- Enrollment
- 1,000
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
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 32/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 180264000312
👥 S:T ratio 37
🌟 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 32/100 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
- 32
- 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 →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+22 students YoY
Decatur Central High School held near 2,061 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+22 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 125.0 → 128.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+22 students YoY 180264000312 · Indianapolis, IN High · MID · TRAD
1,974 enr · 15.8:1 · 62.0% lunch · RII 32
Nearest enrollment peer: Decatur Middle School (1,000 students)
Decatur Central High School held near 2,061 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+22 headcount). Teacher FTE added 125.0 → 128.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Indiana schools → · Find another →
Decatur Central High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- This school
Decatur Central High School
1,974 students
- Decatur Middle
Decatur Middle School
1,000 students
- Blue Academy 687
Blue Academy
687 students
- Lynwood Elemen 583
Lynwood Elementary
583 students
- West Newton El 559
West Newton Elementary School
559 students
- Valley Mills E 554
Valley Mills Elementary School
554 students
What this shows Decatur Central High School reports 1,974 students on the CCD universe file.
How Decatur Central High School compares
Decatur Central 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 | 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 methodology
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
$12,193
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
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.
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
District finance for Msd Decatur Township reports $12,193 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
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
- 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
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 (~1,974 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15.8:1)
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. CCD year-over-year: 2,039 (2022-23) → 2,061 (2023-24), nearly flat (+22).
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 32/100 (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 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.
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.