- Enrollment
- 1,116
- Students per teacher
- 17.4:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Providence, RI
Central High School
Federal NCES profile for Central High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 35/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 440090000217
👥 S:T ratio 47
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 65
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Central High School earns 35/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Rhode Island median. It is also one of the largest schools in Rhode Island.
- #8 of 16
- high schools in Providence · Resource Index
- 35
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.3:1
- students per teacher
- 81.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Central High School has class sizes near the Rhode Island median. Computed live against every Rhode Island school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Central High School ranks #8 of 16 high schools in Providence, RI.
School address
District: Providence · Rhode Island
NCES ID 440090000217 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-283 students YoY
Central High School shrank from 1,302 students in 2022-23 to 1,019 in 2023-24 (-21.7%).
Teacher FTE lost 79.0 → 73.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-283 students YoY 440090000217 · Providence, RI High · MID · TRAD
1,050 enr · 13.3:1 · 81.0% lunch · RII 35
Nearest enrollment peer: Classical High School (1,116 students)
Central High School shrank from 1,302 students in 2022-23 to 1,019 in 2023-24 (-21.7%). Teacher FTE lost 79.0 → 73.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Rhode Island schools → · Find another →
Central High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Classical High
Classical High School
1,116 students
- This school
Central High School
1,050 students
- Mount Pleasant
Mount Pleasant High
997 students
- Governor Chris
Governor Christopher Delsesto
818 students
- Nathanael Gree
Nathanael Greene Middle
815 students
- Roger Williams
Roger Williams Middle
786 students
What this shows Central High School reports 1,050 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 Rhode Island and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Rhode Island | Rhode Island avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.3:1 | ▼ 4% | 13.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 81.0% | ▲ 105% | 39.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,050 | top 5% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.3:1
Leaner classes than 64% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
1,050
Bigger than 92% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
81.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 105% above the Rhode Island average of 39.6%
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
13.3:1
students per teacher
- 4% below state mean
Top 54% in Rhode Island - lower ratio than 46% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
90.1%
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
$24,733
per pupil, district-wide
- above Rhode Island avg of $21,508
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 + 54 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 76.5%
African American 12.1%
Asian 4.0%
White 3.3%
Two or More 2.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.9%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.7%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 76.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 39.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 39.7, Central High School is less mixed than the Rhode Island school average of 47.0.
Programs
AP courses offered 8
District finance for Providence reports $24,733 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classical High School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Mount Pleasant High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Governor Christopher Delsesto | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Nathanael Greene Middle | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Roger Williams Middle | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher 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
- 997
- Students per teacher
- 13.1:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 818
- Students per teacher
- 18.6:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 815
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 786
- Students per teacher
- 15.4:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
Similar high schools in Providence
6 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Classical High School
Standard public school
1,116 students 17.4:1 students per teacher
Mount Pleasant High
Standard public school
997 students 13.1:1 students per teacher
Metropolitan Career Tech Ctr
Vocational / career-technical school
817 students 13.6:1 students per teacher
Hope High School
Standard public school
775 students 10.5:1 students per teacher
Providence Career Technical
Vocational / career-technical school
759 students 10.8:1 students per teacher
W B Cooley & Acad Internationa
Standard public school
685 students 24.5:1 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 (~1,050 students)
Frequently asked questions about Central High School
How many students attend Central High School?
Central High School has 1,050 students enrolled. It is a high school in Providence, RI. CCD year-over-year: 1,302 (2022-23) → 1,019 (2023-24), down 283.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Central High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Central High School is 13.3:1, which is 4% lower than the Rhode Island average of 13.8:1 and 15% lower 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?
81.0% of students at Central High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Rhode Island average of 39.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Central High School?
The largest demographic group at Central High School is Hispanic or Latino at 76.5% of enrollment, in Providence, RI.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Central High School?
Central High School has a Resource Investment Index of 35/100 (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 Providence?
By Resource Investment Index, Central High School ranks #8 of 16 high schools in Providence, RI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Providence on the city page.
What other schools are in Providence?
Besides Central High School, Providence also operates Classical High School (1,116 students), Mount Pleasant High (997 students), and Governor Christopher Delsesto (818 students). See the Providence district page for the complete list.