Enrollment
375
Indiana · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Indianapolis, IN
Ben Davis University High School
Federal NCES profile for Ben Davis University High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 19/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 181281002410
👥 S:T ratio 12
📚 AP courses 10
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 23
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Ben Davis University High School earns 19/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 96% of Indiana schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Indiana schools.
- #29 of 32
- high schools in Indianapolis · Resource Index
- 19
- Resource Index · Lower
- 22.1:1
- large classes for Indiana
- 66.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Ben Davis University High School has class sizes larger than 96% of Indiana schools. Computed live against every Indiana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Ben Davis University High School ranks #29 of 32 high schools in Indianapolis, IN.
School address
District: Msd Wayne Township · Indiana
NCES ID 181281002410 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
17.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
22.1:1
vs 15.9:1 Indiana avg
+39% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
66.2%
vs 49.5% Indiana avg
+34% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Ben Davis University High School compares with Indiana and U.S. medians
What stands out at Ben Davis University High School
Ben Davis University High School is a higher-need, mid-sized high school in Indianapolis, Indiana, enrolling 375 students.
Class loads run heavy: 22.1:1 is larger than about 96% of Indiana schools and 39% above the 15.9:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 66.2% of students eligible for free meals.
With 375 students, its enrollment sits close to the Indiana median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index trails 98% of the 1,862 Indiana schools with a score on record, one of the lower results on this measure.
Among 352 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Indiana schools statewide, it ranks #346, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (44%) and African American (33%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 66/100).
No Advanced Placement courses are reported for this campus in the federal data.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 30.9% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 15.8% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Indianapolis's high schools, it stands alongside North Central High School (3,682 students): Ben Davis University High School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (22.1:1 vs 16.3:1).
Msd Wayne Township also operates Ben Davis High School (3,315 students) and Ben Davis Ninth Grade Center (1,243 students) alongside Ben Davis University High School.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Ben Davis University High School compares
Ben Davis University High School on the metrics families compare, against Indiana and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Indiana | Indiana avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 22.1:1 | ▲ 39% | 15.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 66.2% | ▲ 34% | 49.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 375 | top 64% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
22.1:1
Leaner classes than 10% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
375
Bigger than 44% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
66.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 34% above the Indiana average of 49.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
22.1:1
students per teacher
- 39% above state mean
Top 96% in Indiana - lower ratio than 4% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
30.9%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$13,757
per pupil, district-wide
- above Indiana avg of $12,079
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 43.7%
African American 33.3%
White 20.5%
Two or More 2.1%
Asian 0.3%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 43.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 65.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 65.6, Ben Davis University High School is more mixed than the Indiana school average of 39.0.
Programs
AP program Not offered
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Msd Wayne Township, which includes Ben Davis University High School.
$13,757
Per student
+14%
vs Indiana
Avg $12,079
-17%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 29.0%
State 55.2%
Federal 15.8%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Ben Davis University High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ben Davis High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Ben Davis Ninth Grade Center | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Chapel Hill 7th & 8th Grade Center | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Lynhurst 7th & 8th Grade Center | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Robey Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Ben Davis University High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 3,315
- Students per teacher
- 18.1:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 1,243
- Students per teacher
- 16.6:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 1,143
- Students per teacher
- 16.1:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 1,135
- Students per teacher
- 14.2:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 847
- Students per teacher
- 17.6:1
- Resource Index
- 54/100
Similar high schools in Indianapolis
6 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
North Central High School
Standard public school
3,682 students 16.3:1 students per teacher
Franklin Central High School
Standard public school
3,438 students 21.8:1 students per teacher
Warren Central High School
Standard public school
3,391 students 18.3:1 students per teacher
Ben Davis High School
Standard public school
3,315 students 18.1:1 students per teacher
Pike High School
Standard public school
3,188 students 16:1 students per teacher
Lawrence North High School
Standard public school
2,799 students 19.3:1 students per teacher
Similar high schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Indiana, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~375 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Ben Davis University High School's federal record.
- Compare Ben Davis University High School against another school. Compare schools
- Msd Wayne Township's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Ben Davis University High School
How many students attend Ben Davis University High School?
Ben Davis University High School has 375 students enrolled. It is a high school in Indianapolis, IN.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Ben Davis University High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Ben Davis University High School is 22.1:1, which is 39% higher than the Indiana average of 15.9:1 and 41% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Ben Davis University High School?
66.2% of students at Ben Davis University High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Indiana average of 49.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Ben Davis University High School?
The largest demographic group at Ben Davis University High School is Hispanic or Latino at 43.7% of enrollment, in Indianapolis, IN. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 65.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Ben Davis University High School?
Ben Davis University High School has a Resource Investment Index of 19/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Ben Davis University High School rank among high schools in Indianapolis?
By Resource Investment Index, Ben Davis University High School ranks #29 of 32 high schools in Indianapolis, IN. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Indianapolis on the city page.
Is Ben Davis University High School a good school?
Ben Davis University High School earns 19/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 96% of Indiana schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Indiana schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Msd Wayne Township?
Besides Ben Davis University High School, Msd Wayne Township also operates Ben Davis High School (3,315 students), Ben Davis Ninth Grade Center (1,243 students), and Chapel Hill 7th & 8th Grade Center (1,143 students). See the Msd Wayne Township district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.