- Enrollment
- 1,384
- Students per teacher
- 23.1:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Traverse City, MI
Central High School
Federal NCES profile for Central High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 32/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 263387006949
👥 S:T ratio 5
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 47
📋 Attendance 8
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Central High School earns 32/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 92% of Michigan schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Michigan.
- #9 of 16
- schools in Traverse City · Resource Index
- 32
- Resource Index · Typical
- 23.7:1
- large classes for Michigan
- 24.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Central High School has class sizes larger than 92% of Michigan schools. Computed live against every Michigan school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Central High School ranks #9 of 16 schools in Traverse City, MI.
School address
District: Traverse City Area Public Schools · Michigan
NCES ID 263387006949 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-63 students YoY
Central High School held near 1,324 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-63 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 56.3 → 57.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-63 students YoY 263387006949 · Traverse City, MI Other · MID · TRAD
1,326 enr · 23.7:1 · 24.9% lunch · RII 32
Nearest enrollment peer: West Senior High (1,384 students)
Central High School held near 1,324 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-63 headcount). Teacher FTE added 56.3 → 57.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Michigan schools → · Find another →
Central High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- West Senior Hi
West Senior High
1,384 students
- This school
Central High School
1,326 students
- West Middle Sc
West Middle School
1,081 students
- East Middle Sc
East Middle School
829 students
- Central Grade 510
Central Grade School
510 students
- Eastern Elemen 475
Eastern Elementary School
475 students
What this shows Central High School reports 1,326 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 Michigan and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Michigan | Michigan avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 23.7:1 | ▲ 35% | 17.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 24.9% | ▼ 54% | 54.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,326 | top 2% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
23.7:1
Leaner classes than 7% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,326
Bigger than 95% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
24.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 54% below the Michigan average of 54.3%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
23.7:1
students per teacher
- 35% above state mean
Top 92% in Michigan - lower ratio than 8% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
37.0%
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
$14,801
per pupil, district-wide
- below Michigan avg of $15,012
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors5.0 FTE
Per 265 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
84
in-school suspensions + 42 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 6.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 9.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 4 expulsions.
Student demographics
White 89.8%
Hispanic or Latino 3.1%
African American 2.9%
Asian 2.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: White at 89.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 19.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 19.1, Central High School is less mixed than the Michigan school average of 36.2.
Programs
AP courses offered 26
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Traverse City Area Public Schools reports $14,801 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Senior High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| West Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| East Middle School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Central Grade School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Eastern Elementary 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
- 1,081
- Students per teacher
- 20.4:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 829
- Students per teacher
- 22.4:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 510
- Students per teacher
- 17.6:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 475
- Students per teacher
- 19:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
Similar other schools in Traverse City
1 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Nationwide other 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 (~1,326 students)
Frequently asked questions about Central High School
How many students attend Central High School?
Central High School has 1,326 students enrolled. It is a public school in Traverse City, MI. CCD year-over-year: 1,387 (2022-23) → 1,324 (2023-24), nearly flat (-63).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Central High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Central High School is 23.7:1, which is 35% higher than the Michigan average of 17.5:1 and 51% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Central High School?
24.9% of students at Central High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Michigan average of 54.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Central High School?
The largest demographic group at Central High School is White at 89.8% of enrollment, in Traverse City, MI.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Central High School?
Central High School has a Resource Investment Index of 32/100 (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 schools in Traverse City?
By Resource Investment Index, Central High School ranks #9 of 16 schools in Traverse City, MI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Traverse City on the city page.
What other schools are in Traverse City Area Public Schools?
Besides Central High School, Traverse City Area Public Schools also operates West Senior High (1,384 students), West Middle School (1,081 students), and East Middle School (829 students). See the Traverse City Area Public Schools district page for the complete list.