- Enrollment
- 2,046
- Students per teacher
- 14.7:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Newark, NJ
Central High School
Federal NCES profile for Central High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 52/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 341134002192
👥 S:T ratio 40
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 65
📋 Attendance 33
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Central High School earns 52/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 91% of New Jersey schools.
- #6 of 11
- high schools in Newark · Resource Index
- 52
- Resource Index · Higher
- 15:1
- large classes for New Jersey
- 69.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Central High School has class sizes larger than 91% of New Jersey schools. Computed live against every New Jersey school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Central High School ranks #6 of 11 high schools in Newark, NJ.
School address
District: Newark Public School District · New Jersey
NCES ID 341134002192 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-68 students YoY
Central High School shrank from 894 students in 2022-23 to 826 in 2023-24 (-7.6%).
Teacher FTE added 70.5 → 76.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-68 students YoY 341134002192 · Newark, NJ High · MID · TRAD
1,051 enr · 15:1 · 69.6% lunch · RII 52
Nearest enrollment peer: East Side High School (2,046 students)
Central High School shrank from 894 students in 2022-23 to 826 in 2023-24 (-7.6%). Teacher FTE added 70.5 → 76.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · New Jersey schools → · Find another →
Central High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- East Side High
East Side High School
2,046 students
- Barringer High
Barringer High School
1,894 students
- Ann Street Sch
Ann Street School
1,294 students
- Lafayette Stre
Lafayette Street School
1,213 students
- First Avenue S
First Avenue School
1,084 students
- This school
Central High School
1,051 students
What this shows Central High School reports 1,051 students on the CCD universe file.
How Central High School compares
Central High School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs New Jersey and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs New Jersey | New Jersey avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15:1 | ▲ 27% | 11.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 69.6% | ▲ 135% | 29.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,051 | top 9% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15:1
Leaner classes than 47% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
1,051
Bigger than 92% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
69.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 135% above the New Jersey average of 29.6%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
15:1
students per teacher
- 27% above state mean
Top 91% in New Jersey - lower ratio than 9% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
27.0%
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
$28,631
per pupil, district-wide
- above New Jersey avg of $26,225
Well above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting substantially higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors6.0 FTE
Per 175 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 52.7%
Hispanic or Latino 44.2%
Two or More 0.9%
White 0.8%
Asian 0.8%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: African American at 52.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 52.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 52.7, Central High School is about as mixed as the New Jersey school average of 51.2.
Programs
AP courses offered 7
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Newark Public School District reports $28,631 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Side High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Barringer High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Ann Street School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Lafayette Street School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| First Avenue School | Similar size | Similar 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
- 1,894
- Students per teacher
- 16.8:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 1,294
- Students per teacher
- 16.4:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 1,213
- Students per teacher
- 17.1:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 1,084
- Students per teacher
- 14.5:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Similar high schools in Newark
6 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Essex County Newark Tech
Vocational / career-technical school
606 students 11.4:1 students per teacher
West Side High School
Standard public school
541 students 11.8:1 students per teacher
Newark Sch of Data Science and Information Technology
Standard public school
414 students 25.9:1 students per teacher
Newark School of Global Studies
Standard public school
377 students 14:1 students per teacher
Peoples Preparatory Charter School
Standard public school
340 students 21.3:1 students per teacher
Lead Charter School
Standard public school
333 students 66.6:1 students per teacher
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 (~1,051 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15:1)
Frequently asked questions about Central High School
How many students attend Central High School?
Central High School has 1,051 students enrolled. It is a high school in Newark, NJ. CCD year-over-year: 894 (2022-23) → 826 (2023-24), down 68.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Central High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Central High School is 15:1, which is 27% higher than the New Jersey average of 11.8:1 and 4% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Central High School?
69.6% of students at Central High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the New Jersey average of 29.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Central High School?
The largest demographic group at Central High School is African American at 52.7% of enrollment, in Newark, NJ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 52.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Central High School?
Central High School has a Resource Investment Index of 52/100 (higher 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 Newark?
By Resource Investment Index, Central High School ranks #6 of 11 high schools in Newark, NJ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Newark on the city page.
What other schools are in Newark Public School District?
Besides Central High School, Newark Public School District also operates East Side High School (2,046 students), Barringer High School (1,894 students), and Ann Street School (1,294 students). See the Newark Public School District district page for the complete list.