- Enrollment
- 1,153
- Students per teacher
- 22.6:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Tuscaloosa, AL
Central High School
Federal NCES profile for Central High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 40/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 010336001608
👥 S:T ratio 31
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 47
📋 Attendance 13
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Central High School earns 40/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Alabama median.
- #2 of 4
- high schools in Tuscaloosa · Resource Index
- 40
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.3:1
- students per teacher
- 79.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Central High School has class sizes near the Alabama median. Computed live against every Alabama school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Central High School ranks #2 of 4 high schools in Tuscaloosa, AL.
School address
District: Tuscaloosa City · Alabama
NCES ID 010336001608 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+51 students YoY
Central High School grew from 783 students in 2022-23 to 834 in 2023-24 (+6.5%).
Teacher FTE added 46.5 → 49.7 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+51 students YoY 010336001608 · Tuscaloosa, AL High · MID · TRAD
796 enr · 17.3:1 · 79.8% lunch · RII 40
Nearest enrollment peer: Northridge High School (1,153 students)
Central High School grew from 783 students in 2022-23 to 834 in 2023-24 (+6.5%). Teacher FTE added 46.5 → 49.7 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
- Northridge Hig
Northridge High School
1,153 students
- Paul W Bryant
Paul W Bryant High School
1,134 students
- This school
Central High School
796 students
- Northridge Mid
Northridge Middle School
775 students
- Eastwood Middl
Eastwood Middle School
711 students
- Rock Quarry El
Rock Quarry Elementary School
671 students
What this shows Central High School reports 796 students on the CCD universe file.
How Central High School compares
Central High School is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Alabama and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Alabama | Alabama avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.3:1 | ▼ 2% | 17.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 79.8% | ▲ 36% | 58.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 796 | top 14% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.3:1
Leaner classes than 29% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
796
Bigger than 85% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
79.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 36% 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
17.3:1
students per teacher
- 2% below state mean
Top 49% in Alabama - lower ratio than 51% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
34.7%
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
$14,227
per pupil, district-wide
- above Alabama avg of $13,538
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 265 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
4
in-school suspensions + 253 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 32.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 87.2%
Hispanic or Latino 6.9%
White 4.6%
Asian 0.8%
Two or More 0.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: African American at 87.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 23.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 23.3, Central High School is less mixed than the Alabama school average of 42.5.
Programs
AP courses offered 1
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Tuscaloosa City reports $14,227 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northridge High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Paul W Bryant High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Northridge Middle School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Eastwood Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Rock Quarry Elementary School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar 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
- 1,134
- Students per teacher
- 22.2:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 775
- Students per teacher
- 16.5:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 711
- Students per teacher
- 19.8:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 671
- Students per teacher
- 18.1:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
Similar high schools in Tuscaloosa
3 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 (~796 students)
Frequently asked questions about Central High School
How many students attend Central High School?
Central High School has 796 students enrolled. It is a high school in Tuscaloosa, AL. CCD year-over-year: 783 (2022-23) → 834 (2023-24), up 51.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Central High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Central High School is 17.3:1, which is 2% lower than the Alabama average of 17.7:1 and 10% higher than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Central High School?
79.8% 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 87.2% of enrollment, in Tuscaloosa, AL.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Central High School?
Central High School has a Resource Investment Index of 40/100 (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 School rank among high schools in Tuscaloosa?
By Resource Investment Index, Central High School ranks #2 of 4 high schools in Tuscaloosa, AL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Tuscaloosa on the city page.
What other schools are in Tuscaloosa City?
Besides Central High School, Tuscaloosa City also operates Northridge High School (1,153 students), Paul W Bryant High School (1,134 students), and Northridge Middle School (775 students). See the Tuscaloosa City district page for the complete list.