Highlands Middle School

Natrona Heights sits along the Allegheny River northeast of Pittsburgh, a working-class community with deep roots and a tight-knit feel. Highlands Middle School serves families across this district who tend to prioritize stability and community connection over academic competition, and the school's scores sit in the lower third statewide, so families with strong academic priorities may want to look closely at how their student would be supported. That said, for families already rooted in the area, it's a familiar neighborhood school in a part of Allegheny County that offers affordable living and easy access to the broader Pittsburgh region.