- Enrollment
- 2,189
- Students per teacher
- 19.4:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Durham, NC
Northern High
Federal NCES profile for Northern High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 42/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 370126000545
👥 S:T ratio 40
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 57
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Northern High earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the North Carolina median.
- #8 of 11
- high schools in Durham · Resource Index
- 42
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.9:1
- students per teacher
- 60.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Northern High has class sizes near the North Carolina median. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Northern High ranks #8 of 11 high schools in Durham, NC.
School address
District: Durham Public Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370126000545 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+26 students YoY
Northern High held near 1,334 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+26 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 86.2 → 81.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+26 students YoY 370126000545 · Durham, NC High · MID · TRAD
1,281 enr · 14.9:1 · 60.7% lunch · RII 42
Nearest enrollment peer: C E Jordan High (2,189 students)
Northern High held near 1,334 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+26 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 86.2 → 81.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Northern High in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- C E Jordan Hig
C E Jordan High
2,189 students
- Riverside High
Riverside High
1,900 students
- Durham School
Durham School of the Arts
1,764 students
- Hillside High
Hillside High
1,433 students
- Southern Schoo
Southern School of Energy and Sustainabi
1,384 students
- This school
Northern High
1,281 students
What this shows Northern High reports 1,281 students on the CCD universe file.
How Northern High compares
Northern High held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs North Carolina and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs North Carolina | North Carolina avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14.9:1 | ▼ 6% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 60.7% | ▼ 8% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,281 | top 6% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.9:1
Leaner classes than 48% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
1,281
Bigger than 95% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
60.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 8% below the North Carolina average of 66.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
14.9:1
students per teacher
- 6% below state mean
Top 48% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 52% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
49.3%
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
$15,239
per pupil, district-wide
- above North Carolina avg of $12,294
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors6.0 FTE
Per 214 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
109
in-school suspensions + 157 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 8.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 20.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 51 expulsions.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 40.4%
African American 38.9%
White 15.4%
Two or More 3.4%
Asian 1.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 40.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 66.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 66.0, Northern High is more mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
AP courses offered 13
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Durham Public Schools reports $15,239 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Northern High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| C E Jordan High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Riverside High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Durham School of the Arts | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Hillside High | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Southern School of Energy and Sustainabi | Similar size | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Northern High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,900
- Students per teacher
- 19.2:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 1,764
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 1,433
- Students per teacher
- 15.2:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 1,384
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
Similar high schools in Durham
6 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
C E Jordan High
Standard public school
2,189 students 19.4:1 students per teacher
Riverside High
Standard public school
1,900 students 19.2:1 students per teacher
Hillside High
Standard public school
1,433 students 15.2:1 students per teacher
Southern School of Energy and Sustainabi
Standard public school
1,384 students 17.7:1 students per teacher
Research Triangle High School
Standard public school
572 students 15.1:1 students per teacher
J D Clement Early College Hs
Standard public school
380 students 25.3:1 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 (~1,281 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~14.9:1)
Frequently asked questions about Northern High
How many students attend Northern High?
Northern High has 1,281 students enrolled. It is a high school in Durham, NC. CCD year-over-year: 1,308 (2022-23) → 1,334 (2023-24), nearly flat (+26).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Northern High?
The student-teacher ratio at Northern High is 14.9:1, which is 6% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 5% lower 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 Northern High?
60.7% of students at Northern High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Northern High?
The largest demographic group at Northern High is Hispanic or Latino at 40.4% of enrollment, in Durham, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 66.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Northern High?
Northern High has a Resource Investment Index of 42/100 (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 Northern High rank among high schools in Durham?
By Resource Investment Index, Northern High ranks #8 of 11 high schools in Durham, NC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Durham on the city page.
What other schools are in Durham Public Schools?
Besides Northern High, Durham Public Schools also operates C E Jordan High (2,189 students), Riverside High (1,900 students), and Durham School of the Arts (1,764 students). See the Durham Public Schools district page for the complete list.