- Enrollment
- 409
- Students per teacher
- 15.1:1
- Resource Index
- 55/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Muncie, IN
Cowan High School
Federal NCES profile for Cowan High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 52/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 180702001200
👥 S:T ratio 47
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 67
📋 Attendance 26
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Cowan High School earns 52/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 76% of Indiana schools.
- #2 of 11
- schools in Muncie · Resource Index
- 52
- Resource Index · Higher
- 13.3:1
- small classes for Indiana
- 42.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Cowan High School has class sizes smaller than 76% of Indiana schools. Computed live against every Indiana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Cowan High School ranks #2 of 11 schools in Muncie, IN.
School address
District: Cowan Community School Corp · Indiana
NCES ID 180702001200 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-12 students YoY
Cowan High School held near 350 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-12 headcount).
Teacher FTE held 24.5 → 24.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-12 students YoY 180702001200 · Muncie, IN Other · SMALL · TRAD
318 enr · 13.3:1 · 42.3% lunch · RII 52
Nearest enrollment peer: Cowan Elementary School (409 students)
Cowan High School held near 350 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-12 headcount). Teacher FTE held 24.5 → 24.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Indiana schools → · Find another →
How Cowan High School compares
Cowan High School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Indiana and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Indiana | Indiana avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.3:1 | ▼ 16% | 15.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 42.3% | ▼ 15% | 49.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 318 | top 75% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.3:1
Leaner classes than 64% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
318
Bigger than 35% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
42.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 15% below the Indiana average of 49.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
13.3:1
students per teacher
- 16% below state mean
Top 24% in Indiana - lower ratio than 76% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
29.6%
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
$11,494
per pupil, district-wide
- below Indiana avg of $12,921
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.9 FTE
Per 167 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
33
in-school suspensions + 38 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 10.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 22.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 90.6%
Two or More 5.0%
Hispanic or Latino 3.5%
African American 0.6%
Asian 0.3%
Largest group: White at 90.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 17.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 17.5, Cowan High School is less mixed than the Indiana school average of 39.0.
Programs
AP courses offered 4
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Cowan Community School Corp reports $11,494 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Cowan High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cowan Elementary School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Cowan High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
Similar other schools in Muncie
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Muncie Central High School
Standard public school
1,337 students 15:1 students per teacher
Burris Laboratory School
Standard public school
676 students 13.3:1 students per teacher
West View Elementary School
Standard public school
538 students 18.6:1 students per teacher
East Washington Academy
Standard public school
492 students 15.4:1 students per teacher
South View Elementary School
Standard public school
470 students 13.8:1 students per teacher
Grissom Elementary School
Standard public school
411 students 13.3:1 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 (~318 students)
Frequently asked questions about Cowan High School
How many students attend Cowan High School?
Cowan High School has 318 students enrolled. It is a public school in Muncie, IN. CCD year-over-year: 362 (2022-23) → 350 (2023-24), nearly flat (-12).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Cowan High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Cowan High School is 13.3:1, which is 16% lower than the Indiana average of 15.9:1 and 15% 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 Cowan High School?
42.3% of students at Cowan High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Indiana average of 49.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Cowan High School?
The largest demographic group at Cowan High School is White at 90.6% of enrollment, in Muncie, IN.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Cowan High School?
Cowan High School has a Resource Investment Index of 52/100 (higher 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 Cowan High School rank among schools in Muncie?
By Resource Investment Index, Cowan High School ranks #2 of 11 schools in Muncie, IN. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Muncie on the city page.
What other schools are in Cowan Community School Corp?
Besides Cowan High School, Cowan Community School Corp also operates Cowan Elementary School (409 students). See the Cowan Community School Corp district page for the complete list.