- Enrollment
- 1,478
- Students per teacher
- 19.7:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Gulfport, MS
Harrison Central High School
Federal NCES profile for Harrison Central High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 25/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 280177000288
👥 S:T ratio 32
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 26
📋 Attendance 12
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Harrison Central High School earns 25/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 94% of Mississippi schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Mississippi.
- #10 of 10
- public schools in Gulfport · Resource Index
- 25
- Resource Index · Lower
- 17:1
- large classes for Mississippi
- 76.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Harrison Central High School has class sizes larger than 94% of Mississippi schools. Computed live against every Mississippi school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Harrison Central High School ranks #10 of 10 public schools in Gulfport, MS.
School address
District: Harrison Co School Dist · Mississippi
NCES ID 280177000288 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+22 students YoY
Harrison Central High School held near 1,508 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+22 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 87.5 → 82.7 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+22 students YoY 280177000288 · Gulfport, MS High · MID · TRAD
1,483 enr · 17:1 · 76.3% lunch · RII 25
Nearest enrollment peer: Diberville Senior High Sch (1,478 students)
Harrison Central High School held near 1,508 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+22 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 87.5 → 82.7 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Mississippi schools → · Find another →
Harrison Central High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- This school
Harrison Central High School
1,483 students
- Diberville Sen
Diberville Senior High Sch
1,478 students
- West Harrison
West Harrison High School
1,216 students
- Creekbend Elem
Creekbend Elementary and Middle
996 students
- North Gulfport
North Gulfport Elementary and Middl
921 students
- North Woolmark
North Woolmarket Elementary and Mid
851 students
What this shows Harrison Central High School reports 1,483 students on the CCD universe file.
How Harrison Central High School compares
Harrison Central High School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Mississippi and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Mississippi | Mississippi avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17:1 | ▲ 28% | 13.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 76.3% | ▼ 5% | 80.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,483 | top 1% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17:1
Leaner classes than 30% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,483
Bigger than 96% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
76.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 5% below the Mississippi average of 80.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
17:1
students per teacher
- 28% above state mean
Top 94% in Mississippi - lower ratio than 6% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
35.4%
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
$11,305
per pupil, district-wide
- below Mississippi avg of $13,683
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors4.0 FTE
Per 371 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
349
in-school suspensions + 355 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 23.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 47.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 20 expulsions.
Student demographics
African American 50.9%
White 36.3%
Hispanic or Latino 8.6%
Two or More 2.4%
Asian 1.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: African American at 50.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 60.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 60.1, Harrison Central High School is more mixed than the Mississippi school average of 41.1.
Programs
AP courses offered 6
District finance for Harrison Co School Dist reports $11,305 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Harrison Central High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diberville Senior High Sch | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| West Harrison High School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Creekbend Elementary and Middle | Smaller | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| North Gulfport Elementary and Middl | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| North Woolmarket Elementary and Mid | Smaller | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Harrison Central High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,216
- Students per teacher
- 19.3:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 996
- Students per teacher
- 18.1:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 921
- Students per teacher
- 12.4:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 851
- Students per teacher
- 15.5:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
Similar high schools in Gulfport
2 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
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 (~1,483 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~17:1)
Frequently asked questions about Harrison Central High School
How many students attend Harrison Central High School?
Harrison Central High School has 1,483 students enrolled. It is a high school in Gulfport, MS. CCD year-over-year: 1,486 (2022-23) → 1,508 (2023-24), nearly flat (+22).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Harrison Central High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Harrison Central High School is 17:1, which is 28% higher than the Mississippi average of 13.3:1 and 8% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Harrison Central High School?
76.3% of students at Harrison Central High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Mississippi average of 80.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Harrison Central High School?
The largest demographic group at Harrison Central High School is African American at 50.9% of enrollment, in Gulfport, MS. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 60.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Harrison Central High School?
Harrison Central High School has a Resource Investment Index of 25/100 (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 Harrison Central High School rank among public schools in Gulfport?
By Resource Investment Index, Harrison Central High School ranks #10 of 10 public schools in Gulfport, MS. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Gulfport on the city page.
What other schools are in Harrison Co School Dist?
Besides Harrison Central High School, Harrison Co School Dist also operates Diberville Senior High Sch (1,478 students), West Harrison High School (1,216 students), and Creekbend Elementary and Middle (996 students). See the Harrison Co School Dist district page for the complete list.