- Enrollment
- 1,786
- Students per teacher
- 14.4:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Jersey City, NJ
James J Ferris High School
Federal NCES profile for James J Ferris High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 45/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 340783002774
👥 S:T ratio 40
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 55
📋 Attendance 55
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
James J Ferris High School earns 45/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 91% of New Jersey schools. It is also one of the largest schools in New Jersey.
- #5 of 8
- high schools in Jersey City · Resource Index
- 45
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15:1
- large classes for New Jersey
- 56.6%
- free-lunch eligible
James J Ferris High School has class sizes larger than 91% of New Jersey schools. Computed live against every New Jersey school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, James J Ferris High School ranks #5 of 8 high schools in Jersey City, NJ.
School address
District: Jersey City Public Schools · New Jersey
NCES ID 340783002774 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-3 students YoY
James J Ferris High School held near 1,345 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-3 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 91.5 → 94.1 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-3 students YoY 340783002774 · Jersey City, NJ High · MID · TRAD
1,364 enr · 15:1 · 56.6% lunch · RII 45
Nearest enrollment peer: William L Dickinson High School (1,786 students)
James J Ferris High School held near 1,345 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-3 headcount). Teacher FTE added 91.5 → 94.1 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · New Jersey schools → · Find another →
James J Ferris High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- William L Dick
William L Dickinson High School
1,786 students
- This school
James J Ferris High School
1,364 students
- Cornelia F. Br
Cornelia F. Bradford School
1,082 students
- Joseph H. Bren
Joseph H. Brensinger School
926 students
- Christa Mcauli
Christa Mcauliffe School
906 students
- Franklin L. Wi
Franklin L. Williams School
906 students
What this shows James J Ferris High School reports 1,364 students on the CCD universe file.
How James J Ferris High School compares
James J Ferris High School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs New Jersey and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs New Jersey | New Jersey avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15:1 | ▲ 27% | 11.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 56.6% | ▲ 91% | 29.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,364 | top 5% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15:1
Leaner classes than 47% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
1,364
Bigger than 95% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
56.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 91% above the New Jersey average of 29.6%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
15:1
students per teacher
- 27% above state mean
Top 91% in New Jersey - lower ratio than 9% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
18.2%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$27,184
per pupil, district-wide
- above New Jersey avg of $26,225
Well above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting substantially higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors6.0 FTE
Per 227 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 132 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 9.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 55.2%
African American 21.2%
Asian 11.3%
White 11.1%
Two or More 1.0%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 55.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 62.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 62.5, James J Ferris High School is more mixed than the New Jersey school average of 51.2.
Programs
AP courses offered 9
District finance for Jersey City Public Schools reports $27,184 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How James J Ferris High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| William L Dickinson High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Cornelia F. Bradford School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Joseph H. Brensinger School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Christa Mcauliffe School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Franklin L. Williams School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to James J Ferris High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,082
- Students per teacher
- 27.7:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 926
- Students per teacher
- 10:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 906
- Students per teacher
- 12.6:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 906
- Students per teacher
- 13.7:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
Similar high schools in Jersey City
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 (~1,364 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15:1)
Frequently asked questions about James J Ferris High School
How many students attend James J Ferris High School?
James J Ferris High School has 1,364 students enrolled. It is a high school in Jersey City, NJ. CCD year-over-year: 1,348 (2022-23) → 1,345 (2023-24), nearly flat (-3).
What is the student-teacher ratio at James J Ferris High School?
The student-teacher ratio at James J Ferris High School is 15:1, which is 27% higher than the New Jersey average of 11.8:1 and 4% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at James J Ferris High School?
56.6% of students at James J Ferris High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the New Jersey average of 29.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of James J Ferris High School?
The largest demographic group at James J Ferris High School is Hispanic or Latino at 55.2% of enrollment, in Jersey City, NJ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 62.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for James J Ferris High School?
James J Ferris High School has a Resource Investment Index of 45/100 (typical 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 James J Ferris High School rank among high schools in Jersey City?
By Resource Investment Index, James J Ferris High School ranks #5 of 8 high schools in Jersey City, NJ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Jersey City on the city page.
What other schools are in Jersey City Public Schools?
Besides James J Ferris High School, Jersey City Public Schools also operates William L Dickinson High School (1,786 students), Cornelia F. Bradford School (1,082 students), and Joseph H. Brensinger School (926 students). See the Jersey City Public Schools district page for the complete list.