Enrollment
730
Michigan · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Detroit, MI
Cesar Chavez High School
Federal NCES profile for Cesar Chavez High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 22/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 260013901488Charter school
👥 S:T ratio 21
📚 AP courses 35
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Cesar Chavez High School earns 22/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 78% of Michigan schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Michigan schools.
- #16 of 20
- high schools in Detroit · Resource Index
- 22
- Resource Index · Lower
- 19.7:1
- large classes for Michigan
- 97.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Cesar Chavez High School has class sizes larger than 78% of Michigan schools. Computed live against every Michigan school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Cesar Chavez High School ranks #16 of 20 high schools in Detroit, MI.
School address
District: Cesar Chavez Academy · Michigan
NCES ID 260013901488 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
37.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
19.7:1
vs 17.5:1 Michigan avg
+13% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
97.2%
vs 54.3% Michigan avg
+79% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Cesar Chavez High School compares with Michigan and U.S. medians
What stands out at Cesar Chavez High School
Cesar Chavez High School is a high-poverty, large charter high school in Detroit, Michigan, enrolling 730 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 19.7:1 puts it in the larger third of Michigan schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need is high: 97.2% of students qualify for free meals, 79% above the Michigan average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
Enrollment of 730 puts it in the larger third of Michigan schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 3,375 scored Michigan schools.
Against 135 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #81.
Its student body is predominantly Hispanic or Latino (96% of enrollment), among the less diverse in the state (diversity index 8/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 7 Advanced Placement courses.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 49.7% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 26.6% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Detroit's high schools, it stands alongside East English Village Preparatory Academy at Finney (639 students): Cesar Chavez High School is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (19.7:1 vs 15.6:1).
Cesar Chavez Academy also operates Cesar Chavez Middle School (615 students) and Cesar Chavez Academy Intermediate (484 students) alongside Cesar Chavez High School.
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 Cesar Chavez High School compares
Cesar Chavez High School on the metrics families compare, against Michigan and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Michigan | Michigan avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 19.7:1 | ▲ 13% | 17.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 97.2% | ▲ 79% | 54.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 730 | top 11% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19.7:1
Leaner classes than 17% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
730
Bigger than 82% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
97.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 79% above the Michigan average of 54.3%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
19.7:1
students per teacher
- 13% above state mean
Top 78% in Michigan - lower ratio than 22% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
49.7%
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
$11,392
per pupil, district-wide
- below Michigan avg of $13,507
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 77 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 10.5 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
Hispanic or Latino 95.9%
White 1.8%
African American 1.8%
Two or More 0.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 95.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 8.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 8.0, Cesar Chavez High School is less mixed than the Michigan school average of 36.2.
Programs
AP courses offered 7
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Cesar Chavez Academy, which includes Cesar Chavez High School.
$11,392
Per student
-16%
vs Michigan
Avg $13,507
-31%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 3.7%
State 69.7%
Federal 26.6%
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 Cesar Chavez High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cesar Chavez Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Cesar Chavez Academy Intermediate | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Cesar Chavez Academy Elementary | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Cesar Chavez High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 615
- Students per teacher
- 17.1:1
- Resource Index
- 21/100
- Enrollment
- 484
- Students per teacher
- 16.7:1
- Resource Index
- 21/100
- Enrollment
- 465
- Students per teacher
- 15.5:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
Similar high schools in Detroit
6 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
East English Village Preparatory Academy at Finney
Standard public school
639 students 15.6:1 students per teacher
Henry Ford High School
Standard public school
607 students 16.9:1 students per teacher
Southeastern High School
Standard public school
602 students 19.4:1 students per teacher
Voyageur College Prep
Standard public school
524 students 23.8:1 students per teacher
Denby High School
Standard public school
464 students 15.5:1 students per teacher
University Preparatory Science and Math Psad High School
Standard public school
452 students 16.1:1 students per teacher
Similar high schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Michigan, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~730 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~19.7:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Cesar Chavez High School's federal record.
- Compare Cesar Chavez High School against another school. Compare schools
- Cesar Chavez Academy'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 Cesar Chavez High School
How many students attend Cesar Chavez High School?
Cesar Chavez High School has 730 students enrolled. It is a high school in Detroit, MI.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Cesar Chavez High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Cesar Chavez High School is 19.7:1, which is 13% higher than the Michigan average of 17.5:1 and 25% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Cesar Chavez High School?
97.2% of students at Cesar Chavez High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Michigan average of 54.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Cesar Chavez High School?
The largest demographic group at Cesar Chavez High School is Hispanic or Latino at 95.9% of enrollment, in Detroit, MI.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Cesar Chavez High School?
Cesar Chavez High School has a Resource Investment Index of 22/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Cesar Chavez High School rank among high schools in Detroit?
By Resource Investment Index, Cesar Chavez High School ranks #16 of 20 high schools in Detroit, MI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Detroit on the city page.
Is Cesar Chavez High School a good school?
Cesar Chavez High School earns 22/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 78% of Michigan schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Michigan schools. 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 Cesar Chavez Academy?
Besides Cesar Chavez High School, Cesar Chavez Academy also operates Cesar Chavez Middle School (615 students), Cesar Chavez Academy Intermediate (484 students), and Cesar Chavez Academy Elementary (465 students). See the Cesar Chavez Academy 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.