- Enrollment
- 2,045
- Students per teacher
- 13.3:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Little Rock, AR
Central High School
Federal NCES profile for Central High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 53/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 050900000607
👥 S:T ratio 41
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 47
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Central High School earns 53/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Arkansas median. It is also one of the largest schools in Arkansas.
- #4 of 10
- high schools in Little Rock · Resource Index
- 53
- Resource Index · Higher
- 14.7:1
- students per teacher
- 42.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Central High School has class sizes near the Arkansas median. Computed live against every Arkansas school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Central High School ranks #4 of 10 high schools in Little Rock, AR.
School address
District: Little Rock School District · Arkansas
NCES ID 050900000607 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-78 students YoY
Central High School held near 2,260 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-78 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 161.7 → 161.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-78 students YoY 050900000607 · Little Rock, AR High · LARGE · TRAD
2,371 enr · 14.7:1 · 42.1% lunch · RII 53
Nearest enrollment peer: Little Rock Southwest High School (2,045 students)
Central High School held near 2,260 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-78 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 161.7 → 161.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arkansas schools → · Find another →
Central High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- This school
Central High School
2,371 students
- Little Rock So
Little Rock Southwest High School
2,045 students
- Parkview Magne
Parkview Magnet High School
1,072 students
- Don Roberts El
Don Roberts Elementary School
1,035 students
- Chicot Element 897
Chicot Elementary School
897 students
- Pinnacle View 807
Pinnacle View Middle School
807 students
What this shows Central High School reports 2,371 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 Arkansas and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Arkansas | Arkansas avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14.7:1 | ▲ 8% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 42.1% | ▼ 29% | 59.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 2,371 | top 1% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.7:1
Leaner classes than 50% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
2,371
Bigger than 99% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
42.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 29% below the Arkansas average of 59.2%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
14.7:1
students per teacher
- 8% above state mean
Top 57% in Arkansas - lower ratio than 43% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Funding equity
$15,959
per pupil, district-wide
- above Arkansas avg of $12,818
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors9.0 FTE
Per 263 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
183
in-school suspensions + 194 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 7.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 15.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 28 expulsions.
Student demographics
African American 46.3%
White 29.0%
Asian 11.2%
Hispanic or Latino 10.8%
Two or More 2.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: African American at 46.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 67.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 67.7, Central High School is more mixed than the Arkansas school average of 40.4.
Programs
AP courses offered 36
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Little Rock School District reports $15,959 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock Southwest High School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Parkview Magnet High School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Don Roberts Elementary School | Smaller | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Chicot Elementary School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Pinnacle View Middle School | 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
- 1,072
- Students per teacher
- 13.2:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 1,035
- Students per teacher
- 19.9:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 897
- Students per teacher
- 19.9:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 807
- Students per teacher
- 12:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
Similar high schools in Little Rock
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 (~2,371 students)
Frequently asked questions about Central High School
How many students attend Central High School?
Central High School has 2,371 students enrolled. It is a high school in Little Rock, AR. CCD year-over-year: 2,338 (2022-23) → 2,260 (2023-24), nearly flat (-78).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Central High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Central High School is 14.7:1, which is 8% higher than the Arkansas average of 13.6:1 and 6% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Central High School?
42.1% of students at Central High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arkansas average of 59.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Central High School?
The largest demographic group at Central High School is African American at 46.3% of enrollment, in Little Rock, AR. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 67.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Central High School?
Central High School has a Resource Investment Index of 53/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Central High School rank among high schools in Little Rock?
By Resource Investment Index, Central High School ranks #4 of 10 high schools in Little Rock, AR. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Little Rock on the city page.
What other schools are in Little Rock School District?
Besides Central High School, Little Rock School District also operates Little Rock Southwest High School (2,045 students), Parkview Magnet High School (1,072 students), and Don Roberts Elementary School (1,035 students). See the Little Rock School District district page for the complete list.