- Enrollment
- 2,087
- Students per teacher
- 15.5:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Baltimore, MD
Catonsville Center for Alternative Studies
Federal NCES profile for Catonsville Center for Alternative Studies, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 79/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 240012000436
👥 S:T ratio 79
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 86
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Catonsville Center for Alternative Studies earns 79/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 97% of Maryland schools. It is also one of the smallest schools in Maryland.
- #1 of 42
- high schools in Baltimore · Resource Index
- 79
- Resource Index · Higher
- 5.2:1
- small classes for Maryland
- 73.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Catonsville Center for Alternative Studies has class sizes smaller than 97% of Maryland schools. Computed live against every Maryland school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Catonsville Center for Alternative Studies ranks #1 of 42 high schools in Baltimore, MD.
School address
District: Baltimore County Public Schools · Maryland
NCES ID 240012000436 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+0 students YoY
Catonsville Center for Alternative Studies held near 60 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+0 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 13.0 → 17.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+0 students YoY 240012000436 · Baltimore, MD High · SMALL · TRAD
68 enr · 5.2:1 · 73.3% lunch · RII 79
Nearest enrollment peer: Dundalk High (2,087 students)
Catonsville Center for Alternative Studies held near 60 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+0 headcount). Teacher FTE added 13.0 → 17.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Maryland schools → · Find another →
Catonsville Center for Alternative Studies in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Dundalk High
Dundalk High
2,087 students
- Perry Hall Hig
Perry Hall High
2,012 students
- Woodlawn High
Woodlawn High
1,922 students
- Kenwood High
Kenwood High
1,900 students
- Dulaney High
Dulaney High
1,889 students
- This school 68
Catonsville Center for Alternative Studies
68 students
What this shows Catonsville Center for Alternative Studies reports 68 students on the CCD universe file.
How Catonsville Center for Alternative Studies compares
Catonsville Center for Alternative Studies held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Maryland and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Maryland | Maryland avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 5.2:1 | ▼ 64% | 14.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 73.3% | ▲ 50% | 49.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 68 | top 97% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
5.2:1
Leaner classes than 98% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
68
Bigger than 7% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
73.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 50% above the Maryland average of 49.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
5.2:1
students per teacher
- 64% below state mean
Top 3% in Maryland - lower ratio than 97% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Funding equity
$18,666
per pupil, district-wide
- below Maryland avg of $18,753
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 68 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 6 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 8.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
Student demographics
African American 79.4%
Hispanic or Latino 10.3%
White 5.9%
Two or More 4.4%
Largest group: African American at 79.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 35.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 35.4, Catonsville Center for Alternative Studies is less mixed than the Maryland school average of 52.3.
Programs
AP program Not offered
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Baltimore County Public Schools reports $18,666 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Catonsville Center for Alternative Studies Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dundalk High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Perry Hall High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Woodlawn High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Kenwood High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Dulaney High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Catonsville Center for Alternative Studies's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,012
- Students per teacher
- 16.6:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 1,922
- Students per teacher
- 17:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 1,900
- Students per teacher
- 16.5:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 1,889
- Students per teacher
- 17.5:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
Similar high schools in Baltimore
6 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Dundalk High
Standard public school
2,087 students 15.5:1 students per teacher
Perry Hall High
Standard public school
2,012 students 16.6:1 students per teacher
Woodlawn High
Standard public school
1,922 students 17:1 students per teacher
Kenwood High
Standard public school
1,900 students 16.5:1 students per teacher
Parkville High
Standard public school
1,877 students 12.3:1 students per teacher
Catonsville High
Standard public school
1,735 students 16.2:1 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 (~68 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~5.2:1)
Frequently asked questions about Catonsville Center for Alternative Studies
How many students attend Catonsville Center for Alternative Studies?
Catonsville Center for Alternative Studies has 68 students enrolled. It is a high school in Baltimore, MD. CCD year-over-year: 60 (2022-23) → 60 (2023-24), nearly flat (+0).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Catonsville Center for Alternative Studies?
The student-teacher ratio at Catonsville Center for Alternative Studies is 5.2:1, which is 64% lower than the Maryland average of 14.5:1 and 67% 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 Catonsville Center for Alternative Studies?
73.3% of students at Catonsville Center for Alternative Studies are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Maryland average of 49.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Catonsville Center for Alternative Studies?
The largest demographic group at Catonsville Center for Alternative Studies is African American at 79.4% of enrollment, in Baltimore, MD.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Catonsville Center for Alternative Studies?
Catonsville Center for Alternative Studies has a Resource Investment Index of 79/100 (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 Catonsville Center for Alternative Studies rank among high schools in Baltimore?
By Resource Investment Index, Catonsville Center for Alternative Studies ranks #1 of 42 high schools in Baltimore, MD. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Baltimore on the city page.
What other schools are in Baltimore County Public Schools?
Besides Catonsville Center for Alternative Studies, Baltimore County Public Schools also operates Dundalk High (2,087 students), Perry Hall High (2,012 students), and Woodlawn High (1,922 students). See the Baltimore County Public Schools district page for the complete list.