- Enrollment
- 999
- Students per teacher
- 20:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Grand Rapids, MI
Northern High School
Federal NCES profile for Northern High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 33/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 261461005158
👥 S:T ratio 26
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 43
📋 Attendance 35
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Northern High School earns 33/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Michigan median. It is also one of the largest schools in Michigan.
- #7 of 22
- high schools in Grand Rapids · Resource Index
- 33
- Resource Index · Typical
- 18.4:1
- students per teacher
- 14.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Northern High School has class sizes near the Michigan median. Computed live against every Michigan school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Northern High School ranks #7 of 22 high schools in Grand Rapids, MI.
School address
District: Forest Hills Public Schools · Michigan
NCES ID 261461005158 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-25 students YoY
Northern High School held near 1,109 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-25 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 59.4 → 69.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-25 students YoY 261461005158 · Grand Rapids, MI High · MID · TRAD
1,088 enr · 18.4:1 · 14.8% lunch · RII 33
Nearest enrollment peer: Central High School (999 students)
Northern High School held near 1,109 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-25 headcount). Teacher FTE added 59.4 → 69.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Michigan schools → · Find another →
Northern High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- This school
Northern High School
1,088 students
- Central High S
Central High School
999 students
- Eastern High S
Eastern High School
768 students
- Eastern Middle
Eastern Middle School
528 students
- Northern Trail
Northern Trails 56 School
520 students
- Knapp Forest E
Knapp Forest Elementary School
520 students
What this shows Northern High School reports 1,088 students on the CCD universe file.
How Northern High School compares
Northern High School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Michigan and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Michigan | Michigan avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 18.4:1 | ▲ 5% | 17.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 14.8% | ▼ 73% | 54.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,088 | top 4% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.4:1
Leaner classes than 22% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,088
Bigger than 93% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
14.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 73% below the Michigan average of 54.3%
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
18.4:1
students per teacher
- 5% above state mean
Top 67% in Michigan - lower ratio than 33% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
26.1%
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
$14,433
per pupil, district-wide
- below Michigan avg of $15,012
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors3.8 FTE
Per 286 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
3
in-school suspensions + 42 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 4.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
Student demographics
White 70.7%
Hispanic or Latino 8.5%
Asian 8.3%
African American 6.5%
Two or More 6.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: White at 70.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 47.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 47.8, Northern High School is more mixed than the Michigan school average of 36.2.
Programs
AP courses offered 21
District finance for Forest Hills Public Schools reports $14,433 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Northern High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Eastern High School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Eastern Middle School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Northern Trails 56 School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Knapp Forest Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Northern High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 768
- Students per teacher
- 19.2:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 528
- Students per teacher
- 18.9:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 520
- Students per teacher
- 19.3:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 520
- Students per teacher
- 16.8:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
Similar high schools in Grand Rapids
6 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Grand River Preparatory High School
Standard public school
635 students 21.2:1 students per teacher
West Michigan Aviation Academy
Standard public school
600 students 16.2:1 students per teacher
Innovation Central High
Standard public school
386 students 12.1:1 students per teacher
Covenant House Academy Grand Rapids
Alternative education program
218 students 18.2:1 students per teacher
Nextech High School
Standard public school
144 students 24:1 students per teacher
Kenowa Hills Pathways High School
Alternative education program
99 students 33:1 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 (~1,088 students)
Frequently asked questions about Northern High School
How many students attend Northern High School?
Northern High School has 1,088 students enrolled. It is a high school in Grand Rapids, MI. CCD year-over-year: 1,134 (2022-23) → 1,109 (2023-24), nearly flat (-25).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Northern High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Northern High School is 18.4:1, which is 5% higher than the Michigan average of 17.5:1 and 17% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Northern High School?
14.8% of students at Northern High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Michigan average of 54.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Northern High School?
The largest demographic group at Northern High School is White at 70.7% of enrollment, in Grand Rapids, MI.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Northern High School?
Northern High School has a Resource Investment Index of 33/100 (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 School rank among high schools in Grand Rapids?
By Resource Investment Index, Northern High School ranks #7 of 22 high schools in Grand Rapids, MI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Grand Rapids on the city page.
What other schools are in Forest Hills Public Schools?
Besides Northern High School, Forest Hills Public Schools also operates Central High School (999 students), Eastern High School (768 students), and Eastern Middle School (528 students). See the Forest Hills Public Schools district page for the complete list.