- Enrollment
- 1,741
- Students per teacher
- 17.2:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Ellicott City, MD
Centennial High
Federal NCES profile for Centennial High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 50/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 240042000722
👥 S:T ratio 34
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 31
📋 Attendance 64
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Centennial High earns 50/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 77% of Maryland schools.
- #2 of 3
- high schools in Ellicott City · Resource Index
- 50
- Resource Index · Higher
- 16.6:1
- large classes for Maryland
- 15.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Centennial High has class sizes larger than 77% of Maryland schools. Computed live against every Maryland school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Centennial High ranks #2 of 3 high schools in Ellicott City, MD.
School address
District: Howard County Public Schools · Maryland
NCES ID 240042000722 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-28 students YoY
Centennial High held near 1,364 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-28 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 83.9 → 85.9 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-28 students YoY 240042000722 · Ellicott City, MD High · MID · TRAD
1,377 enr · 16.6:1 · 15.9% lunch · RII 50
Nearest enrollment peer: Marriotts Ridge High (1,741 students)
Centennial High held near 1,364 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-28 headcount). Teacher FTE added 83.9 → 85.9 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Maryland schools → · Find another →
Centennial High in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Marriotts Ridg
Marriotts Ridge High
1,741 students
- Reservoir High
Reservoir High
1,597 students
- Atholton High
Atholton High
1,540 students
- Howard High
Howard High
1,493 students
- Mount Hebron H
Mount Hebron High
1,455 students
- This school
Centennial High
1,377 students
What this shows Centennial High reports 1,377 students on the CCD universe file.
How Centennial High compares
Centennial High 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 | 16.6:1 | ▲ 14% | 14.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 15.9% | ▼ 68% | 49.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,377 | top 7% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.6:1
Leaner classes than 33% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,377
Bigger than 95% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
15.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 68% below the Maryland average of 49.0%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
16.6:1
students per teacher
- 14% above state mean
Top 77% in Maryland - lower ratio than 23% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
14.5%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$19,256
per pupil, district-wide
- above Maryland avg of $18,753
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors4.0 FTE
Per 344 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
2
in-school suspensions + 17 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Asian 39.8%
White 33.1%
African American 13.5%
Hispanic or Latino 7.8%
Two or More 5.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: Asian at 39.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 70.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 70.5, Centennial High is more mixed than the Maryland school average of 52.3.
Programs
AP courses offered 36
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Howard County Public Schools reports $19,256 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Centennial High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marriotts Ridge High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Reservoir High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Atholton High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Howard High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Mount Hebron High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Centennial High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,597
- Students per teacher
- 13.2:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 1,540
- Students per teacher
- 16.4:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 1,493
- Students per teacher
- 13.5:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
- Enrollment
- 1,455
- Students per teacher
- 13.7:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
Similar high schools in Ellicott City
2 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
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 (~1,377 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~16.6:1)
Frequently asked questions about Centennial High
How many students attend Centennial High?
Centennial High has 1,377 students enrolled. It is a high school in Ellicott City, MD. CCD year-over-year: 1,392 (2022-23) → 1,364 (2023-24), nearly flat (-28).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Centennial High?
The student-teacher ratio at Centennial High is 16.6:1, which is 14% higher than the Maryland average of 14.5:1 and 6% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Centennial High?
15.9% of students at Centennial High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Maryland average of 49.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Centennial High?
The largest demographic group at Centennial High is Asian at 39.8% of enrollment, in Ellicott City, MD. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 70.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Centennial High?
Centennial High has a Resource Investment Index of 50/100 (higher 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 Centennial High rank among high schools in Ellicott City?
By Resource Investment Index, Centennial High ranks #2 of 3 high schools in Ellicott City, 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 Ellicott City on the city page.
What other schools are in Howard County Public Schools?
Besides Centennial High, Howard County Public Schools also operates Marriotts Ridge High (1,741 students), Reservoir High (1,597 students), and Atholton High (1,540 students). See the Howard County Public Schools district page for the complete list.