- Enrollment
- 2,251
- Students per teacher
- 22.1:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Memphis, TN
Central High
Federal NCES profile for Central High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 36/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 470014801028
👥 S:T ratio 14
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 33
📋 Attendance 27
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Central High earns 36/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 95% of Tennessee schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Tennessee.
- #17 of 35
- high schools in Memphis · Resource Index
- 36
- Resource Index · Typical
- 21.5:1
- large classes for Tennessee
- 1,331
- students enrolled
Central High has class sizes larger than 95% of Tennessee schools. Computed live against every Tennessee school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Central High ranks #17 of 35 high schools in Memphis, TN.
School address
District: Memphis-Shelby County Schools · Tennessee
NCES ID 470014801028 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-12 students YoY
Central High held near 1,300 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-12 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 62.0 → 79.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-12 students YoY 470014801028 · Memphis, TN High · MID · TRAD
1,331 enr · 21.5:1 · RII 36
Nearest enrollment peer: Cordova High School (2,251 students)
Central High held near 1,300 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-12 headcount). Teacher FTE added 62.0 → 79.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Tennessee schools → · Find another →
Central High in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Cordova High S
Cordova High School
2,251 students
- White Station
White Station High
2,046 students
- Germantown Hig
Germantown High
1,719 students
- Southwind High
Southwind High
1,675 students
- Whitehaven Hig
Whitehaven High
1,509 students
- This school
Central High
1,331 students
What this shows Central High reports 1,331 students on the CCD universe file.
How Central High compares
Central High held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Tennessee and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Tennessee | Tennessee avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 21.5:1 | ▲ 41% | 15.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Enrollment | 1,331 | top 4% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
21.5:1
Leaner classes than 12% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,331
Bigger than 95% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Staffing depth
21.5:1
students per teacher
- 41% above state mean
Top 95% in Tennessee - lower ratio than 5% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
29.1%
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
$13,695
per pupil, district-wide
- above Tennessee avg of $11,532
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors4.0 FTE
Per 333 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 83.0%
Hispanic or Latino 8.7%
Two or More 4.6%
White 2.7%
Asian 0.8%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: African American at 83.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 30.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 30.1, Central High is less mixed than the Tennessee school average of 38.3.
Programs
AP courses offered 22
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Memphis-Shelby County Schools reports $13,695 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Central High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cordova High School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| White Station High | Larger | No free-lunch data | Lower S:T ratio |
| Germantown High | Larger | No free-lunch data | Lower S:T ratio |
| Southwind High | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Whitehaven High | Similar size | No free-lunch data | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Central High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,046
- Students per teacher
- 18.9:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 1,719
- Students per teacher
- 15.9:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 1,675
- Students per teacher
- 26.6:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 1,509
- Students per teacher
- 16.1:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
Similar high schools in Memphis
6 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
White Station High
Standard public school
2,046 students 18.9:1 students per teacher
Southwind High
Standard public school
1,675 students 26.6:1 students per teacher
Whitehaven High
Standard public school
1,509 students 16.1:1 students per teacher
Overton High
Standard public school
1,417 students 14.3:1 students per teacher
Kingsbury High
Standard public school
1,383 students 23.4:1 students per teacher
Craigmont High
Standard public school
968 students 19.4:1 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 (~1,331 students)
Frequently asked questions about Central High
How many students attend Central High?
Central High has 1,331 students enrolled. It is a high school in Memphis, TN. CCD year-over-year: 1,312 (2022-23) → 1,300 (2023-24), nearly flat (-12).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Central High?
The student-teacher ratio at Central High is 21.5:1, which is 41% higher than the Tennessee average of 15.3:1 and 37% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Central High?
The largest demographic group at Central High is African American at 83.0% of enrollment, in Memphis, TN.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Central High?
Central High has a Resource Investment Index of 36/100 (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 rank among high schools in Memphis?
By Resource Investment Index, Central High ranks #17 of 35 high schools in Memphis, TN. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Memphis on the city page.
What other schools are in Memphis-Shelby County Schools?
Besides Central High, Memphis-Shelby County Schools also operates Cordova High School (2,251 students), White Station High (2,046 students), and Germantown High (1,719 students). See the Memphis-Shelby County Schools district page for the complete list.