Highland is a member of the Arizona Interscholastic Association's 6A Conference and competes in Division I in all AIA sports.

Highland's academic offers are organized under 12 departments: Agriculture, Business, English, Family & Consumer Science, Fine & Performing Arts, Industrial Arts, Math, Modern Language, Physical Education/Education for the body, Science, Social Studies, and Special Education.

Honors courses are offered in English literature, laboratory science, and math, for first- and second-year students.

Upperclassmen may then elect to participate in any of 17 Advanced Placement (AP) courses taught at the school.

[5] Highland students who maintain at least a 3.8 GPA during the first three grading quarters are recognized as Golden Scholars at a ceremony at the end of each year.

[8] The school's Future Farmers of America (FFA) Chapter won first in state for its ag sales team in 2007.

[citation needed] Other groups at Highland include contingents for Academic Decathlon.

Twenty-three percent of HHS students participate in a daily, release-time seminary program operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which has a religious instruction building adjacent to campus.