- Enrollment
- 1,810
- Students per teacher
- 23.8:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Federal Way, WA
Decatur High School
Federal NCES profile for Decatur High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 21/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 530282000434
👥 S:T ratio 7
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 10
📋 Attendance 39
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Decatur High School earns 21/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 91% of Washington schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Washington.
- #2 of 3
- high schools in Federal Way · Resource Index
- 21
- Resource Index · Lower
- 23.3:1
- large classes for Washington
- 53.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Decatur High School has class sizes larger than 91% of Washington schools. Computed live against every Washington school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Decatur High School ranks #2 of 3 high schools in Federal Way, WA.
School address
District: Federal Way School District · Washington
NCES ID 530282000434 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+27 students YoY
Decatur High School held near 1,354 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+27 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 58.7 → 64.4 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+27 students YoY 530282000434 · Federal Way, WA High · MID · TRAD
1,352 enr · 23.3:1 · 53.7% lunch · RII 21
Nearest enrollment peer: Thomas Jefferson High School (1,810 students)
Decatur High School held near 1,354 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+27 headcount). Teacher FTE added 58.7 → 64.4 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Washington schools → · Find another →
Decatur High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Thomas Jeffers
Thomas Jefferson High School
1,810 students
- Federal Way Hi
Federal Way High School
1,665 students
- Todd Beamer Hi
Todd Beamer High School
1,412 students
- This school
Decatur High School
1,352 students
- Evergreen Midd
Evergreen Middle School
810 students
- Kilo Middle Sc 669
Kilo Middle School
669 students
What this shows Decatur High School reports 1,352 students on the CCD universe file.
How Decatur High School compares
Decatur High School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Washington and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Washington | Washington avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 23.3:1 | ▲ 32% | 17.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 53.7% | ▲ 19% | 45.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,352 | top 5% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
23.3:1
Leaner classes than 8% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,352
Bigger than 95% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
53.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 19% above the Washington average of 45.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
23.3:1
students per teacher
- 32% above state mean
Top 91% in Washington - lower ratio than 9% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
24.4%
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
$17,898
per pupil, district-wide
- below Washington avg of $20,912
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 451 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
68
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 5.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 5 expulsions.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 33.4%
White 21.7%
Two or More 13.3%
African American 12.4%
Asian 11.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 7.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 33.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 79.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 79.0, Decatur High School is more mixed than the Washington school average of 53.3.
Programs
AP courses offered 21
District finance for Federal Way School District reports $17,898 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Decatur High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Jefferson High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Federal Way High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Todd Beamer High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Evergreen Middle School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Kilo Middle School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Decatur High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,665
- Students per teacher
- 21.3:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
- Enrollment
- 1,412
- Students per teacher
- 21.4:1
- Resource Index
- 21/100
- Enrollment
- 810
- Students per teacher
- 20.8:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 669
- Students per teacher
- 20.3:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
Similar high schools in Federal Way
5 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Open Doors Youth Reengagement (1418)
Alternative education program
154 students 38.5:1 students per teacher
Career Academy at Truman High School
Alternative education program
83 students 27.7:1 students per teacher
Employment Transition Program
Special-education school
62 students 20.7:1 students per teacher
Gateway to College
Standard public school
23 students
Federal Way Running Start Home School
Standard public school
17 students
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 (~1,352 students)
Frequently asked questions about Decatur High School
How many students attend Decatur High School?
Decatur High School has 1,352 students enrolled. It is a high school in Federal Way, WA. CCD year-over-year: 1,327 (2022-23) → 1,354 (2023-24), nearly flat (+27).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Decatur High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Decatur High School is 23.3:1, which is 32% higher than the Washington average of 17.6:1 and 48% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Decatur High School?
53.7% of students at Decatur High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Washington average of 45.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Decatur High School?
The largest demographic group at Decatur High School is Hispanic or Latino at 33.4% of enrollment, in Federal Way, WA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 79.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Decatur High School?
Decatur High School has a Resource Investment Index of 21/100 (lower 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 High School rank among high schools in Federal Way?
By Resource Investment Index, Decatur High School ranks #2 of 3 high schools in Federal Way, WA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Federal Way on the city page.
What other schools are in Federal Way School District?
Besides Decatur High School, Federal Way School District also operates Thomas Jefferson High School (1,810 students), Federal Way High School (1,665 students), and Todd Beamer High School (1,412 students). See the Federal Way School District district page for the complete list.