- Enrollment
- 748
- Students per teacher
- 16.3:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Harrodsburg, KY
Mercer Central
Federal NCES profile for Mercer Central, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 39/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 210411002285
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 80
📋 Attendance 7
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Mercer Central earns 39/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 97% of Kentucky schools.
- #5 of 6
- public schools in Harrodsburg · Resource Index
- 39
- Resource Index · Typical
- 25.5:1
- large classes for Kentucky
- 77.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Mercer Central has class sizes larger than 97% of Kentucky schools. Computed live against every Kentucky school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Mercer Central ranks #5 of 6 public schools in Harrodsburg, KY.
School address
District: Mercer County · Kentucky
NCES ID 210411002285 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+1 students YoY
Mercer Central held near 46 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+1 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 2.5 → 4.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+1 students YoY 210411002285 · Harrodsburg, KY High · SMALL · TRAD
51 enr · 25.5:1 · 77.8% lunch · RII 39
Nearest enrollment peer: Mercer County Senior High School (748 students)
Mercer Central held near 46 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+1 headcount). Teacher FTE added 2.5 → 4.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Kentucky schools → · Find another →
Mercer Central in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Mercer County
Mercer County Senior High School
748 students
- Mercer County
Mercer County Elementary School
713 students
- Kenneth D. Kin
Kenneth D. King Middle School
581 students
- Mercer County
Mercer County Intermediate School
570 students
- This school 51
Mercer Central
51 students
- Mercer County 11
Mercer County Day Treatment
11 students
What this shows Mercer Central reports 51 students on the CCD universe file.
How Mercer Central compares
Mercer Central held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Kentucky and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Kentucky | Kentucky avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 25.5:1 | ▲ 68% | 15.2:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 77.8% | ▲ 31% | 59.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 51 | top 90% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
25.5:1
Leaner classes than 4% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
51
Bigger than 6% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
77.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 31% above the Kentucky average of 59.2%
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
25.5:1
students per teacher
- 68% above state mean
Top 97% in Kentucky - lower ratio than 3% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
37.3%
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
$13,648
per pupil, district-wide
- below Kentucky avg of $14,362
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.5 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
3
in-school suspensions + 2 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 5.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 9.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 72.5%
Hispanic or Latino 21.6%
Two or More 3.9%
African American 2.0%
Largest group: White at 72.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 42.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 42.6, Mercer Central is more mixed than the Kentucky school average of 34.5.
Programs
AP program Not offered
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Mercer County reports $13,648 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Mercer Central Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mercer County Senior High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Mercer County Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Kenneth D. King Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Mercer County Intermediate School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Mercer County Day Treatment | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Mercer Central's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 713
- Students per teacher
- 14.9:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 581
- Students per teacher
- 15.3:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 570
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 11
- Students per teacher
- 5.5:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
Similar high schools in Harrodsburg
1 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 (~51 students)
Frequently asked questions about Mercer Central
How many students attend Mercer Central?
Mercer Central has 51 students enrolled. It is a high school in Harrodsburg, KY. CCD year-over-year: 45 (2022-23) → 46 (2023-24), nearly flat (+1).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Mercer Central?
The student-teacher ratio at Mercer Central is 25.5:1, which is 68% higher than the Kentucky average of 15.2:1 and 62% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Mercer Central?
77.8% of students at Mercer Central are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Kentucky average of 59.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Mercer Central?
The largest demographic group at Mercer Central is White at 72.5% of enrollment, in Harrodsburg, KY.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Mercer Central?
Mercer Central has a Resource Investment Index of 39/100 (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 Mercer Central rank among public schools in Harrodsburg?
By Resource Investment Index, Mercer Central ranks #5 of 6 public schools in Harrodsburg, KY. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Harrodsburg on the city page.
What other schools are in Mercer County?
Besides Mercer Central, Mercer County also operates Mercer County Senior High School (748 students), Mercer County Elementary School (713 students), and Kenneth D. King Middle School (581 students). See the Mercer County district page for the complete list.