Enrollment
1,384
South Dakota · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Aberdeen, SD
Central High School - 01
Federal NCES profile for Central High School - 01, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 26/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 460207000003
👥 S:T ratio 32
📚 AP courses 35
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 31
📋 Attendance 2
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Central High School - 01 earns 26/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 86% of South Dakota schools. It is also one of the largest schools in South Dakota.
- #12 of 12
- public schools in Aberdeen · Resource Index
- 26
- Resource Index · Lower
- 17.1:1
- large classes for South Dakota
- 20.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Central High School - 01 has class sizes larger than 86% of South Dakota schools. Computed live against every South Dakota school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Central High School - 01 ranks #12 of 12 public schools in Aberdeen, SD.
School address
District: Aberdeen School District 06-1 · South Dakota
NCES ID 460207000003 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
81.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
17.1:1
vs 13.6:1 South Dakota avg
+26% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
20.4%
vs 28.8% South Dakota avg
-29% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Central High School - 01 compares with South Dakota and U.S. medians
What stands out at Central High School - 01
Central High School - 01 is a large high school in Aberdeen, South Dakota, enrolling 1,384 students.
Class loads run heavy: 17.1:1 is larger than about 86% of South Dakota schools and 26% above the 13.6:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 20.4% lands close to the South Dakota typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in South Dakota, bigger than 99% of state schools at 1,384 students.
Its Resource Investment Index trails 96% of the 691 South Dakota schools with a score on record, one of the lower results on this measure.
Among 20 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need South Dakota schools statewide, it ranks #18, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (74%) and Hispanic or Latino (9%) (diversity index 44/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 7 Advanced Placement courses.
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 346 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 39.1% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Aberdeen School District 06-1 spends $9,917 per pupil, 26% below the South Dakota average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Aberdeen's high schools, it stands alongside Sdsbvi High School - 02 (9 students): Central High School - 01 is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (17.1:1 vs 1.8:1).
Aberdeen School District 06-1 also operates Holgate Middle School - 02 (497 students) and Simmons Middle School - 03 (464 students) alongside Central High School - 01.
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 High School - 01 compares
Central High School - 01 on the metrics families compare, against South Dakota and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs South Dakota | South Dakota avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.1:1 | ▲ 26% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 20.4% | ▼ 29% | 28.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,384 | top 1% | - | - |
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.
1,384
Bigger than 95% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
20.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 29% below the South Dakota average of 28.8%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
17.1:1
students per teacher
- 26% above state mean
Top 86% in South Dakota - lower ratio than 14% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
39.1%
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
$9,917
per pupil, district-wide
- below South Dakota avg of $13,477
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 346 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
50
in-school suspensions + 74 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 3.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 9.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
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 73.8%
Hispanic or Latino 8.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 6.7%
Two or More 5.1%
Asian 2.7%
African American 2.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.7%
Largest group: White at 73.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 43.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 43.9, Central High School - 01 is more mixed than the South Dakota school average of 27.6.
Programs
AP courses offered 7
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Aberdeen School District 06-1, which includes Central High School - 01.
$9,917
Per student
-26%
vs South Dakota
Avg $13,477
-40%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 47.7%
State 40.1%
Federal 12.2%
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 High School - 01 Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holgate Middle School - 02 | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Simmons Middle School - 03 | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Simmons Elementary - 10 | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| C C Lee Elementary - 05 | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| May Overby Elementary - 09 | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Central High School - 01's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 497
- Students per teacher
- 15.1:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 464
- Students per teacher
- 14.1:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 386
- Students per teacher
- 13.8:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
- Enrollment
- 356
- Students per teacher
- 14.8:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 327
- Students per teacher
- 12.1:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
Similar high schools in Aberdeen
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 South Dakota, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~1,384 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Central High School - 01's federal record.
- Compare Central High School - 01 against another school. Compare schools
- Aberdeen School District 06-1'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 High School - 01
How many students attend Central High School - 01?
Central High School - 01 has 1,384 students enrolled. It is a high school in Aberdeen, SD.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Central High School - 01?
The student-teacher ratio at Central High School - 01 is 17.1:1, which is 26% higher than the South Dakota average of 13.6:1 and 9% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Central High School - 01?
20.4% of students at Central High School - 01 are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Dakota average of 28.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Central High School - 01?
The largest demographic group at Central High School - 01 is White at 73.8% of enrollment, in Aberdeen, SD.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Central High School - 01?
Central High School - 01 has a Resource Investment Index of 26/100 (lower 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 High School - 01 rank among public schools in Aberdeen?
By Resource Investment Index, Central High School - 01 ranks #12 of 12 public schools in Aberdeen, SD. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Aberdeen on the city page.
Is Central High School - 01 a good school?
Central High School - 01 earns 26/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 86% of South Dakota schools. It is also one of the largest schools in South Dakota. 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 Aberdeen School District 06-1?
Besides Central High School - 01, Aberdeen School District 06-1 also operates Holgate Middle School - 02 (497 students), Simmons Middle School - 03 (464 students), and Simmons Elementary - 10 (386 students). See the Aberdeen School District 06-1 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.