- Enrollment
- 1,547
- Students per teacher
- 20.1:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Lacey, WA
North Thurston High School
Federal NCES profile for North Thurston High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 46/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 530585000869
👥 S:T ratio 22
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 45
📋 Attendance 48
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
North Thurston High School earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 75% of Washington schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Washington.
- #1 of 4
- high schools in Lacey · Resource Index
- 46
- Resource Index · Typical
- 19.4:1
- large classes for Washington
- 36.5%
- free-lunch eligible
North Thurston High School has class sizes larger than 75% of Washington schools. Computed live against every Washington school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, North Thurston High School ranks #1 of 4 high schools in Lacey, WA.
School address
District: North Thurston Public Schools · Washington
NCES ID 530585000869 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-28 students YoY
North Thurston High School held near 1,412 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-28 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 71.8 → 66.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-28 students YoY 530585000869 · Lacey, WA High · MID · TRAD
1,378 enr · 19.4:1 · 36.5% lunch · RII 46
Nearest enrollment peer: River Ridge High School (1,547 students)
North Thurston High School held near 1,412 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-28 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 71.8 → 66.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Washington schools → · Find another →
North Thurston High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- River Ridge Hi
River Ridge High School
1,547 students
- Timberline Hig
Timberline High School
1,401 students
- This school
North Thurston High School
1,378 students
- Nisqually Midd
Nisqually Middle School
789 students
- Mountain View
Mountain View Elementary
776 students
- Meadows Elemen
Meadows Elementary
765 students
What this shows North Thurston High School reports 1,378 students on the CCD universe file.
How North Thurston High School compares
North Thurston High School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Washington and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Washington | Washington avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 19.4:1 | ▲ 10% | 17.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 36.5% | ▼ 19% | 45.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,378 | top 5% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19.4:1
Leaner classes than 18% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,378
Bigger than 95% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
36.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 19% below the Washington average of 45.0%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
19.4:1
students per teacher
- 10% above state mean
Top 75% in Washington - lower ratio than 25% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
20.7%
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
$17,096
per pupil, district-wide
- below Washington avg of $20,912
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors5.0 FTE
Per 276 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
21
in-school suspensions + 43 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 4.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 26 expulsions.
Student demographics
White 42.2%
Hispanic or Latino 26.8%
Two or More 13.2%
Asian 9.1%
African American 4.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 3.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.7%
Largest group: White at 42.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 72.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 72.1, North Thurston High School is more mixed than the Washington school average of 53.3.
Programs
AP courses offered 11
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for North Thurston Public Schools reports $17,096 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How North Thurston High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| River Ridge High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Timberline High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Nisqually Middle School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Mountain View Elementary | Smaller | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Meadows Elementary | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to North Thurston High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,401
- Students per teacher
- 21.6:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 789
- Students per teacher
- 16.4:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 776
- Students per teacher
- 18:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 765
- Students per teacher
- 19.6:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
Similar high schools in Lacey
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 (~1,378 students)
Frequently asked questions about North Thurston High School
How many students attend North Thurston High School?
North Thurston High School has 1,378 students enrolled. It is a high school in Lacey, WA. CCD year-over-year: 1,440 (2022-23) → 1,412 (2023-24), nearly flat (-28).
What is the student-teacher ratio at North Thurston High School?
The student-teacher ratio at North Thurston High School is 19.4:1, which is 10% higher than the Washington average of 17.6:1 and 24% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at North Thurston High School?
36.5% of students at North Thurston High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Washington average of 45.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of North Thurston High School?
The largest demographic group at North Thurston High School is White at 42.2% of enrollment, in Lacey, WA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 72.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for North Thurston High School?
North Thurston High School has a Resource Investment Index of 46/100 (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 North Thurston High School rank among high schools in Lacey?
By Resource Investment Index, North Thurston High School ranks #1 of 4 high schools in Lacey, 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 Lacey on the city page.
What other schools are in North Thurston Public Schools?
Besides North Thurston High School, North Thurston Public Schools also operates River Ridge High School (1,547 students), Timberline High School (1,401 students), and Nisqually Middle School (789 students). See the North Thurston Public Schools district page for the complete list.