- Enrollment
- 618
- Students per teacher
- 18.2:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Houghton, MI
Houghton Central High School
Federal NCES profile for Houghton Central High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 28/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 262889006482
👥 S:T ratio 23
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 4
📋 Attendance 55
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Houghton Central High School earns 28/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 74% of Michigan schools.
- #2 of 3
- public schools in Houghton · Resource Index
- 28
- Resource Index · Lower
- 19.2:1
- large classes for Michigan
- 19.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Houghton Central High School has class sizes larger than 74% of Michigan schools. Computed live against every Michigan school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Houghton Central High School ranks #2 of 3 public schools in Houghton, MI.
School address
District: Houghton-Portage Township School District · Michigan
NCES ID 262889006482 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+17 students YoY
Houghton Central High School held near 478 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+17 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 25.4 → 31.7 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+17 students YoY 262889006482 · Houghton, MI High · SMALL · TRAD
481 enr · 19.2:1 · 19.3% lunch · RII 28
Nearest enrollment peer: Houghton Elementary School (618 students)
Houghton Central High School held near 478 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+17 headcount). Teacher FTE added 25.4 → 31.7 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Michigan schools → · Find another →
Houghton Central High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Houghton Eleme
Houghton Elementary School
618 students
- This school
Houghton Central High School
481 students
- Houghton Middl
Houghton Middle School
359 students
What this shows Houghton Central High School reports 481 students on the CCD universe file.
How Houghton Central High School compares
Houghton Central High School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Michigan and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Michigan | Michigan avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 19.2:1 | ▲ 10% | 17.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 19.3% | ▼ 64% | 54.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 481 | top 28% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19.2:1
Leaner classes than 19% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
481
Bigger than 59% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
19.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 64% below the Michigan average of 54.3%
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
19.2:1
students per teacher
- 10% above state mean
Top 74% in Michigan - lower ratio than 26% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
17.9%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$12,288
per pupil, district-wide
- below Michigan avg of $15,012
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 481 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
4
in-school suspensions + 8 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 91.1%
Asian 4.6%
Two or More 2.5%
Hispanic or Latino 1.2%
African American 0.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 91.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 16.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 16.7, Houghton Central High School is less mixed than the Michigan school average of 36.2.
Programs
AP courses offered 6
District finance for Houghton-Portage Township School District reports $12,288 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Houghton Central High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houghton Elementary School | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Houghton Middle School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Houghton Central High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 359
- Students per teacher
- 18.9:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
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 (~481 students)
Frequently asked questions about Houghton Central High School
How many students attend Houghton Central High School?
Houghton Central High School has 481 students enrolled. It is a high school in Houghton, MI. CCD year-over-year: 461 (2022-23) → 478 (2023-24), nearly flat (+17).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Houghton Central High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Houghton Central High School is 19.2:1, which is 10% higher than the Michigan average of 17.5:1 and 22% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Houghton Central High School?
19.3% of students at Houghton Central High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Michigan average of 54.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Houghton Central High School?
The largest demographic group at Houghton Central High School is White at 91.1% of enrollment, in Houghton, MI.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Houghton Central High School?
Houghton Central High School has a Resource Investment Index of 28/100 (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 Houghton Central High School rank among public schools in Houghton?
By Resource Investment Index, Houghton Central High School ranks #2 of 3 public schools in Houghton, MI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking.
What other schools are in Houghton-Portage Township School District?
Besides Houghton Central High School, Houghton-Portage Township School District also operates Houghton Elementary School (618 students) and Houghton Middle School (359 students). See the Houghton-Portage Township School District district page for the complete list.