- Enrollment
- 1,770
- Students per teacher
- 19.5:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Huntsville, AL
Central School
Federal NCES profile for Central School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 48/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 010222001684
👥 S:T ratio 36
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 88
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Central School earns 48/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 70% of Alabama schools.
- #8 of 29
- schools in Huntsville · Resource Index
- 48
- Resource Index · Typical
- 16.1:1
- small classes for Alabama
- 34.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Central School has class sizes smaller than 70% of Alabama schools. Computed live against every Alabama school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Central School ranks #8 of 29 schools in Huntsville, AL.
School address
District: Madison County · Alabama
NCES ID 010222001684 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-20 students YoY
Central School held near 637 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-20 headcount).
Teacher FTE held 38.8 → 38.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-20 students YoY 010222001684 · Huntsville, AL Other · MID · TRAD
610 enr · 16.1:1 · 34.7% lunch · RII 48
Nearest enrollment peer: Sparkman High School (1,770 students)
Central School held near 637 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-20 headcount). Teacher FTE held 38.8 → 38.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Alabama schools → · Find another →
Central School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Sparkman High
Sparkman High School
1,770 students
- Hazel Green Hi
Hazel Green High School
1,454 students
- Buckhorn High
Buckhorn High School
1,320 students
- Meridianville
Meridianville Middle School
1,100 students
- Monrovia Middl
Monrovia Middle School
988 students
- This school 610
Central School
610 students
What this shows Central School reports 610 students on the CCD universe file.
How Central School compares
Central School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Alabama and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Alabama | Alabama avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 16.1:1 | ▼ 9% | 17.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 34.7% | ▼ 41% | 58.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 610 | top 28% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.1:1
Leaner classes than 37% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
610
Bigger than 74% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
34.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 41% below the Alabama average of 58.8%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
16.1:1
students per teacher
- 9% below state mean
Top 30% in Alabama - lower ratio than 70% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
4.8%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
Below 5%, comfortably under the pre-pandemic national baseline for chronic absenteeism.
Funding equity
$10,905
per pupil, district-wide
- below Alabama avg of $13,538
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 610 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
69
in-school suspensions + 13 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 11.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 13.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 66.6%
African American 11.3%
Hispanic or Latino 8.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 6.9%
Two or More 6.1%
Asian 0.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 66.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 52.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 52.8, Central School is more mixed than the Alabama school average of 42.5.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Madison County reports $10,905 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Central School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sparkman High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Hazel Green High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Buckhorn High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Meridianville Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Monrovia Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Central School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,454
- Students per teacher
- 21.7:1
- Resource Index
- 21/100
- Enrollment
- 1,320
- Students per teacher
- 19.7:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 1,100
- Students per teacher
- 32.4:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 988
- Students per teacher
- 19.8:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
Similar other schools in Huntsville
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Providence Elementary
Standard public school
1,152 students 24.5:1 students per teacher
Mt Carmel Elementary School
Standard public school
638 students 17.2:1 students per teacher
Monrovia Elementary School
Standard public school
600 students 21.4:1 students per teacher
Blossomwood Elementary School
Standard public school
596 students 16.1:1 students per teacher
Riverton Elementary School
Standard public school
596 students 19.2:1 students per teacher
Sonnie Hereford Elementary School
Standard public school
578 students 18.6:1 students per teacher
Nationwide other 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 (~610 students)
Frequently asked questions about Central School
How many students attend Central School?
Central School has 610 students enrolled. It is a public school in Huntsville, AL. CCD year-over-year: 657 (2022-23) → 637 (2023-24), nearly flat (-20).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Central School?
The student-teacher ratio at Central School is 16.1:1, which is 9% lower than the Alabama average of 17.7:1 and 3% higher 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 School?
34.7% of students at Central School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Alabama average of 58.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Central School?
The largest demographic group at Central School is White at 66.6% of enrollment, in Huntsville, AL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 52.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Central School?
Central School has a Resource Investment Index of 48/100 (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 School rank among schools in Huntsville?
By Resource Investment Index, Central School ranks #8 of 29 schools in Huntsville, AL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Huntsville on the city page.
What other schools are in Madison County?
Besides Central School, Madison County also operates Sparkman High School (1,770 students), Hazel Green High School (1,454 students), and Buckhorn High School (1,320 students). See the Madison County district page for the complete list.