Enrollment
1,831
Kentucky · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Cecilia, KY
Central Hardin High School
Federal NCES profile for Central Hardin High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 36/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 210249000528
👥 S:T ratio 20
📚 AP courses 50
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 8
📋 Attendance 33
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Central Hardin High School earns 36/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 93% of Kentucky schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Kentucky.
- #4 of 4
- public schools in Cecilia · Resource Index
- 36
- Resource Index · Typical
- 19.9:1
- large classes for Kentucky
- 34.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Central Hardin High School has class sizes larger than 93% of Kentucky schools. Computed live against every Kentucky school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Central Hardin High School ranks #4 of 4 public schools in Cecilia, KY.
School address
District: Hardin County · Kentucky
NCES ID 210249000528 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
92.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
19.9:1
vs 15.2:1 Kentucky avg
+31% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
34.2%
vs 59.2% Kentucky avg
-42% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Central Hardin High School compares with Kentucky and U.S. medians
What stands out at Central Hardin High School
Central Hardin High School is a large high school in Cecilia, Kentucky, enrolling 1,831 students.
Class loads run heavy: 19.9:1 is larger than about 93% of Kentucky schools and 31% above the 15.2:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Comparatively few students face economic hardship here, 34.2% free-meal eligibility runs 42% below the Kentucky average.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Kentucky, bigger than 99% of state schools at 1,831 students.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,389 scored Kentucky schools.
Among 45 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Kentucky schools statewide, it ranks #34, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is predominantly White (82% of enrollment) (diversity index 32/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 10 Advanced Placement courses.
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 458 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 27.0% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 17.7% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 439 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 1,831 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 41 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Hardin County also operates North Hardin High School (1,593 students) and John Hardin High School (868 students) alongside Central Hardin High School.
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 Hardin High School compares
Central Hardin High School on the metrics families compare, against Kentucky and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Kentucky | Kentucky avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 19.9:1 | ▲ 31% | 15.2:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 34.2% | ▼ 42% | 59.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,831 | top 1% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19.9:1
Leaner classes than 16% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,831
Bigger than 98% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
34.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 42% below the Kentucky average of 59.2%
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
19.9:1
students per teacher
- 31% above state mean
Top 93% in Kentucky - lower ratio than 7% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
27.0%
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
$11,904
per pupil, district-wide
- below Kentucky avg of $13,211
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors4.0 FTE
Per 458 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
315
in-school suspensions + 124 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 17.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 24.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 41 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 81.8%
Hispanic or Latino 7.4%
Two or More 6.0%
African American 3.2%
Asian 1.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 81.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 32.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 32.1, Central Hardin High School is less mixed than the Kentucky school average of 34.5.
Programs
AP courses offered 10
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Hardin County, which includes Central Hardin High School.
$11,904
Per student
-10%
vs Kentucky
Avg $13,211
-28%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 29.3%
State 53.0%
Federal 17.7%
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 Hardin High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Hardin High School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| John Hardin High School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| East Hardin Middle School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Lincoln Trail Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| G C Burkhead Elementary School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Central Hardin High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,593
- Students per teacher
- 19:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 868
- Students per teacher
- 16.1:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 775
- Students per teacher
- 18:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 653
- Students per teacher
- 17.6:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 634
- Students per teacher
- 12.9:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
Similar high schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Kentucky, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~1,831 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~19.9:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Central Hardin High School's federal record.
- Compare Central Hardin High School against another school. Compare schools
- Hardin County'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 Hardin High School
How many students attend Central Hardin High School?
Central Hardin High School has 1,831 students enrolled. It is a high school in Cecilia, KY.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Central Hardin High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Central Hardin High School is 19.9:1, which is 31% higher than the Kentucky average of 15.2:1 and 27% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Central Hardin High School?
34.2% of students at Central Hardin High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Kentucky average of 59.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Central Hardin High School?
The largest demographic group at Central Hardin High School is White at 81.8% of enrollment, in Cecilia, KY.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Central Hardin High School?
Central Hardin High School has a Resource Investment Index of 36/100 (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 Hardin High School rank among public schools in Cecilia?
By Resource Investment Index, Central Hardin High School ranks #4 of 4 public schools in Cecilia, KY. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Cecilia on the city page.
Is Central Hardin High School a good school?
Central Hardin High School earns 36/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 93% of Kentucky schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Kentucky. 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 Hardin County?
Besides Central Hardin High School, Hardin County also operates North Hardin High School (1,593 students), John Hardin High School (868 students), and East Hardin Middle School (775 students). See the Hardin County 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.