- Enrollment
- 4,604
- Students per teacher
- 17.8:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Chicago, IL
Bowen High School
Federal NCES profile for Bowen High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 30/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 170993005072
👥 S:T ratio 47
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 44
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Bowen High School earns 30/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Illinois median.
- #73 of 130
- high schools in Chicago · Resource Index
- 30
- Resource Index · Lower
- 13.2:1
- students per teacher
- 278
- students enrolled
Bowen High School has class sizes near the Illinois median. Computed live against every Illinois school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Bowen High School ranks #73 of 130 high schools in Chicago, IL.
School address
District: City of Chicago Sd 299 · Illinois
NCES ID 170993005072 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-15 students YoY
Bowen High School shrank from 234 students in 2022-23 to 219 in 2023-24 (-6.4%).
Teacher FTE held 21.5 → 21.3 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-15 students YoY 170993005072 · Chicago, IL High · SMALL · TRAD
278 enr · 13.2:1 · RII 30
Nearest enrollment peer: Lane Technical High School (4,604 students)
Bowen High School shrank from 234 students in 2022-23 to 219 in 2023-24 (-6.4%). Teacher FTE held 21.5 → 21.3 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Illinois schools → · Find another →
Bowen High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Lane Technical
Lane Technical High School
4,604 students
- Taft High Scho
Taft High School
4,487 students
- Curie Metropol
Curie Metropolitan High School
3,099 students
- Kenwood Academ
Kenwood Academy High School
2,268 students
- Young Magnet H
Young Magnet High School
2,223 students
- This school 278
Bowen High School
278 students
What this shows Bowen High School reports 278 students on the CCD universe file.
How Bowen High School compares
Bowen High School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Illinois and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Illinois | Illinois avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.2:1 | ▼ 6% | 14:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Enrollment | 278 | top 68% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.2:1
Leaner classes than 65% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
278
Bigger than 29% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Staffing depth
13.2:1
students per teacher
- 6% below state mean
Top 45% in Illinois - lower ratio than 55% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
87.1%
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
$22,699
per pupil, district-wide
- above Illinois avg of $18,196
Well above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting substantially higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 278 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
27
in-school suspensions + 13 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 9.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 14.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 69.4%
Hispanic or Latino 29.5%
Two or More 0.7%
White 0.4%
Largest group: African American at 69.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 43.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 43.1, Bowen High School is more mixed than the Illinois school average of 38.9.
Programs
AP courses offered 5
District finance for City of Chicago Sd 299 reports $22,699 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Bowen High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lane Technical High School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Taft High School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Curie Metropolitan High School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Kenwood Academy High School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Young Magnet High School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Bowen High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 4,487
- Students per teacher
- 16.7:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 3,099
- Students per teacher
- 16.1:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 2,268
- Students per teacher
- 18.6:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 2,223
- Students per teacher
- 17.5:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
Similar high schools in Chicago
6 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Curie Metropolitan High School
Standard public school
3,099 students 16.1:1 students per teacher
Lincoln Park High School
Standard public school
2,214 students 16.3:1 students per teacher
Jones College Prep High School
Standard public school
1,954 students 16.7:1 students per teacher
Mather High School
Standard public school
1,777 students 14.2:1 students per teacher
Thomas Kelly College Preparatory
Standard public school
1,762 students 14.1:1 students per teacher
Hubbard High School
Standard public school
1,710 students 15.8:1 students per teacher
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 (~278 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~13.2:1)
Frequently asked questions about Bowen High School
How many students attend Bowen High School?
Bowen High School has 278 students enrolled. It is a high school in Chicago, IL. CCD year-over-year: 234 (2022-23) → 219 (2023-24), down 15.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Bowen High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Bowen High School is 13.2:1, which is 6% lower than the Illinois average of 14:1 and 16% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Bowen High School?
The largest demographic group at Bowen High School is African American at 69.4% of enrollment, in Chicago, IL.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Bowen High School?
Bowen High School has a Resource Investment Index of 30/100 (lower 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 Bowen High School rank among high schools in Chicago?
By Resource Investment Index, Bowen High School ranks #73 of 130 high schools in Chicago, IL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Chicago on the city page.
What other schools are in City of Chicago Sd 299?
Besides Bowen High School, City of Chicago Sd 299 also operates Lane Technical High School (4,604 students), Taft High School (4,487 students), and Curie Metropolitan High School (3,099 students). See the City of Chicago Sd 299 district page for the complete list.