Enrollment
513
Alabama · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Phenix City, AL
Central Freshman Academy
Federal NCES profile for Central Freshman Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 34/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 010270002140
👥 S:T ratio 32
📚 AP courses 10
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 32
📋 Attendance 26
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Central Freshman Academy earns 34/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Alabama median.
- #2 of 12
- public schools in Phenix City · Resource Index
- 34
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.1:1
- students per teacher
- 69.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Central Freshman Academy has class sizes near the Alabama median. Computed live against every Alabama school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Central Freshman Academy ranks #2 of 12 public schools in Phenix City, AL.
School address
District: Phenix City · Alabama
NCES ID 010270002140 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
30.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
17.1:1
vs 17.7:1 Alabama avg
-3% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
69.4%
vs 58.8% Alabama avg
+18% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Central Freshman Academy compares with Alabama and U.S. medians
What stands out at Central Freshman Academy
Central Freshman Academy is a higher-need, mid-sized high school in Phenix City, Alabama, enrolling 513 students.
At 17.1:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the Alabama median, within a few percentage points of the 17.7:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 69.4% of students eligible for free meals.
With 513 students, its enrollment sits close to the Alabama median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 1,365 scored Alabama schools.
Against 408 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #137.
Its student body is led by African American (66%) and White (20%) (diversity index 52/100).
No Advanced Placement courses are reported for this campus in the federal data.
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 342 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 29.6% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 23.2% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 369 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 513 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 4 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Phenix City's high schools, it stands alongside Central High School (1,579 students): Central Freshman Academy is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (17.1:1 vs 20:1).
Phenix City also operates Central High School (1,579 students) and Phenix City Intermediate School (1,068 students) alongside Central Freshman Academy.
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 Freshman Academy compares
Central Freshman Academy on the metrics families compare, against Alabama and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Alabama | Alabama avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.1:1 | ▼ 3% | 17.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 69.4% | ▲ 18% | 58.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 513 | top 43% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.1:1
Leaner classes than 30% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
513
Bigger than 63% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
69.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 18% above the Alabama average of 58.8%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
17.1:1
students per teacher
- 3% below state mean
Top 46% in Alabama - lower ratio than 54% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
29.6%
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
$11,818
per pupil, district-wide
- below Alabama avg of $12,491
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.5 FTE
Per 342 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
274
in-school suspensions + 95 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 53.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 71.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 4 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
African American 65.5%
White 19.5%
Hispanic or Latino 9.9%
Two or More 4.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Asian 0.2%
Largest group: African American at 65.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 52.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 52.1, Central Freshman Academy is more mixed than the Alabama school average of 42.5.
Programs
AP program Not offered
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Phenix City, which includes Central Freshman Academy.
$11,818
Per student
-5%
vs Alabama
Avg $12,491
-29%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 19.1%
State 57.8%
Federal 23.2%
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 Freshman Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Phenix City Intermediate School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Ridgecrest Elementary School | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Phenix City Elementary School | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Westview Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Central Freshman Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,579
- Students per teacher
- 20:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 1,068
- Students per teacher
- 19.4:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 722
- Students per teacher
- 17.2:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 683
- Students per teacher
- 17.5:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 563
- Students per teacher
- 18.2:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
Similar high schools in Phenix City
1 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Similar high schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Alabama, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~513 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~17.1:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Central Freshman Academy's federal record.
- Compare Central Freshman Academy against another school. Compare schools
- Phenix City'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 Freshman Academy
How many students attend Central Freshman Academy?
Central Freshman Academy has 513 students enrolled. It is a high school in Phenix City, AL.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Central Freshman Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Central Freshman Academy is 17.1:1, which is 3% lower than the Alabama average of 17.7:1 and 9% higher 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 Central Freshman Academy?
69.4% of students at Central Freshman Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Alabama average of 58.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Central Freshman Academy?
The largest demographic group at Central Freshman Academy is African American at 65.5% of enrollment, in Phenix City, AL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 52.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Central Freshman Academy?
Central Freshman Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 34/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 5 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Central Freshman Academy rank among public schools in Phenix City?
By Resource Investment Index, Central Freshman Academy ranks #2 of 12 public schools in Phenix City, AL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Phenix City on the city page.
Is Central Freshman Academy a good school?
Central Freshman Academy earns 34/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Alabama median. 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 Phenix City?
Besides Central Freshman Academy, Phenix City also operates Central High School (1,579 students), Phenix City Intermediate School (1,068 students), and Ridgecrest Elementary School (722 students). See the Phenix City 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.