- Enrollment
- 2,222
- Students per teacher
- 17.4:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Madison, WI
Capital High
Federal NCES profile for Capital High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 58/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 550852003095
👥 S:T ratio 71
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 74
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Capital High earns 58/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 98% of Wisconsin schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Wisconsin schools.
- #1 of 7
- high schools in Madison · Resource Index
- 58
- Resource Index · Higher
- 7.2:1
- small classes for Wisconsin
- 73.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Capital High has class sizes smaller than 98% of Wisconsin schools. Computed live against every Wisconsin school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Capital High ranks #1 of 7 high schools in Madison, WI.
School address
District: Madison Metropolitan School District · Wisconsin
NCES ID 550852003095 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-16 students YoY
Capital High shrank from 139 students in 2022-23 to 123 in 2023-24 (-11.5%).
Teacher FTE lost 18.5 → 16.1 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-16 students YoY 550852003095 · Madison, WI High · SMALL · TRAD
129 enr · 7.2:1 · 73.4% lunch · RII 58
Nearest enrollment peer: West High (2,222 students)
Capital High shrank from 139 students in 2022-23 to 123 in 2023-24 (-11.5%). Teacher FTE lost 18.5 → 16.1 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Wisconsin schools → · Find another →
Capital High in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- West High
West High
2,222 students
- Vel Phillips M
Vel Phillips Memorial High
2,004 students
- East High
East High
1,643 students
- Lafollette Hig
Lafollette High
1,541 students
- Hamilton Middl 790
Hamilton Middle
790 students
- This school 129
Capital High
129 students
What this shows Capital High reports 129 students on the CCD universe file.
How Capital High compares
Capital High is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Wisconsin and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Wisconsin | Wisconsin avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 7.2:1 | ▼ 50% | 14.4:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 73.4% | ▲ 91% | 38.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 129 | top 81% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
7.2:1
Leaner classes than 96% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
129
Bigger than 13% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
73.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 91% above the Wisconsin average of 38.5%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
7.2:1
students per teacher
- 50% below state mean
Top 2% in Wisconsin - lower ratio than 98% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Funding equity
$17,411
per pupil, district-wide
- above Wisconsin avg of $15,645
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 129 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 19 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 14.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 44.2%
Hispanic or Latino 20.9%
Two or More 15.5%
White 14.0%
Asian 5.4%
Largest group: African American at 44.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 71.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 71.4, Capital High is more mixed than the Wisconsin school average of 35.7.
Programs
AP program Not offered
District finance for Madison Metropolitan School District reports $17,411 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Capital High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| West High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Vel Phillips Memorial High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| East High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lafollette High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Hamilton Middle | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Capital High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,004
- Students per teacher
- 16.3:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 1,643
- Students per teacher
- 14.8:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
- Enrollment
- 1,541
- Students per teacher
- 16.4:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 790
- Students per teacher
- 15.5:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
Similar high schools in Madison
6 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
West High
Standard public school
2,222 students 17.4:1 students per teacher
Vel Phillips Memorial High
Standard public school
2,004 students 16.3:1 students per teacher
East High
Standard public school
1,643 students 14.8:1 students per teacher
Lafollette High
Standard public school
1,541 students 16.4:1 students per teacher
Innovative High
Alternative education program
138 students 8.1:1 students per teacher
Shabazz-City High
Alternative education program
106 students 8.2:1 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 (~129 students)
Frequently asked questions about Capital High
How many students attend Capital High?
Capital High has 129 students enrolled. It is a high school in Madison, WI. CCD year-over-year: 139 (2022-23) → 123 (2023-24), down 16.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Capital High?
The student-teacher ratio at Capital High is 7.2:1, which is 50% lower than the Wisconsin average of 14.4:1 and 54% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Capital High?
73.4% of students at Capital High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Wisconsin average of 38.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Capital High?
The largest demographic group at Capital High is African American at 44.2% of enrollment, in Madison, WI. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 71.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Capital High?
Capital High has a Resource Investment Index of 58/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Capital High rank among high schools in Madison?
By Resource Investment Index, Capital High ranks #1 of 7 high schools in Madison, WI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Madison on the city page.
What other schools are in Madison Metropolitan School District?
Besides Capital High, Madison Metropolitan School District also operates West High (2,222 students), Vel Phillips Memorial High (2,004 students), and East High (1,643 students). See the Madison Metropolitan School District district page for the complete list.