Enrollment
1,666
Illinois · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Champaign, IL
Central High School
Federal NCES profile for Central High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 38/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 170942000546
👥 S:T ratio 41
📚 AP courses 75
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 44
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Central High School earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Illinois median. It is also one of the largest schools in Illinois.
- #14 of 17
- public schools in Champaign · Resource Index
- 38
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.8:1
- students per teacher
- 1,666
- students enrolled
Central High School has class sizes near the Illinois median. Computed live against every Illinois school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Central High School ranks #14 of 17 public schools in Champaign, IL.
School address
District: Champaign Cusd 4 · Illinois
NCES ID 170942000546 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
108.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
14.8:1
vs 14:1 Illinois avg
+6% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Central High School compares with Illinois and U.S. medians
What stands out at Central High School
Central High School is a large high school in Champaign, Illinois, enrolling 1,666 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 14.8:1 puts it in the larger third of Illinois schools by student-teacher ratio.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Illinois, bigger than 96% of state schools at 1,666 students.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 3,845 scored Illinois schools.
Its student body is led by White (38%) and African American (26%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 74/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 15 Advanced Placement courses.
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 278 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 46.6% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The federal civil-rights collection also records 8 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Champaign's high schools, it stands alongside Centennial High School (1,476 students): Central High School is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (14.8:1 vs 13.9:1).
Champaign Cusd 4 also operates Centennial High School (1,476 students) and Jefferson Middle School (711 students) alongside Central High School.
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 compares
Central High School on the metrics families compare, against Illinois and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Illinois | Illinois avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14.8:1 | ▲ 6% | 14:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Enrollment | 1,666 | top 4% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.8:1
Leaner classes than 51% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
1,666
Bigger than 97% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Staffing depth
14.8:1
students per teacher
- 6% above state mean
Top 67% in Illinois - lower ratio than 33% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
46.6%
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
$17,883
per pupil, district-wide
- above Illinois avg of $17,042
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors6.0 FTE
Per 278 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 165 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 9.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 8 expulsions.
Overview
Enrollment 1,666 Top 4% in Illinois - larger than 96% of 3,845 state schools
Teachers (FTE) 108.0
Students per teacher 14.8:1 +6% vs state
Free-lunch eligible -
NCES ID 170942000546
Student demographics
White 38.0%
African American 26.1%
Hispanic or Latino 19.3%
Asian 9.4%
Two or More 6.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: White at 38.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 73.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 73.7, Central High School is more mixed than the Illinois school average of 38.9.
Programs & staff
AP courses offered 15
Counselors (FTE) 6.0
Students per counselor 278:1
Discipline & special education
Chronically absent 46.6%
In-school suspensions 0
Out-of-school suspensions 165
Expulsions 8
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Champaign Cusd 4, which includes Central High School.
$17,883
Per student
+5%
vs Illinois
Avg $17,042
+8%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 63.3%
State 26.0%
Federal 10.7%
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 Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Centennial High School | Similar size | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| Jefferson Middle School | Smaller | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| International Prep Academy | Smaller | No free-lunch data | Lower S:T ratio |
| Franklin Middle School | Smaller | No free-lunch data | Lower S:T ratio |
| Edison Middle School | Smaller | No free-lunch data | 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
- 1,476
- Students per teacher
- 13.9:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 711
- Students per teacher
- 13.7:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 681
- Students per teacher
- 11.8:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 665
- Students per teacher
- 12.8:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 647
- Students per teacher
- 14.3:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
Similar high schools in Champaign
1 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Central High School's federal record.
- Compare Central High School against another school. Compare schools
- Champaign Cusd 4'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
How many students attend Central High School?
Central High School has 1,666 students enrolled. It is a high school in Champaign, IL.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Central High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Central High School is 14.8:1, which is 6% higher than the Illinois average of 14:1 and 6% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Central High School?
The largest demographic group at Central High School is White at 38.0% of enrollment, in Champaign, IL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 73.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Central High School?
Central High School has a Resource Investment Index of 38/100 (typical 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 rank among public schools in Champaign?
By Resource Investment Index, Central High School ranks #14 of 17 public schools in Champaign, IL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Champaign on the city page.
Is Central High School a good school?
Central High School earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Illinois median. It is also one of the largest schools in Illinois. 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 Champaign Cusd 4?
Besides Central High School, Champaign Cusd 4 also operates Centennial High School (1,476 students), Jefferson Middle School (711 students), and International Prep Academy (681 students). See the Champaign Cusd 4 district page for the complete list.