Enrollment
897
North Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Lexington, NC
Central Davidson High
Federal NCES profile for Central Davidson High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 42/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 370114000459
👥 S:T ratio 31
📚 AP courses 70
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 40
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Central Davidson High earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 75% of North Carolina schools.
- #5 of 6
- high schools in Lexington · Resource Index
- 42
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.3:1
- large classes for North Carolina
- 44.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Central Davidson High has class sizes larger than 75% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Central Davidson High ranks #5 of 6 high schools in Lexington, NC.
School address
District: Davidson County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370114000459 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
52.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
17.3:1
vs 15.8:1 North Carolina avg
+9% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
44.4%
vs 66.0% North Carolina avg
-33% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Central Davidson High compares with North Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at Central Davidson High
Central Davidson High is a large high school in Lexington, North Carolina, enrolling 897 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 17.3:1 puts it in the larger third of North Carolina schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 44.4% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 897 puts it in the larger third of North Carolina schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 2,698 scored North Carolina schools.
Against 393 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #269.
Its student body is led by White (74%) and Hispanic or Latino (15%) (diversity index 43/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 14 Advanced Placement courses.
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 299 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 43.1% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 21.3% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 226 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 897 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 12 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Lexington's high schools, it stands alongside North Davidson High (935 students): Central Davidson High is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (17.3:1 vs 17:1).
Davidson County Schools also operates Oak Grove High (992 students) and North Davidson High (935 students) alongside Central Davidson High.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Central Davidson High compares
Central Davidson High on the metrics families compare, against North Carolina and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs North Carolina | North Carolina avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.3:1 | ▲ 9% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 44.4% | ▼ 33% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 897 | top 13% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.3:1
Leaner classes than 29% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
897
Bigger than 89% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
44.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 33% below the North Carolina average of 66.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
17.3:1
students per teacher
- 9% above state mean
Top 75% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 25% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
43.1%
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
$10,930
per pupil, district-wide
- below North Carolina avg of $12,017
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 299 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
101
in-school suspensions + 125 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 11.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 25.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 12 expulsions.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
White 73.9%
Hispanic or Latino 15.3%
African American 5.0%
Two or More 4.7%
Asian 1.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: White at 73.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 42.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 42.6, Central Davidson High is less mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
AP courses offered 14
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Davidson County Schools, which includes Central Davidson High.
$10,930
Per student
-9%
vs North Carolina
Avg $12,017
-34%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 16.2%
State 62.4%
Federal 21.3%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Central Davidson High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oak Grove High | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| North Davidson High | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Ledford Senior High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| West Davidson High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Oak Grove Middle | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Central Davidson High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 992
- Students per teacher
- 19.5:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 935
- Students per teacher
- 17:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 776
- Students per teacher
- 16.2:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 740
- Students per teacher
- 17.2:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 727
- Students per teacher
- 16.9:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
Similar high schools in Lexington
5 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
North Davidson High
Standard public school
935 students 17:1 students per teacher
Lexington Senior High School
Standard public school
889 students 17.8:1 students per teacher
West Davidson High
Standard public school
740 students 17.2:1 students per teacher
Yadkin Valley Regional Career Academy
Standard public school
167 students 15.2:1 students per teacher
Davidson County High School
Alternative education program
64 students 5.8:1 students per teacher
Similar high schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of North Carolina, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~897 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~17.3:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Central Davidson High's federal record.
- Compare Central Davidson High against another school. Compare schools
- Davidson County Schools's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Central Davidson High
How many students attend Central Davidson High?
Central Davidson High has 897 students enrolled. It is a high school in Lexington, NC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Central Davidson High?
The student-teacher ratio at Central Davidson High is 17.3:1, which is 9% higher than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 10% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Central Davidson High?
44.4% of students at Central Davidson High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Central Davidson High?
The largest demographic group at Central Davidson High is White at 73.9% of enrollment, in Lexington, NC.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Central Davidson High?
Central Davidson High has a Resource Investment Index of 42/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 5 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Central Davidson High rank among high schools in Lexington?
By Resource Investment Index, Central Davidson High ranks #5 of 6 high schools in Lexington, NC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Lexington on the city page.
Is Central Davidson High a good school?
Central Davidson High earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 75% of North Carolina schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Davidson County Schools?
Besides Central Davidson High, Davidson County Schools also operates Oak Grove High (992 students), North Davidson High (935 students), and Ledford Senior High (776 students). See the Davidson County Schools district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.