- Enrollment
- 1,771
- Students per teacher
- 19.9:1
- Resource Index
- 18/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Rapid City, SD
Central High School - 41
Federal NCES profile for Central High School - 41, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 18/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 465982000529
👥 S:T ratio 20
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 20
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Central High School - 41 earns 18/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 95% of South Dakota schools. It is also one of the largest schools in South Dakota.
- #3 of 5
- high schools in Rapid City · Resource Index
- 18
- Resource Index · Lower
- 20:1
- large classes for South Dakota
- 30.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Central High School - 41 has class sizes larger than 95% of South Dakota schools. Computed live against every South Dakota school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Central High School - 41 ranks #3 of 5 high schools in Rapid City, SD.
School address
District: Rapid City Area School District 51-4 · South Dakota
NCES ID 465982000529 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+252 students YoY
Central High School - 41 grew from 1,768 students in 2022-23 to 2,020 in 2023-24 (+14.3%).
Teacher FTE added 100.2 → 119.3 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+252 students YoY 465982000529 · Rapid City, SD High · MID · TRAD
1,998 enr · 20:1 · 30.9% lunch · RII 18
Nearest enrollment peer: Stevens High School - 42 (1,771 students)
Central High School - 41 grew from 1,768 students in 2022-23 to 2,020 in 2023-24 (+14.3%). Teacher FTE added 100.2 → 119.3 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Dakota schools → · Find another →
Central High School - 41 in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- This school
Central High School - 41
1,998 students
- Stevens High S
Stevens High School - 42
1,771 students
- South Middle S 618
South Middle School - 36
618 students
- Southwest Midd 614
Southwest Middle School - 38
614 students
- East Middle Sc 613
East Middle School - 30
613 students
- Valley View El 605
Valley View Elementary - 13
605 students
What this shows Central High School - 41 reports 1,998 students on the CCD universe file.
How Central High School - 41 compares
Central High School - 41 is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs South Dakota and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs South Dakota | South Dakota avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 20:1 | ▲ 47% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 30.9% | ▲ 7% | 28.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,998 | top 1% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
20:1
Leaner classes than 16% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,998
Bigger than 98% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
30.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 7% above 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
20:1
students per teacher
- 47% above state mean
Top 95% in South Dakota - lower ratio than 5% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
43.3%
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
$10,377
per pupil, district-wide
- below South Dakota avg of $13,985
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 400 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
150
in-school suspensions + 162 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 7.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 15.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 48.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 23.3%
Two or More 13.6%
Hispanic or Latino 12.0%
African American 1.6%
Asian 1.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: White at 48.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 68.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 68.1, Central High School - 41 is more mixed than the South Dakota school average of 27.6.
Programs
AP courses offered 4
District finance for Rapid City Area School District 51-4 reports $10,377 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Central High School - 41 Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stevens High School - 42 | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| South Middle School - 36 | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Southwest Middle School - 38 | Smaller | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| East Middle School - 30 | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Valley View Elementary - 13 | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Central High School - 41's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 618
- Students per teacher
- 14.7:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 614
- Students per teacher
- 18.1:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 613
- Students per teacher
- 15:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
- Enrollment
- 605
- Students per teacher
- 18.9:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
Similar high schools in Rapid City
4 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Stevens High School - 42
Standard public school
1,771 students 19.9:1 students per teacher
Rapid City High School - 45
Alternative education program
356 students 13.2:1 students per teacher
Rapid City Online High School - 92
Standard public school
73 students 73:1 students per teacher
Lincoln Building - 44
Special-education school
23 students 11.5:1 students per teacher
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 (~1,998 students)
Frequently asked questions about Central High School - 41
How many students attend Central High School - 41?
Central High School - 41 has 1,998 students enrolled. It is a high school in Rapid City, SD. CCD year-over-year: 1,768 (2022-23) → 2,020 (2023-24), up 252.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Central High School - 41?
The student-teacher ratio at Central High School - 41 is 20:1, which is 47% higher than the South Dakota average of 13.6:1 and 27% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Central High School - 41?
30.9% of students at Central High School - 41 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 - 41?
The largest demographic group at Central High School - 41 is White at 48.1% of enrollment, in Rapid City, SD. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 68.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Central High School - 41?
Central High School - 41 has a Resource Investment Index of 18/100 (lower 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 School - 41 rank among high schools in Rapid City?
By Resource Investment Index, Central High School - 41 ranks #3 of 5 high schools in Rapid City, SD. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Rapid City on the city page.
What other schools are in Rapid City Area School District 51-4?
Besides Central High School - 41, Rapid City Area School District 51-4 also operates Stevens High School - 42 (1,771 students), South Middle School - 36 (618 students), and Southwest Middle School - 38 (614 students). See the Rapid City Area School District 51-4 district page for the complete list.