- Enrollment
- 1,068
- Students per teacher
- 19.4:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Phenix City, AL
Central High School
Federal NCES profile for Central High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 29/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 010270001088
👥 S:T ratio 20
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 27
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Central High School earns 29/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 84% of Alabama schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Alabama.
- #12 of 12
- public schools in Phenix City · Resource Index
- 29
- Resource Index · Lower
- 20:1
- large classes for Alabama
- 66.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Central High School has class sizes larger than 84% of Alabama schools. Computed live against every Alabama school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Central High School ranks #12 of 12 public schools in Phenix City, AL.
School address
District: Phenix City · Alabama
NCES ID 010270001088 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+73 students YoY
Central High School held near 1,568 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+73 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 79.7 → 75.3 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+73 students YoY 010270001088 · Phenix City, AL High · MID · TRAD
1,579 enr · 20:1 · 66.1% lunch · RII 29
Nearest enrollment peer: Phenix City Intermediate School (1,068 students)
Central High School held near 1,568 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+73 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 79.7 → 75.3 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Alabama schools → · Find another →
Central High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- This school
Central High School
1,579 students
- Phenix City In
Phenix City Intermediate School
1,068 students
- Ridgecrest Ele
Ridgecrest Elementary School
722 students
- Phenix City El
Phenix City Elementary School
683 students
- Westview Eleme 563
Westview Elementary School
563 students
- Central Freshm 513
Central Freshman Academy
513 students
What this shows Central High School reports 1,579 students on the CCD universe file.
How Central High School compares
Central High School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Alabama and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Alabama | Alabama avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 20:1 | ▲ 13% | 17.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 66.1% | ▲ 12% | 58.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,579 | top 2% | - | - |
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.
1,579
Bigger than 97% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
66.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 12% 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
20:1
students per teacher
- 13% above state mean
Top 84% in Alabama - lower ratio than 16% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
29.3%
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
$12,259
per pupil, district-wide
- below Alabama avg of $13,538
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 526 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
699
in-school suspensions + 279 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 44.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 61.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 63.7%
White 20.8%
Hispanic or Latino 10.3%
Two or More 4.6%
Asian 0.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: African American at 63.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 53.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 53.8, Central High School is more mixed than the Alabama school average of 42.5.
Programs
AP courses offered 12
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Phenix City reports $12,259 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Central High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phenix City Intermediate School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Ridgecrest Elementary School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Phenix City Elementary School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Westview Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Central Freshman Academy | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Central High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- 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
- Enrollment
- 513
- Students per teacher
- 17.1:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
Similar high schools in Phenix City
1 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
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 (~1,579 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~20:1)
Frequently asked questions about Central High School
How many students attend Central High School?
Central High School has 1,579 students enrolled. It is a high school in Phenix City, AL. CCD year-over-year: 1,495 (2022-23) → 1,568 (2023-24), nearly flat (+73).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Central High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Central High School is 20:1, which is 13% higher than the Alabama average of 17.7:1 and 27% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Central High School?
66.1% of students at Central High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Alabama average of 58.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Central High School?
The largest demographic group at Central High School is African American at 63.7% of enrollment, in Phenix City, AL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 53.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Central High School?
Central High School has a Resource Investment Index of 29/100 (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 rank among public schools in Phenix City?
By Resource Investment Index, Central High School ranks #12 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.
What other schools are in Phenix City?
Besides Central High School, Phenix City also operates Phenix City Intermediate School (1,068 students), Ridgecrest Elementary School (722 students), and Phenix City Elementary School (683 students). See the Phenix City district page for the complete list.