Enrollment
1,124
Connecticut · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · New Haven, CT
James Hillhouse High School
Federal NCES profile for James Hillhouse High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 56/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 090279000563
👥 S:T ratio 41
📚 AP courses 60
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 55
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
James Hillhouse High School earns 56/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 90% of Connecticut schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Connecticut.
- #1 of 9
- high schools in New Haven · Resource Index
- 56
- Resource Index · Higher
- 14.8:1
- large classes for Connecticut
- 73.2%
- free-lunch eligible
James Hillhouse High School has class sizes larger than 90% of Connecticut schools. Computed live against every Connecticut school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, James Hillhouse High School ranks #1 of 9 high schools in New Haven, CT.
School address
District: New Haven School District · Connecticut
NCES ID 090279000563 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
76.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
14.8:1
vs 12.1:1 Connecticut avg
+22% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
73.2%
vs 36.4% Connecticut avg
+101% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How James Hillhouse High School compares with Connecticut and U.S. medians
What stands out at James Hillhouse High School
James Hillhouse High School is a higher-need, large high school in New Haven, Connecticut, enrolling 1,124 students.
Class loads run heavy: 14.8:1 is larger than about 90% of Connecticut schools and 22% above the 12.1:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need is high: 73.2% of students qualify for free meals, 101% above the Connecticut average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Connecticut, bigger than 95% of state schools at 1,124 students.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 1,003 scored Connecticut schools.
Among 34 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Connecticut schools statewide, it ranks #1, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by African American (47%) and Hispanic or Latino (40%) (diversity index 61/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 12 Advanced Placement courses.
Counselor coverage is strong, about 225 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 5 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among New Haven's high schools, it stands alongside Wilbur Cross High School (1,742 students): James Hillhouse High School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (14.8:1 vs 13.5:1).
New Haven School District also operates Wilbur Cross High School (1,742 students) and Fair Haven School (734 students) alongside James Hillhouse 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 James Hillhouse High School compares
James Hillhouse High School on the metrics families compare, against Connecticut and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Connecticut | Connecticut avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14.8:1 | ▲ 22% | 12.1:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 73.2% | ▲ 101% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,124 | top 5% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.8:1
Leaner classes than 49% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
1,124
Bigger than 93% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
73.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 101% above the Connecticut average of 36.4%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
14.8:1
students per teacher
- 22% above state mean
Top 90% in Connecticut - lower ratio than 10% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Funding equity
$21,911
per pupil, district-wide
- below Connecticut avg of $23,870
Well above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting substantially higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors5.0 FTE
Per 225 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
3
in-school suspensions + 110 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 10.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 5 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
African American 46.9%
Hispanic or Latino 40.3%
White 5.9%
Asian 4.0%
Two or More 2.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: African American at 46.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 61.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 61.2, James Hillhouse High School is more mixed than the Connecticut school average of 50.5.
Programs
AP courses offered 12
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for New Haven School District, which includes James Hillhouse High School.
$21,911
Per student
-8%
vs Connecticut
Avg $23,870
+32%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 29.2%
State 56.9%
Federal 13.9%
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 James Hillhouse High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilbur Cross High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Fair Haven School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Hill Regional Career High School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Engineering - Science University Magnet School | Smaller | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Ross/Woodward School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to James Hillhouse High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,742
- Students per teacher
- 13.5:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 734
- Students per teacher
- 11:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 625
- Students per teacher
- 10.4:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 608
- Students per teacher
- 10.7:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 562
- Students per teacher
- 12.8:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
Similar high schools in New Haven
6 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Wilbur Cross High School
Standard public school
1,742 students 13.5:1 students per teacher
Hill Regional Career High School
Standard public school
625 students 10.4:1 students per teacher
Cooperative High School - Inter-District Magnet
Standard public school
560 students 10.4:1 students per teacher
Metropolitan Business Academy
Standard public school
380 students 11.9:1 students per teacher
Sound School
Standard public school
332 students 8.5:1 students per teacher
New Haven Academy
Standard public school
321 students 14.6:1 students per teacher
Similar high schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Connecticut, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~1,124 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~14.8:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on James Hillhouse High School's federal record.
- Compare James Hillhouse High School against another school. Compare schools
- New Haven School District'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 James Hillhouse High School
How many students attend James Hillhouse High School?
James Hillhouse High School has 1,124 students enrolled. It is a high school in New Haven, CT.
What is the student-teacher ratio at James Hillhouse High School?
The student-teacher ratio at James Hillhouse High School is 14.8:1, which is 22% higher than the Connecticut average of 12.1:1 and 6% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at James Hillhouse High School?
73.2% of students at James Hillhouse High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Connecticut average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of James Hillhouse High School?
The largest demographic group at James Hillhouse High School is African American at 46.9% of enrollment, in New Haven, CT. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 61.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for James Hillhouse High School?
James Hillhouse High School has a Resource Investment Index of 56/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, counselor availability. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does James Hillhouse High School rank among high schools in New Haven?
By Resource Investment Index, James Hillhouse High School ranks #1 of 9 high schools in New Haven, CT. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in New Haven on the city page.
Is James Hillhouse High School a good school?
James Hillhouse High School earns 56/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 90% of Connecticut schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Connecticut. 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 New Haven School District?
Besides James Hillhouse High School, New Haven School District also operates Wilbur Cross High School (1,742 students), Fair Haven School (734 students), and Hill Regional Career High School (625 students). See the New Haven School District 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.