- Enrollment
- 682
- Students per teacher
- 15.5:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
High school (grades 9-12) · St Joseph, MO
Central High
Federal NCES profile for Central 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 292706001648
👥 S:T ratio 26
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 31
📋 Attendance 40
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Central High earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 96% of Missouri schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Missouri.
- #1 of 3
- high schools in St Joseph · Resource Index
- 42
- Resource Index · Typical
- 18.6:1
- large classes for Missouri
- 35.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Central High has class sizes larger than 96% of Missouri schools. Computed live against every Missouri school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Central High ranks #1 of 3 high schools in St Joseph, MO.
School address
District: St. Joseph · Missouri
NCES ID 292706001648 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-8 students YoY
Central High held near 1,720 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-8 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 93.2 → 110.4 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-8 students YoY 292706001648 · St Joseph, MO High · MID · TRAD
1,733 enr · 18.6:1 · 35.5% lunch · RII 42
Nearest enrollment peer: Benton High (682 students)
Central High held near 1,720 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-8 headcount). Teacher FTE added 93.2 → 110.4 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Missouri schools → · Find another →
Central High in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- This school
Central High
1,733 students
- Benton High 682
Benton High
682 students
- Lafayette High 644
Lafayette High
644 students
- Carden Park El 638
Carden Park Elem
638 students
- Oak Grove Elem 502
Oak Grove Elem
502 students
- Bode Middle 488
Bode Middle
488 students
What this shows Central High reports 1,733 students on the CCD universe file.
How Central High compares
Central High held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Missouri and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Missouri | Missouri avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 18.6:1 | ▲ 45% | 12.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 35.5% | ▼ 23% | 46.1% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,733 | top 1% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.6:1
Leaner classes than 22% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,733
Bigger than 97% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
35.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 23% below the Missouri average of 46.1%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
18.6:1
students per teacher
- 45% above state mean
Top 96% in Missouri - lower ratio than 4% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
23.9%
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
$12,067
per pupil, district-wide
- below Missouri avg of $14,087
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors5.0 FTE
Per 347 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
266
in-school suspensions + 127 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 15.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 22.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 62.2%
Hispanic or Latino 15.3%
Two or More 9.5%
African American 7.4%
Asian 2.9%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 2.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: White at 62.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 57.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 57.4, Central High is more mixed than the Missouri school average of 31.0.
Programs
AP courses offered 15
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for St. Joseph reports $12,067 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Central High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benton High | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Lafayette High | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Carden Park Elem | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Oak Grove Elem | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Bode Middle | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Central High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 644
- Students per teacher
- 12.4:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 638
- Students per teacher
- 16.4:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 502
- Students per teacher
- 9.3:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
- Enrollment
- 488
- Students per teacher
- 16.3:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
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 (~1,733 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~18.6:1)
Frequently asked questions about Central High
How many students attend Central High?
Central High has 1,733 students enrolled. It is a high school in St Joseph, MO. CCD year-over-year: 1,728 (2022-23) → 1,720 (2023-24), nearly flat (-8).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Central High?
The student-teacher ratio at Central High is 18.6:1, which is 45% higher than the Missouri average of 12.8:1 and 18% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Central High?
35.5% of students at Central High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Missouri average of 46.1%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Central High?
The largest demographic group at Central High is White at 62.2% of enrollment, in St Joseph, MO. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 57.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Central High?
Central High has a Resource Investment Index of 42/100 (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 High rank among high schools in St Joseph?
By Resource Investment Index, Central High ranks #1 of 3 high schools in St Joseph, MO. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in St Joseph on the city page.
What other schools are in St. Joseph?
Besides Central High, St. Joseph also operates Benton High (682 students), Lafayette High (644 students), and Carden Park Elem (638 students). See the St. Joseph district page for the complete list.