Enrollment
2,457
Georgia · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Cumming, GA
Forsyth Central High School
Federal NCES profile for Forsyth Central High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 50/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 130222000956
👥 S:T ratio 34
📚 AP courses 100
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 18
📋 Attendance 30
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Forsyth Central High School earns 50/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 81% of Georgia schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Georgia.
- #2 of 5
- high schools in Cumming · Resource Index
- 50
- Resource Index · Higher
- 16.6:1
- large classes for Georgia
- 22.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Forsyth Central High School has class sizes larger than 81% of Georgia schools. Computed live against every Georgia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Forsyth Central High School ranks #2 of 5 high schools in Cumming, GA.
School address
District: Forsyth County · Georgia
NCES ID 130222000956 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
148.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
16.6:1
vs 14.4:1 Georgia avg
+15% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
22.8%
vs 60.7% Georgia avg
-62% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Forsyth Central High School compares with Georgia and U.S. medians
What stands out at Forsyth Central High School
Forsyth Central High School is a large high school in Cumming, Georgia, enrolling 2,457 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 16.6:1 puts it in the larger third of Georgia schools by student-teacher ratio.
Comparatively few students face economic hardship here, 22.8% free-meal eligibility runs 62% below the Georgia average.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Georgia, bigger than 99% of state schools at 2,457 students.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 2,314 scored Georgia schools.
Against 86 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #57.
Its student body is led by White (46%) and Hispanic or Latino (34%) (diversity index 66/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 30 Advanced Placement courses.
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 410 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 28.0% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Forsyth County spends $10,928 per pupil, 21% below the Georgia average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 36 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Cumming's high schools, it stands alongside South Forsyth High School (2,634 students): Forsyth Central High School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (16.6:1 vs 20.9:1).
Forsyth County also operates Lambert High School (3,249 students) and South Forsyth High School (2,634 students) alongside Forsyth 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 Forsyth Central High School compares
Forsyth Central High School on the metrics families compare, against Georgia and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Georgia | Georgia avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 16.6:1 | ▲ 15% | 14.4:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 22.8% | ▼ 62% | 60.7% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 2,457 | top 1% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.6:1
Leaner classes than 33% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
2,457
Bigger than 99% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
22.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 62% below the Georgia average of 60.7%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
16.6:1
students per teacher
- 15% above state mean
Top 81% in Georgia - lower ratio than 19% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
28.0%
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
$10,928
per pupil, district-wide
- below Georgia avg of $13,863
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors6.0 FTE
Per 410 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
60
in-school suspensions + 82 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 36 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 46.0%
Hispanic or Latino 33.5%
Asian 11.6%
African American 5.3%
Two or More 3.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: White at 46.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 65.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 65.9, Forsyth Central High School is more mixed than the Georgia school average of 50.0.
Programs
AP courses offered 30
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Forsyth County, which includes Forsyth Central High School.
$10,928
Per student
-21%
vs Georgia
Avg $13,863
-34%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 54.6%
State 38.4%
Federal 7.0%
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 Forsyth Central High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lambert High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| South Forsyth High School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Denmark High School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| West Forsyth High School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| North Forsyth High School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Forsyth Central High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 3,249
- Students per teacher
- 21.4:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 2,634
- Students per teacher
- 20.9:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 2,527
- Students per teacher
- 18.2:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 2,503
- Students per teacher
- 20.3:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 2,151
- Students per teacher
- 17.8:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
Similar high schools in Cumming
4 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
South Forsyth High School
Standard public school
2,634 students 20.9:1 students per teacher
West Forsyth High School
Standard public school
2,503 students 20.3:1 students per teacher
North Forsyth High School
Standard public school
2,151 students 17.8:1 students per teacher
Alliance Academy for Innovation
Standard public school
1,145 students 19.7:1 students per teacher
Similar high schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Georgia, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~2,457 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~16.6:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Forsyth Central High School's federal record.
- Compare Forsyth Central High School against another school. Compare schools
- Forsyth County'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 Forsyth Central High School
How many students attend Forsyth Central High School?
Forsyth Central High School has 2,457 students enrolled. It is a high school in Cumming, GA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Forsyth Central High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Forsyth Central High School is 16.6:1, which is 15% higher than the Georgia average of 14.4:1 and 6% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Forsyth Central High School?
22.8% of students at Forsyth Central High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Georgia average of 60.7%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Forsyth Central High School?
The largest demographic group at Forsyth Central High School is White at 46.0% of enrollment, in Cumming, GA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 65.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Forsyth Central High School?
Forsyth Central High School has a Resource Investment Index of 50/100 (higher 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 Forsyth Central High School rank among high schools in Cumming?
By Resource Investment Index, Forsyth Central High School ranks #2 of 5 high schools in Cumming, GA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Cumming on the city page.
Is Forsyth Central High School a good school?
Forsyth Central High School earns 50/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 81% of Georgia schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Georgia. 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 Forsyth County?
Besides Forsyth Central High School, Forsyth County also operates Lambert High School (3,249 students), South Forsyth High School (2,634 students), and Denmark High School (2,527 students). See the Forsyth County 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.