Enrollment
1,974
Indiana · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Indianapolis, IN
Decatur Central High School
Federal NCES profile for Decatur Central High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 40/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 180264000312
👥 S:T ratio 37
📚 AP courses 70
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 21
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Decatur Central High School earns 40/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Indiana median. It is also one of the largest schools in Indiana.
- #17 of 32
- high schools in Indianapolis · Resource Index
- 40
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.8:1
- students per teacher
- 62.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Decatur Central High School has class sizes near the Indiana median. Computed live against every Indiana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Decatur Central High School ranks #17 of 32 high schools in Indianapolis, IN.
School address
District: Msd Decatur Township · Indiana
NCES ID 180264000312 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
125.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.8:1
vs 15.9:1 Indiana avg
-1% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
62.0%
vs 49.5% Indiana avg
+25% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Decatur Central High School compares with Indiana and U.S. medians
What stands out at Decatur Central High School
Decatur Central High School is a higher-need, large high school in Indianapolis, Indiana, enrolling 1,974 students.
At 15.8:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the Indiana median, within a few percentage points of the 15.9:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 62.0% of students eligible for free meals.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Indiana, bigger than 98% of state schools at 1,974 students.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,862 scored Indiana schools.
Among 41 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Indiana schools statewide, it ranks #32, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (48%) and African American (29%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 66/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 14 Advanced Placement courses.
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 395 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 49.7% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The federal civil-rights collection also records 21 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Indianapolis's high schools, it stands alongside North Central High School (3,682 students): Decatur Central High School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (15.8:1 vs 16.3:1).
Msd Decatur Township also operates Decatur Middle School (1,000 students) and Blue Academy (687 students) alongside Decatur Central 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 Decatur Central High School compares
Decatur Central High School on the metrics families compare, against Indiana and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Indiana | Indiana avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.8:1 | ▼ 1% | 15.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 62.0% | ▲ 25% | 49.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,974 | top 2% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.8:1
Leaner classes than 40% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
1,974
Bigger than 98% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
62.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 25% above the Indiana average of 49.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
15.8:1
students per teacher
- 1% below state mean
Top 57% in Indiana - lower ratio than 43% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
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
$12,052
per pupil, district-wide
- below Indiana avg of $12,079
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors5.0 FTE
Per 395 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 171 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 8.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 21 expulsions.
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
White 47.5%
African American 29.2%
Hispanic or Latino 16.0%
Two or More 6.1%
Asian 0.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 47.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 66.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 66.0, Decatur Central High School is more mixed than the Indiana school average of 39.0.
Programs
AP courses offered 14
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Msd Decatur Township, which includes Decatur Central High School.
$12,052
Per student
0%
vs Indiana
Avg $12,079
-27%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 30.4%
State 57.1%
Federal 12.5%
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 Decatur Central High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Decatur Middle School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Blue Academy | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Lynwood Elementary | Smaller | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| West Newton Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Valley Mills Elementary School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Decatur Central High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,000
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 687
- Students per teacher
- 16.4:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 583
- Students per teacher
- 14.6:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 559
- Students per teacher
- 15.5:1
- Resource Index
- 61/100
- Enrollment
- 554
- Students per teacher
- 14.2:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
Similar high schools in Indianapolis
6 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
North Central High School
Standard public school
3,682 students 16.3:1 students per teacher
Franklin Central High School
Standard public school
3,438 students 21.8:1 students per teacher
Warren Central High School
Standard public school
3,391 students 18.3:1 students per teacher
Ben Davis High School
Standard public school
3,315 students 18.1:1 students per teacher
Pike High School
Standard public school
3,188 students 16:1 students per teacher
Lawrence North High School
Standard public school
2,799 students 19.3:1 students per teacher
Similar high schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Indiana, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~1,974 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Decatur Central High School's federal record.
- Compare Decatur Central High School against another school. Compare schools
- Msd Decatur Township'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 Decatur Central High School
How many students attend Decatur Central High School?
Decatur Central High School has 1,974 students enrolled. It is a high school in Indianapolis, IN.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Decatur Central High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Decatur Central High School is 15.8:1, which is 1% lower than the Indiana average of 15.9:1 and 1% 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 Decatur Central High School?
62.0% of students at Decatur Central High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Indiana average of 49.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Decatur Central High School?
The largest demographic group at Decatur Central High School is White at 47.5% of enrollment, in Indianapolis, IN. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 66.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Decatur Central High School?
Decatur Central High School has a Resource Investment Index of 40/100 (typical 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 Decatur Central High School rank among high schools in Indianapolis?
By Resource Investment Index, Decatur Central High School ranks #17 of 32 high schools in Indianapolis, IN. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Indianapolis on the city page.
Is Decatur Central High School a good school?
Decatur Central High School earns 40/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Indiana median. It is also one of the largest schools in Indiana. 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 Msd Decatur Township?
Besides Decatur Central High School, Msd Decatur Township also operates Decatur Middle School (1,000 students), Blue Academy (687 students), and Lynwood Elementary (583 students). See the Msd Decatur Township 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.