- Enrollment
- 1,733
- Students per teacher
- 18.6:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
High school (grades 9-12) · St Joseph, MO
Benton High
Federal NCES profile for Benton High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 34/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 292706001644
👥 S:T ratio 38
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 55
📋 Attendance 13
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Benton High earns 34/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 84% of Missouri schools.
- #2 of 3
- high schools in St Joseph · Resource Index
- 34
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.5:1
- large classes for Missouri
- 39.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Benton High has class sizes larger than 84% of Missouri schools. Computed live against every Missouri school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Benton High ranks #2 of 3 high schools in St Joseph, MO.
School address
District: St. Joseph · Missouri
NCES ID 292706001644 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+26 students YoY
Benton High held near 702 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+26 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 44.9 → 49.3 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+26 students YoY 292706001644 · St Joseph, MO High · MID · TRAD
682 enr · 15.5:1 · 39.3% lunch · RII 34
Nearest enrollment peer: Central High (1,733 students)
Benton High held near 702 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+26 headcount). Teacher FTE added 44.9 → 49.3 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Missouri schools → · Find another →
Benton High in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Central High
Central High
1,733 students
- This school 682
Benton High
682 students
- Lafayette High 644
Lafayette High
644 students
- Carden Park El 638
Carden Park Elem
638 students
- Oak Grove Elem 502
Oak Grove Elem
502 students
- Bode Middle 488
Bode Middle
488 students
What this shows Benton High reports 682 students on the CCD universe file.
How Benton High compares
Benton High held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Missouri and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Missouri | Missouri avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.5:1 | ▲ 21% | 12.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 39.3% | ▼ 15% | 46.1% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 682 | top 11% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.5:1
Leaner classes than 42% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
682
Bigger than 79% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
39.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 15% below the Missouri average of 46.1%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
15.5:1
students per teacher
- 21% above state mean
Top 84% in Missouri - lower ratio than 16% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
34.6%
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
$12,067
per pupil, district-wide
- below Missouri avg of $14,087
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 227 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
111
in-school suspensions + 131 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 16.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 35.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 72.0%
Hispanic or Latino 14.1%
Two or More 9.4%
African American 2.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 1.3%
Asian 0.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: White at 72.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 45.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 45.2, Benton High is more mixed than the Missouri school average of 31.0.
Programs
AP courses offered 4
District finance for St. Joseph reports $12,067 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Benton High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lafayette High | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Carden Park Elem | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Oak Grove Elem | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Bode Middle | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Benton High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 644
- Students per teacher
- 12.4:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 638
- Students per teacher
- 16.4:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 502
- Students per teacher
- 9.3:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
- Enrollment
- 488
- Students per teacher
- 16.3:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
Nationwide high schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~682 students)
Frequently asked questions about Benton High
How many students attend Benton High?
Benton High has 682 students enrolled. It is a high school in St Joseph, MO. CCD year-over-year: 676 (2022-23) → 702 (2023-24), nearly flat (+26).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Benton High?
The student-teacher ratio at Benton High is 15.5:1, which is 21% higher than the Missouri average of 12.8:1 and 1% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Benton High?
39.3% of students at Benton High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Missouri average of 46.1%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Benton High?
The largest demographic group at Benton High is White at 72.0% of enrollment, in St Joseph, MO.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Benton High?
Benton High has a Resource Investment Index of 34/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Benton High rank among high schools in St Joseph?
By Resource Investment Index, Benton High ranks #2 of 3 high schools in St Joseph, MO. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in St Joseph on the city page.
What other schools are in St. Joseph?
Besides Benton High, St. Joseph also operates Central High (1,733 students), Lafayette High (644 students), and Carden Park Elem (638 students). See the St. Joseph district page for the complete list.