- Enrollment
- 729
- Students per teacher
- 10.6:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
High school (grades 9-12) · La Crosse, WI
Central High
Federal NCES profile for Central High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 43/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 550753000854
👥 S:T ratio 51
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 52
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Central High earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Wisconsin median. It is also one of the largest schools in Wisconsin.
- #18 of 20
- public schools in La Crosse · Resource Index
- 43
- Resource Index · Typical
- 12.3:1
- students per teacher
- 33.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Central High has class sizes near the Wisconsin median. Computed live against every Wisconsin school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Central High ranks #18 of 20 public schools in La Crosse, WI.
School address
District: La Crosse School District · Wisconsin
NCES ID 550753000854 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+6 students YoY
Central High held near 1,014 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+6 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 79.8 → 83.3 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+6 students YoY 550753000854 · La Crosse, WI High · MID · TRAD
969 enr · 12.3:1 · 33.2% lunch · RII 43
Nearest enrollment peer: Logan High (729 students)
Central High held near 1,014 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+6 headcount). Teacher FTE added 79.8 → 83.3 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Wisconsin schools → · Find another →
Central High in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- This school
Central High
969 students
- Logan High
Logan High
729 students
- Longfellow Mid
Longfellow Middle
631 students
- Logan Middle
Logan Middle
424 students
- Southern Bluff 333
Southern Bluffs Elementary
333 students
- Spence Element 329
Spence Elementary
329 students
What this shows Central High reports 969 students on the CCD universe file.
How Central High compares
Central High held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Wisconsin and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Wisconsin | Wisconsin avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 12.3:1 | ▼ 15% | 14.4:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 33.2% | ▼ 14% | 38.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 969 | top 5% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.3:1
Leaner classes than 73% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
969
Bigger than 91% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
33.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 14% below the Wisconsin average of 38.5%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
12.3:1
students per teacher
- 15% below state mean
Top 37% in Wisconsin - lower ratio than 63% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
40.8%
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
$15,989
per pupil, district-wide
- above Wisconsin avg of $15,645
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors4.0 FTE
Per 242 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
76
in-school suspensions + 52 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 7.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 13.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 68.3%
Two or More 12.2%
Asian 8.6%
Hispanic or Latino 5.2%
African American 5.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.7%
Largest group: White at 68.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 50.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 50.6, Central High is more mixed than the Wisconsin school average of 35.7.
Programs
AP courses offered 19
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for La Crosse School District reports $15,989 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Logan High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Longfellow Middle | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Logan Middle | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Southern Bluffs Elementary | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Spence Elementary | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar 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
- 631
- Students per teacher
- 14.7:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 424
- Students per teacher
- 10.6:1
- Resource Index
- 54/100
- Enrollment
- 333
- Students per teacher
- 13.9:1
- Resource Index
- 56/100
- Enrollment
- 329
- Students per teacher
- 11.3:1
- Resource Index
- 55/100
Similar high schools in La Crosse
1 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
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 (~969 students)
Frequently asked questions about Central High
How many students attend Central High?
Central High has 969 students enrolled. It is a high school in La Crosse, WI. CCD year-over-year: 1,008 (2022-23) → 1,014 (2023-24), nearly flat (+6).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Central High?
The student-teacher ratio at Central High is 12.3:1, which is 15% lower than the Wisconsin average of 14.4:1 and 22% 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?
33.2% of students at Central High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Wisconsin average of 38.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Central High?
The largest demographic group at Central High is White at 68.3% of enrollment, in La Crosse, WI. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 50.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Central High?
Central High has a Resource Investment Index of 43/100 (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 public schools in La Crosse?
By Resource Investment Index, Central High ranks #18 of 20 public schools in La Crosse, WI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in La Crosse on the city page.
What other schools are in La Crosse School District?
Besides Central High, La Crosse School District also operates Logan High (729 students), Longfellow Middle (631 students), and Logan Middle (424 students). See the La Crosse School District district page for the complete list.