Enrollment
2,329
Pennsylvania · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Philadelphia, PA
Central Hs
Federal NCES profile for Central Hs, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 56/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 421899003848
👥 S:T ratio 20
📚 AP courses 100
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 7
📋 Attendance 82
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Central Hs earns 56/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 98% of Pennsylvania schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Pennsylvania.
- #12 of 57
- high schools in Philadelphia · Resource Index
- 56
- Resource Index · Higher
- 20.1:1
- large classes for Pennsylvania
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Central Hs has class sizes larger than 98% of Pennsylvania schools. Computed live against every Pennsylvania school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Central Hs ranks #12 of 57 high schools in Philadelphia, PA.
School address
District: Philadelphia City Sd · Pennsylvania
NCES ID 421899003848 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
116.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
20.1:1
vs 13.6:1 Pennsylvania avg
+48% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
100.0%
vs 58.1% Pennsylvania avg
+72% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Central Hs compares with Pennsylvania and U.S. medians
What stands out at Central Hs
Central Hs is a high-poverty, large high school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, enrolling 2,329 students.
Class loads run heavy: 20.1:1 is larger than about 98% of Pennsylvania schools and 48% above the 13.6:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 100.0% of students eligible for free meals.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Pennsylvania, bigger than 99% of state schools at 2,329 students.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 2,889 scored Pennsylvania schools.
Against 26 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #6.
Its student body is led by Asian (35%) and White (26%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 74/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 27 Advanced Placement courses.
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 466 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Attendance holds up well here: only 7.3% of students were chronically absent, below the typical post-pandemic national figure.
Its district draws 23.3% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Philadelphia's high schools, it stands alongside Northeast Hs (3,463 students): Central Hs is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (20.1:1 vs 18.9:1).
Philadelphia City Sd also operates Northeast Hs (3,463 students) and Lincoln Hs (2,472 students) alongside Central Hs.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Central Hs compares
Central Hs on the metrics families compare, against Pennsylvania and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 20.1:1 | ▲ 48% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 72% | 58.1% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 2,329 | top 1% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
20.1:1
Leaner classes than 16% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
2,329
Bigger than 99% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
100.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 72% above the Pennsylvania average of 58.1%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
20.1:1
students per teacher
- 48% above state mean
Top 98% in Pennsylvania - lower ratio than 2% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
7.3%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
Funding equity
$17,892
per pupil, district-wide
- below Pennsylvania avg of $17,970
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors5.0 FTE
Per 466 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
3
in-school suspensions + 6 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
Asian 35.3%
White 26.1%
African American 22.5%
Hispanic or Latino 10.7%
Two or More 5.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: Asian at 35.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 74.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 74.2, Central Hs is more mixed than the Pennsylvania school average of 37.3.
Programs
AP courses offered 27
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Philadelphia City Sd, which includes Central Hs.
$17,892
Per student
0%
vs Pennsylvania
Avg $17,970
+8%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 37.0%
State 39.7%
Federal 23.3%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Central Hs Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast Hs | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Lincoln Hs | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Northeast Community Propel Academy | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Mayfair Sch | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Washington George Hs | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Central Hs's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 3,463
- Students per teacher
- 18.9:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 2,472
- Students per teacher
- 17:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 1,783
- Students per teacher
- 22.6:1
- Resource Index
- 21/100
- Enrollment
- 1,763
- Students per teacher
- 21:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 1,755
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
Similar high schools in Philadelphia
6 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Northeast Hs
Standard public school
3,463 students 18.9:1 students per teacher
Lincoln Hs
Standard public school
2,472 students 17:1 students per teacher
Washington George Hs
Standard public school
1,755 students 15.8:1 students per teacher
Franklin Towne Chs
Standard public school
1,292 students 18.5:1 students per teacher
Fels Samuel Hs
Standard public school
1,255 students 17.7:1 students per teacher
Academy at Palumbo
Standard public school
1,225 students 23.6:1 students per teacher
Similar high schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Pennsylvania, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~2,329 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~20.1:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Central Hs's federal record.
- Compare Central Hs against another school. Compare schools
- Philadelphia City Sd's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Central Hs
How many students attend Central Hs?
Central Hs has 2,329 students enrolled. It is a high school in Philadelphia, PA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Central Hs?
The student-teacher ratio at Central Hs is 20.1:1, which is 48% higher than the Pennsylvania average of 13.6:1 and 28% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Central Hs?
100.0% of students at Central Hs are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Pennsylvania average of 58.1%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Central Hs?
The largest demographic group at Central Hs is Asian at 35.3% of enrollment, in Philadelphia, PA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 74.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Central Hs?
Central Hs has a Resource Investment Index of 56/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 5 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Central Hs rank among high schools in Philadelphia?
By Resource Investment Index, Central Hs ranks #12 of 57 high schools in Philadelphia, PA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Philadelphia on the city page.
Is Central Hs a good school?
Central Hs earns 56/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 98% of Pennsylvania schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Pennsylvania. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Philadelphia City Sd?
Besides Central Hs, Philadelphia City Sd also operates Northeast Hs (3,463 students), Lincoln Hs (2,472 students), and Northeast Community Propel Academy (1,783 students). See the Philadelphia City Sd district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.