Enrollment
3,682
Indiana · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Indianapolis, IN
North Central High School
Federal NCES profile for North Central High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 58/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 181272002021
👥 S:T ratio 35
📚 AP courses 100
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 26
📋 Attendance 57
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
North Central High School earns 58/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Indiana median. It is also one of the largest schools in Indiana.
- #7 of 32
- high schools in Indianapolis · Resource Index
- 58
- Resource Index · Higher
- 16.3:1
- students per teacher
- 50.5%
- free-lunch eligible
North Central High School has class sizes near the Indiana median. Computed live against every Indiana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, North Central High School ranks #7 of 32 high schools in Indianapolis, IN.
School address
District: Msd Washington Township · Indiana
NCES ID 181272002021 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
226.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
16.3:1
vs 15.9:1 Indiana avg
+3% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
50.5%
vs 49.5% Indiana avg
+2% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How North Central High School compares with Indiana and U.S. medians
What stands out at North Central High School
North Central High School is a higher-need, large high school in Indianapolis, Indiana, enrolling 3,682 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 16.3:1 puts it in the larger third of Indiana schools by student-teacher ratio.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 50.5% lands close to the Indiana typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Indiana, bigger than 99% of state schools at 3,682 students.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 1,862 scored Indiana schools.
Its student body is led by African American (39%) and White (28%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 72/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 29 Advanced Placement courses.
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 368 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
17.1% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
The surrounding Msd Washington Township spends $14,632 per pupil, 21% above the Indiana average, a better-resourced district than most.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 22 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Indianapolis's high schools, it stands alongside Franklin Central High School (3,438 students): North Central High School is larger than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (16.3:1 vs 21.8:1).
Msd Washington Township also operates Northview Middle School (1,019 students) and Eastwood Middle School (845 students) alongside North 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 North Central High School compares
North Central High School on the metrics families compare, against Indiana and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Indiana | Indiana avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 16.3:1 | ▲ 3% | 15.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 50.5% | ▲ 2% | 49.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 3,682 | top 1% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.3:1
Leaner classes than 36% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
3,682
Bigger than 99% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
50.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 2% above the Indiana average of 49.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
16.3:1
students per teacher
- 3% above state mean
Top 62% in Indiana - lower ratio than 38% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
17.1%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$14,632
per pupil, district-wide
- above Indiana avg of $12,079
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors10.0 FTE
Per 368 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 448 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 12.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 22 expulsions.
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 38.5%
White 28.1%
Hispanic or Latino 22.8%
Two or More 6.9%
Asian 3.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: African American at 38.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 71.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 71.5, North Central High School is more mixed than the Indiana school average of 39.0.
Programs
AP courses offered 29
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Msd Washington Township, which includes North Central High School.
$14,632
Per student
+21%
vs Indiana
Avg $12,079
-12%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 39.4%
State 47.7%
Federal 12.9%
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 North Central High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northview Middle School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Eastwood Middle School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Westlane Middle School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Clearwater Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Willow Lake Elementary School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to North Central High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,019
- Students per teacher
- 15:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 845
- Students per teacher
- 13.4:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 754
- Students per teacher
- 12:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 750
- Students per teacher
- 18.8:1
- Resource Index
- 53/100
- Enrollment
- 739
- Students per teacher
- 18.9:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
Similar high schools in Indianapolis
6 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Franklin Central High School
Standard public school
3,438 students 21.8:1 students per teacher
Warren Central High School
Standard public school
3,391 students 18.3:1 students per teacher
Ben Davis High School
Standard public school
3,315 students 18.1:1 students per teacher
Pike High School
Standard public school
3,188 students 16:1 students per teacher
Lawrence North High School
Standard public school
2,799 students 19.3:1 students per teacher
Lawrence Central High School
Standard public school
2,517 students 21.3:1 students per teacher
Similar high schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Indiana, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~3,682 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~16.3:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on North Central High School's federal record.
- Compare North Central High School against another school. Compare schools
- Msd Washington Township'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 North Central High School
How many students attend North Central High School?
North Central High School has 3,682 students enrolled. It is a high school in Indianapolis, IN.
What is the student-teacher ratio at North Central High School?
The student-teacher ratio at North Central High School is 16.3:1, which is 3% higher than the Indiana average of 15.9:1 and 4% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at North Central High School?
50.5% of students at North Central High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Indiana average of 49.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of North Central High School?
The largest demographic group at North Central High School is African American at 38.5% of enrollment, in Indianapolis, IN. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 71.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for North Central High School?
North Central High School has a Resource Investment Index of 58/100 (higher 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 North Central High School rank among high schools in Indianapolis?
By Resource Investment Index, North Central High School ranks #7 of 32 high schools in Indianapolis, IN. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Indianapolis on the city page.
Is North Central High School a good school?
North Central High School earns 58/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Indiana median. It is also one of the largest schools in Indiana. 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 Msd Washington Township?
Besides North Central High School, Msd Washington Township also operates Northview Middle School (1,019 students), Eastwood Middle School (845 students), and Westlane Middle School (754 students). See the Msd Washington Township 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.