- Enrollment
- 2,186
- Students per teacher
- 24.8:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Kent, WA
Kent-Meridian High School
Federal NCES profile for Kent-Meridian High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 36/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 530396000621
👥 S:T ratio 35
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 34
📋 Attendance 4
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Kent-Meridian High School earns 36/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Washington median. It is also one of the largest schools in Washington.
- #2 of 5
- high schools in Kent · Resource Index
- 36
- Resource Index · Typical
- 16.2:1
- students per teacher
- 63.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Kent-Meridian High School has class sizes near the Washington median. Computed live against every Washington school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Kent-Meridian High School ranks #2 of 5 high schools in Kent, WA.
School address
District: Kent School District · Washington
NCES ID 530396000621 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-422 students YoY
Kent-Meridian High School shrank from 2,128 students in 2022-23 to 1,706 in 2023-24 (-19.8%).
Teacher FTE lost 101.4 → 89.3 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-422 students YoY 530396000621 · Kent, WA High · MID · TRAD
1,639 enr · 16.2:1 · 63.2% lunch · RII 36
Nearest enrollment peer: Kentridge High School (2,186 students)
Kent-Meridian High School shrank from 2,128 students in 2022-23 to 1,706 in 2023-24 (-19.8%). Teacher FTE lost 101.4 → 89.3 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Washington schools → · Find another →
Kent-Meridian High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Kentridge High
Kentridge High School
2,186 students
- Kentwood High
Kentwood High School
1,995 students
- This school
Kent-Meridian High School
1,639 students
- Kentlake High
Kentlake High School
1,561 students
- Northwood Midd
Northwood Middle School
911 students
- Cedar Heights
Cedar Heights Middle School
876 students
What this shows Kent-Meridian High School reports 1,639 students on the CCD universe file.
How Kent-Meridian High School compares
Kent-Meridian High School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Washington and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Washington | Washington avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 16.2:1 | ▼ 8% | 17.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 63.2% | ▲ 40% | 45.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,639 | top 3% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.2:1
Leaner classes than 36% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
1,639
Bigger than 97% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
63.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 40% above the Washington average of 45.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
16.2:1
students per teacher
- 8% below state mean
Top 49% in Washington - lower ratio than 51% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
38.3%
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
$19,199
per pupil, district-wide
- below Washington avg of $20,912
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors5.0 FTE
Per 328 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
156
in-school suspensions + 90 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 9.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 15.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 4 expulsions.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 40.3%
Asian 18.7%
African American 14.6%
White 13.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 6.5%
Two or More 6.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 40.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 75.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 75.5, Kent-Meridian High School is more mixed than the Washington school average of 53.3.
Programs
AP courses offered 2
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Kent School District reports $19,199 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Kent-Meridian High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kentridge High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Kentwood High School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Kentlake High School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Northwood Middle School | Smaller | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Cedar Heights Middle School | Smaller | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Kent-Meridian High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,995
- Students per teacher
- 25.3:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 1,561
- Students per teacher
- 23.3:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 911
- Students per teacher
- 31.4:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 876
- Students per teacher
- 26.5:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Similar high schools in Kent
4 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Kentridge High School
Standard public school
2,186 students 24.8:1 students per teacher
Kentlake High School
Standard public school
1,561 students 23.3:1 students per teacher
Individualized Graduation & Degree Program
Alternative education program
370 students 46.3:1 students per teacher
The Outreach Program
Special-education school
62 students 31:1 students per teacher
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 (~1,639 students)
Frequently asked questions about Kent-Meridian High School
How many students attend Kent-Meridian High School?
Kent-Meridian High School has 1,639 students enrolled. It is a high school in Kent, WA. CCD year-over-year: 2,128 (2022-23) → 1,706 (2023-24), down 422.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Kent-Meridian High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Kent-Meridian High School is 16.2:1, which is 8% lower than the Washington average of 17.6:1 and 3% higher than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Kent-Meridian High School?
63.2% of students at Kent-Meridian High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Washington average of 45.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Kent-Meridian High School?
The largest demographic group at Kent-Meridian High School is Hispanic or Latino at 40.3% of enrollment, in Kent, WA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 75.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Kent-Meridian High School?
Kent-Meridian High School has a Resource Investment Index of 36/100 (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 Kent-Meridian High School rank among high schools in Kent?
By Resource Investment Index, Kent-Meridian High School ranks #2 of 5 high schools in Kent, WA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Kent on the city page.
What other schools are in Kent School District?
Besides Kent-Meridian High School, Kent School District also operates Kentridge High School (2,186 students), Kentwood High School (1,995 students), and Kentlake High School (1,561 students). See the Kent School District district page for the complete list.