Enrollment
3,438
Indiana · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Indianapolis, IN
Franklin Central High School
Federal NCES profile for Franklin Central High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 46/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 180375000597
👥 S:T ratio 13
📚 AP courses 100
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 14
📋 Attendance 33
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Franklin Central High School earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 95% of Indiana schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Indiana.
- #17 of 32
- high schools in Indianapolis · Resource Index
- 46
- Resource Index · Typical
- 21.8:1
- large classes for Indiana
- 40.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Franklin Central High School has class sizes larger than 95% of Indiana schools. Computed live against every Indiana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Franklin Central High School ranks #17 of 32 high schools in Indianapolis, IN.
School address
District: Franklin Township Com Sch Corp · Indiana
NCES ID 180375000597 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
158.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
21.8:1
vs 15.9:1 Indiana avg
+37% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
40.4%
vs 49.5% Indiana avg
-18% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Franklin Central High School compares with Indiana and U.S. medians
What stands out at Franklin Central High School
Franklin Central High School is a large high school in Indianapolis, Indiana, enrolling 3,438 students.
Class loads run heavy: 21.8:1 is larger than about 95% of Indiana schools and 37% above the 15.9:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 40.4% of students eligible for free meals.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Indiana, bigger than 99% of state schools at 3,438 students.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,862 scored Indiana schools.
Its student body is led by White (55%) and Asian (16%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 64/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 20 Advanced Placement courses.
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 430 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 26.9% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The federal civil-rights collection also records 41 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Indianapolis's high schools, it stands alongside North Central High School (3,682 students): Franklin Central High School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (21.8:1 vs 16.3:1).
Franklin Township Com Sch Corp also operates Franklin Central Junior High (1,797 students) and Lillie Idella Kitley Intermediate (1,365 students) alongside Franklin 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 Franklin Central High School compares
Franklin 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 | 21.8:1 | ▲ 37% | 15.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 40.4% | ▼ 18% | 49.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 3,438 | top 1% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
21.8:1
Leaner classes than 11% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
3,438
Bigger than 99% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
40.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 18% 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
21.8:1
students per teacher
- 37% above state mean
Top 95% in Indiana - lower ratio than 5% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
26.9%
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
$10,321
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
Counselors8.0 FTE
Per 430 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
20
in-school suspensions + 263 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 8.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 41 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 54.9%
Asian 15.8%
African American 13.8%
Hispanic or Latino 9.5%
Two or More 5.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: White at 54.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 64.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 64.2, Franklin Central High School is more mixed than the Indiana school average of 39.0.
Programs
AP courses offered 20
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Franklin Township Com Sch Corp, which includes Franklin Central High School.
$10,321
Per student
-15%
vs Indiana
Avg $12,079
-38%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 29.5%
State 60.0%
Federal 10.5%
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 Franklin Central High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin Central Junior High | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Lillie Idella Kitley Intermediate | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Edgewood Intermediate School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Thompson Crossing Elementary Sch | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Bunker Hill Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Franklin Central High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,797
- Students per teacher
- 21.4:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 1,365
- Students per teacher
- 21:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 1,300
- Students per teacher
- 18.6:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 568
- Students per teacher
- 21.8:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 487
- Students per teacher
- 28.6:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
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
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
Lawrence Central High School
Standard public school
2,517 students 21.3:1 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 (~3,438 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Franklin Central High School's federal record.
- Compare Franklin Central High School against another school. Compare schools
- Franklin Township Com Sch Corp'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 Franklin Central High School
How many students attend Franklin Central High School?
Franklin Central High School has 3,438 students enrolled. It is a high school in Indianapolis, IN.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Franklin Central High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Franklin Central High School is 21.8:1, which is 37% higher than the Indiana average of 15.9:1 and 39% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Franklin Central High School?
40.4% of students at Franklin Central High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Indiana average of 49.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Franklin Central High School?
The largest demographic group at Franklin Central High School is White at 54.9% of enrollment, in Indianapolis, IN. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 64.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Franklin Central High School?
Franklin Central High School has a Resource Investment Index of 46/100 (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 Franklin Central High School rank among high schools in Indianapolis?
By Resource Investment Index, Franklin 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 Franklin Central High School a good school?
Franklin Central High School earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 95% of Indiana schools. 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 Franklin Township Com Sch Corp?
Besides Franklin Central High School, Franklin Township Com Sch Corp also operates Franklin Central Junior High (1,797 students), Lillie Idella Kitley Intermediate (1,365 students), and Edgewood Intermediate School (1,300 students). See the Franklin Township Com Sch Corp 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.