12, swimming 9-12, tennis 9-12, track & field 7-12, volleyball 9-12
