- Enrollment
- 1,573
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Harrisburg, PA
Central Dauphin Shs
Federal NCES profile for Central Dauphin Shs, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 32/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 420540001745
👥 S:T ratio 36
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 2
📋 Attendance 20
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Central Dauphin Shs earns 32/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 86% of Pennsylvania schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Pennsylvania.
- #5 of 7
- high schools in Harrisburg · Resource Index
- 32
- Resource Index · Typical
- 16.1:1
- large classes for Pennsylvania
- 31.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Central Dauphin Shs has class sizes larger than 86% of Pennsylvania schools. Computed live against every Pennsylvania school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Central Dauphin Shs ranks #5 of 7 high schools in Harrisburg, PA.
School address
District: Central Dauphin Sd · Pennsylvania
NCES ID 420540001745 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+23 students YoY
Central Dauphin Shs held near 1,998 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+23 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 122.0 → 124.6 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+23 students YoY 420540001745 · Harrisburg, PA High · MID · TRAD
1,966 enr · 16.1:1 · 31.0% lunch · RII 32
Nearest enrollment peer: Central Dauphin East Shs (1,573 students)
Central Dauphin Shs held near 1,998 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+23 headcount). Teacher FTE added 122.0 → 124.6 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Pennsylvania schools → · Find another →
Central Dauphin Shs in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- This school
Central Dauphin Shs
1,966 students
- Central Dauphi
Central Dauphin East Shs
1,573 students
- Linglestown Ms
Linglestown Ms
841 students
- Central Dauphi
Central Dauphin Ms
834 students
- North Side El 722
North Side El Sch
722 students
- Central Dauphi 702
Central Dauphin East Ms
702 students
What this shows Central Dauphin Shs reports 1,966 students on the CCD universe file.
How Central Dauphin Shs compares
Central Dauphin Shs held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Pennsylvania and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 16.1:1 | ▲ 18% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 31.0% | ▼ 47% | 58.1% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,966 | top 2% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.1:1
Leaner classes than 37% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
1,966
Bigger than 98% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
31.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 47% below the Pennsylvania average of 58.1%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
16.1:1
students per teacher
- 18% above state mean
Top 86% in Pennsylvania - lower ratio than 14% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
31.9%
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
$15,380
per pupil, district-wide
- below Pennsylvania avg of $18,725
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors4.0 FTE
Per 492 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
203
in-school suspensions + 114 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 10.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 16.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 17 expulsions.
Student demographics
White 60.5%
African American 12.9%
Asian 9.8%
Hispanic or Latino 9.7%
Two or More 6.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: White at 60.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 59.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 59.4, Central Dauphin Shs is more mixed than the Pennsylvania school average of 37.3.
Programs
AP courses offered 20
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Central Dauphin Sd reports $15,380 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Central Dauphin Shs Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Dauphin East Shs | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Linglestown Ms | Smaller | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Central Dauphin Ms | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| North Side El Sch | Smaller | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Central Dauphin East Ms | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Central Dauphin Shs's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 841
- Students per teacher
- 15.3:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 834
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 722
- Students per teacher
- 16.8:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 702
- Students per teacher
- 14.3:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
Similar high schools in Harrisburg
6 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Central Dauphin East Shs
Standard public school
1,573 students 15.7:1 students per teacher
Harrisburg Hs
Standard public school
1,343 students 17.7:1 students per teacher
Dauphin County Technical School
Vocational / career-technical school
1,187 students 14.8:1 students per teacher
Susquehanna Twp Hs
Standard public school
767 students 13.7:1 students per teacher
Harrisburg Hs - Scitech Cmp
Standard public school
347 students 14.5:1 students per teacher
Capital Area School for the Arts Cs
Standard public school
193 students 14.8:1 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 (~1,966 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~16.1:1)
Frequently asked questions about Central Dauphin Shs
How many students attend Central Dauphin Shs?
Central Dauphin Shs has 1,966 students enrolled. It is a high school in Harrisburg, PA. CCD year-over-year: 1,975 (2022-23) → 1,998 (2023-24), nearly flat (+23).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Central Dauphin Shs?
The student-teacher ratio at Central Dauphin Shs is 16.1:1, which is 18% higher than the Pennsylvania average of 13.6:1 and 3% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Central Dauphin Shs?
31.0% of students at Central Dauphin Shs are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Pennsylvania average of 58.1%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Central Dauphin Shs?
The largest demographic group at Central Dauphin Shs is White at 60.5% of enrollment, in Harrisburg, PA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 59.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Central Dauphin Shs?
Central Dauphin Shs has a Resource Investment Index of 32/100 (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 Central Dauphin Shs rank among high schools in Harrisburg?
By Resource Investment Index, Central Dauphin Shs ranks #5 of 7 high schools in Harrisburg, PA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Harrisburg on the city page.
What other schools are in Central Dauphin Sd?
Besides Central Dauphin Shs, Central Dauphin Sd also operates Central Dauphin East Shs (1,573 students), Linglestown Ms (841 students), and Central Dauphin Ms (834 students). See the Central Dauphin Sd district page for the complete list.