Enrollment
1,613
Michigan · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Kalamazoo, MI
Kalamazoo Central High School
Federal NCES profile for Kalamazoo Central High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 33/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 261995005677
👥 S:T ratio 10
📚 AP courses 65
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 19
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Kalamazoo Central High School earns 33/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 90% of Michigan schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Michigan.
- #3 of 6
- high schools in Kalamazoo · Resource Index
- 33
- Resource Index · Typical
- 22.4:1
- large classes for Michigan
- 55.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Kalamazoo Central High School has class sizes larger than 90% of Michigan schools. Computed live against every Michigan school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Kalamazoo Central High School ranks #3 of 6 high schools in Kalamazoo, MI.
School address
District: Kalamazoo Public Schools · Michigan
NCES ID 261995005677 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
72.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
22.4:1
vs 17.5:1 Michigan avg
+28% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
55.8%
vs 54.3% Michigan avg
+3% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Kalamazoo Central High School compares with Michigan and U.S. medians
What stands out at Kalamazoo Central High School
Kalamazoo Central High School is a higher-need, large high school in Kalamazoo, Michigan, enrolling 1,613 students.
Class loads run heavy: 22.4:1 is larger than about 90% of Michigan schools and 28% above the 17.5:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 55.8% lands close to the Michigan typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Michigan, bigger than 99% of state schools at 1,613 students.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 3,375 scored Michigan schools.
Against 41 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #11.
Its student body is led by African American (43%) and White (33%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 68/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 13 Advanced Placement courses.
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 403 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 51.8% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 15.6% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Kalamazoo's high schools, it stands alongside Kalamazoo Covenant Academy (184 students): Kalamazoo Central High School is larger than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (22.4:1 vs 26.3:1).
Kalamazoo Public Schools also operates Loy Norrix High School (1,785 students) and Maple Street Magnet School for the Arts (889 students) alongside Kalamazoo 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 Kalamazoo Central High School compares
Kalamazoo Central High School on the metrics families compare, against Michigan and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Michigan | Michigan avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 22.4:1 | ▲ 28% | 17.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 55.8% | ▲ 3% | 54.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,613 | top 1% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
22.4:1
Leaner classes than 9% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,613
Bigger than 97% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
55.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 3% above the Michigan average of 54.3%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
22.4:1
students per teacher
- 28% above state mean
Top 90% in Michigan - lower ratio than 10% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
51.8%
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
$14,755
per pupil, district-wide
- above Michigan avg of $13,507
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors4.0 FTE
Per 403 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 220 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 13.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
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 43.4%
White 32.5%
Two or More 12.1%
Hispanic or Latino 10.2%
Asian 1.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%
Largest group: African American at 43.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 68.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 68.1, Kalamazoo Central High School is more mixed than the Michigan school average of 36.2.
Programs
AP courses offered 13
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Kalamazoo Public Schools, which includes Kalamazoo Central High School.
$14,755
Per student
+9%
vs Michigan
Avg $13,507
-11%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 32.5%
State 51.9%
Federal 15.6%
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 Kalamazoo Central High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loy Norrix High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Maple Street Magnet School for the Arts | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Milwood Magnet School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Linden Grove Middle School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Kingwestwood Elementary School | Smaller | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Kalamazoo Central High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,785
- Students per teacher
- 24.8:1
- Resource Index
- 20/100
- Enrollment
- 889
- Students per teacher
- 22.8:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 731
- Students per teacher
- 22.8:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 727
- Students per teacher
- 22:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 531
- Students per teacher
- 19:1
- Resource Index
- 56/100
Similar high schools in Kalamazoo
1 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Similar high schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Michigan, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~1,613 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Kalamazoo Central High School's federal record.
- Compare Kalamazoo Central High School against another school. Compare schools
- Kalamazoo Public Schools'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 Kalamazoo Central High School
How many students attend Kalamazoo Central High School?
Kalamazoo Central High School has 1,613 students enrolled. It is a high school in Kalamazoo, MI.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Kalamazoo Central High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Kalamazoo Central High School is 22.4:1, which is 28% higher than the Michigan average of 17.5:1 and 43% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Kalamazoo Central High School?
55.8% of students at Kalamazoo Central High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Michigan average of 54.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Kalamazoo Central High School?
The largest demographic group at Kalamazoo Central High School is African American at 43.4% of enrollment, in Kalamazoo, MI. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 68.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Kalamazoo Central High School?
Kalamazoo Central High School has a Resource Investment Index of 33/100 (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 Kalamazoo Central High School rank among high schools in Kalamazoo?
By Resource Investment Index, Kalamazoo Central High School ranks #3 of 6 high schools in Kalamazoo, MI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Kalamazoo on the city page.
Is Kalamazoo Central High School a good school?
Kalamazoo Central High School earns 33/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 90% of Michigan schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Michigan. 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 Kalamazoo Public Schools?
Besides Kalamazoo Central High School, Kalamazoo Public Schools also operates Loy Norrix High School (1,785 students), Maple Street Magnet School for the Arts (889 students), and Milwood Magnet School (731 students). See the Kalamazoo Public Schools 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.