- Enrollment
- 1,846
- Students per teacher
- 20.1:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
High school (grades 9-12) · El Centro, CA
Central Union High
Federal NCES profile for Central Union High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 40/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 060801000771
👥 S:T ratio 16
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 43
📋 Attendance 31
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Central Union High earns 40/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median. It is also one of the largest schools in California.
- #4 of 6
- high schools in El Centro · Resource Index
- 40
- Resource Index · Typical
- 20.9:1
- students per teacher
- 62.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Central Union High has class sizes near the California median. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Central Union High ranks #4 of 6 high schools in El Centro, CA.
School address
District: Central Union High · California
NCES ID 060801000771 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-2 students YoY
Central Union High held near 1,955 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-2 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 97.0 → 92.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-2 students YoY 060801000771 · El Centro, CA High · LARGE · TRAD
2,006 enr · 20.9:1 · 62.9% lunch · RII 40
Nearest enrollment peer: Southwest High (1,846 students)
Central Union High held near 1,955 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-2 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 97.0 → 92.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Central Union High in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- This school
Central Union High
2,006 students
- Southwest High
Southwest High
1,846 students
- Desert Oasis H 138
Desert Oasis High (Continuation)
138 students
- Mt. Signal Vir 60
Mt. Signal Virtual Academy
60 students
- Phoenix Rising 20
Phoenix Rising High
20 students
What this shows Central Union High reports 2,006 students on the CCD universe file.
How Central Union High compares
Central Union High held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 20.9:1 | ▼ 3% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 62.9% | ▲ 13% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 2,006 | top 3% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
20.9:1
Leaner classes than 13% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
2,006
Bigger than 98% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
62.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 13% above the California average of 55.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
20.9:1
students per teacher
- 3% below state mean
Top 42% in California - lower ratio than 58% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
27.5%
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
$19,038
per pupil, district-wide
- above California avg of $18,665
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors7.0 FTE
Per 287 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
Hispanic or Latino 96.3%
White 2.0%
African American 0.9%
Asian 0.5%
Two or More 0.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 96.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 7.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 7.2, Central Union High is less mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
AP courses offered 14
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Central Union High reports $19,038 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Central Union High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Desert Oasis High (Continuation) | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Mt. Signal Virtual Academy | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Phoenix Rising High | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Central Union High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 138
- Students per teacher
- 15.3:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 60
- Students per teacher
- 20:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 20
- Students per teacher
- 10:1
- Resource Index
- 55/100
Similar high schools in El Centro
5 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Southwest High
Standard public school
1,846 students 20.1:1 students per teacher
Imperial Pathways Charter
Standard public school
246 students 35.1:1 students per teacher
Desert Oasis High (Continuation)
Alternative education program
138 students 15.3:1 students per teacher
Mt. Signal Virtual Academy
Alternative education program
60 students 20:1 students per teacher
Phoenix Rising High
Alternative education program
20 students 10:1 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 (~2,006 students)
Frequently asked questions about Central Union High
How many students attend Central Union High?
Central Union High has 2,006 students enrolled. It is a high school in El Centro, CA. CCD year-over-year: 1,957 (2022-23) → 1,955 (2023-24), nearly flat (-2).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Central Union High?
The student-teacher ratio at Central Union High is 20.9:1, which is 3% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 33% 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 Union High?
62.9% of students at Central Union High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Central Union High?
The largest demographic group at Central Union High is Hispanic or Latino at 96.3% of enrollment, in El Centro, CA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Central Union High?
Central Union High has a Resource Investment Index of 40/100 (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 Union High rank among high schools in El Centro?
By Resource Investment Index, Central Union High ranks #4 of 6 high schools in El Centro, CA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in El Centro on the city page.
What other schools are in Central Union High?
Besides Central Union High, Central Union High also operates Southwest High (1,846 students), Desert Oasis High (Continuation) (138 students), and Mt. Signal Virtual Academy (60 students). See the Central Union High district page for the complete list.