Enrollment
1,405
Georgia · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Columbus, GA
Northside High School
Federal NCES profile for Northside 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 130387002583
👥 S:T ratio 37
📚 AP courses 95
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 30
📋 Attendance 60
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Northside High School earns 58/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 74% of Georgia schools.
- #2 of 8
- high schools in Columbus · Resource Index
- 58
- Resource Index · Higher
- 15.8:1
- large classes for Georgia
- 23.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Northside High School has class sizes larger than 74% of Georgia schools. Computed live against every Georgia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Northside High School ranks #2 of 8 high schools in Columbus, GA.
School address
District: Muscogee County · Georgia
NCES ID 130387002583 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
89.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.8:1
vs 14.4:1 Georgia avg
+10% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
23.5%
vs 60.7% Georgia avg
-61% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Northside High School compares with Georgia and U.S. medians
What stands out at Northside High School
Northside High School is a large high school in Columbus, Georgia, enrolling 1,405 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 15.8:1 puts it in the larger third of Georgia schools by student-teacher ratio.
Comparatively few students face economic hardship here, 23.5% free-meal eligibility runs 61% below the Georgia average.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Georgia, bigger than 91% of state schools at 1,405 students.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 2,314 scored Georgia schools.
Among 209 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Georgia schools statewide, it ranks #19, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (40%) and African American (36%) (diversity index 69/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 19 Advanced Placement courses.
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 351 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
16.1% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
Its district draws 18.2% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 355 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 1,405 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 27 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Columbus's high schools, it stands alongside Shaw High School (1,162 students): Northside High School is larger than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (15.8:1 vs 15.9:1).
Muscogee County also operates Shaw High School (1,162 students) and Columbus High School (1,161 students) alongside Northside 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 Northside High School compares
Northside High School on the metrics families compare, against Georgia and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Georgia | Georgia avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.8:1 | ▲ 10% | 14.4:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 23.5% | ▼ 61% | 60.7% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,405 | top 9% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.8:1
Leaner classes than 40% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
1,405
Bigger than 96% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
23.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 61% below the Georgia average of 60.7%
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
15.8:1
students per teacher
- 10% above state mean
Top 74% in Georgia - lower ratio than 26% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
16.1%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$12,762
per pupil, district-wide
- below Georgia avg of $13,863
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors4.0 FTE
Per 351 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
240
in-school suspensions + 115 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 17.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 25.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 27 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
White 39.7%
African American 36.2%
Hispanic or Latino 13.0%
Two or More 7.8%
Asian 3.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: White at 39.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 68.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 68.7, Northside High School is more mixed than the Georgia school average of 50.0.
Programs
AP courses offered 19
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Muscogee County, which includes Northside High School.
$12,762
Per student
-8%
vs Georgia
Avg $13,863
-23%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 38.8%
State 43.0%
Federal 18.2%
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 Northside High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shaw High School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Columbus High School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Hardaway High School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Jordan Vocational High School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Spencer High School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Northside High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,162
- Students per teacher
- 15.9:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 1,161
- Students per teacher
- 19:1
- Resource Index
- 53/100
- Enrollment
- 1,067
- Students per teacher
- 13.7:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 1,040
- Students per teacher
- 13.9:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 1,016
- Students per teacher
- 18.5:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
Similar high schools in Columbus
6 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Shaw High School
Standard public school
1,162 students 15.9:1 students per teacher
Columbus High School
Standard public school
1,161 students 19:1 students per teacher
Hardaway High School
Standard public school
1,067 students 13.7:1 students per teacher
Jordan Vocational High School
Standard public school
1,040 students 13.9:1 students per teacher
Spencer High School
Standard public school
1,016 students 18.5:1 students per teacher
Carver High School
Standard public school
887 students 15.8:1 students per teacher
Similar high schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Georgia, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~1,405 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15.8:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Northside High School's federal record.
- Compare Northside High School against another school. Compare schools
- Muscogee County'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 Northside High School
How many students attend Northside High School?
Northside High School has 1,405 students enrolled. It is a high school in Columbus, GA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Northside High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Northside High School is 15.8:1, which is 10% higher than the Georgia average of 14.4:1 and 1% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Northside High School?
23.5% of students at Northside High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Georgia average of 60.7%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Northside High School?
The largest demographic group at Northside High School is White at 39.7% of enrollment, in Columbus, GA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 68.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Northside High School?
Northside 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 Northside High School rank among high schools in Columbus?
By Resource Investment Index, Northside High School ranks #2 of 8 high schools in Columbus, GA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Columbus on the city page.
Is Northside High School a good school?
Northside High School earns 58/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 74% of Georgia schools. 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 Muscogee County?
Besides Northside High School, Muscogee County also operates Shaw High School (1,162 students), Columbus High School (1,161 students), and Hardaway High School (1,067 students). See the Muscogee County 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.