- Enrollment
- 632
- Students per teacher
- 10.7:1
- Resource Index
- 72/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Falls Church, VA
Meridian High
Federal NCES profile for Meridian High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 65/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 510129000283
👥 S:T ratio 44
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 70
📋 Attendance 75
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Meridian High earns 65/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Virginia median.
- #1 of 4
- high schools in Falls Church · Resource Index
- 65
- Resource Index · Higher
- 14:1
- students per teacher
- 8.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Meridian High has class sizes near the Virginia median. Computed live against every Virginia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Meridian High ranks #1 of 4 high schools in Falls Church, VA.
School address
District: Falls Church City Public Schools · Virginia
NCES ID 510129000283 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+22 students YoY
Meridian High held near 887 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+22 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 64.0 → 64.7 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+22 students YoY 510129000283 · Falls Church, VA High · MID · TRAD
893 enr · 14:1 · 8.1% lunch · RII 65
Nearest enrollment peer: Mary Ellen Henderson Middle (632 students)
Meridian High held near 887 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+22 headcount). Teacher FTE added 64.0 → 64.7 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Virginia schools → · Find another →
Meridian High in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- This school
Meridian High
893 students
- Mary Ellen Hen
Mary Ellen Henderson Middle
632 students
- Oak Street Ele
Oak Street Elementary
587 students
- Mount Daniel E
Mount Daniel Elementary
486 students
- Jessie Thackre 73
Jessie Thackrey Preschool
73 students
What this shows Meridian High reports 893 students on the CCD universe file.
How Meridian High compares
Meridian High held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Virginia and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Virginia | Virginia avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14:1 | ▲ 1% | 13.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 8.1% | ▼ 86% | 57.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 893 | top 18% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14:1
Leaner classes than 57% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
893
Bigger than 89% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
8.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 86% below the Virginia average of 57.6%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
14:1
students per teacher
- 1% above state mean
Top 53% in Virginia - lower ratio than 47% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
10.0%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$24,047
per pupil, district-wide
- above Virginia avg of $15,892
Well above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting substantially higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors6.0 FTE
Per 149 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
5
in-school suspensions + 13 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 61.0%
Hispanic or Latino 15.6%
Two or More 12.3%
Asian 7.2%
African American 3.8%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: White at 61.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 58.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 58.2, Meridian High is more mixed than the Virginia school average of 53.7.
Programs
AP courses offered 4
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Falls Church City Public Schools reports $24,047 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Meridian High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mary Ellen Henderson Middle | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Oak Street Elementary | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Mount Daniel Elementary | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Jessie Thackrey Preschool | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Meridian High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 587
- Students per teacher
- 15.1:1
- Resource Index
- 60/100
- Enrollment
- 486
- Students per teacher
- 13.1:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 73
- Students per teacher
- 9.1:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
Similar high schools in Falls Church
3 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 (~893 students)
Frequently asked questions about Meridian High
How many students attend Meridian High?
Meridian High has 893 students enrolled. It is a high school in Falls Church, VA. CCD year-over-year: 865 (2022-23) → 887 (2023-24), nearly flat (+22).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Meridian High?
The student-teacher ratio at Meridian High is 14:1, which is 1% higher than the Virginia average of 13.9:1 and 11% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Meridian High?
8.1% of students at Meridian High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Virginia average of 57.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Meridian High?
The largest demographic group at Meridian High is White at 61.0% of enrollment, in Falls Church, VA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 58.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Meridian High?
Meridian High has a Resource Investment Index of 65/100 (higher 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 Meridian High rank among high schools in Falls Church?
By Resource Investment Index, Meridian High ranks #1 of 4 high schools in Falls Church, VA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Falls Church on the city page.
What other schools are in Falls Church City Public Schools?
Besides Meridian High, Falls Church City Public Schools also operates Mary Ellen Henderson Middle (632 students), Oak Street Elementary (587 students), and Mount Daniel Elementary (486 students). See the Falls Church City Public Schools district page for the complete list.