- Enrollment
- 2,493
- Students per teacher
- 25.2:1
- Resource Index
- 18/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Detroit, MI
Northwestern High School
Federal NCES profile for Northwestern High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 40/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 260110304802
👥 S:T ratio 51
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 39
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Northwestern High School earns 40/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 86% of Michigan schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Michigan schools.
- #5 of 16
- high schools in Detroit · Resource Index
- 40
- Resource Index · Typical
- 12.2:1
- small classes for Michigan
- 88.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Northwestern High School has class sizes smaller than 86% of Michigan schools. Computed live against every Michigan school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Northwestern High School ranks #5 of 16 high schools in Detroit, MI.
School address
District: Detroit Public Schools Community District · Michigan
NCES ID 260110304802 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-67 students YoY
Northwestern High School shrank from 358 students in 2022-23 to 291 in 2023-24 (-18.7%).
Teacher FTE lost 25.9 → 24.6 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-67 students YoY 260110304802 · Detroit, MI High · SMALL · TRAD
305 enr · 12.2:1 · 88.0% lunch · RII 40
Nearest enrollment peer: Cass Technical High School (2,493 students)
Northwestern High School shrank from 358 students in 2022-23 to 291 in 2023-24 (-18.7%). Teacher FTE lost 25.9 → 24.6 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Michigan schools → · Find another →
Northwestern High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Cass Technical
Cass Technical High School
2,493 students
- Western Intern
Western International High School
1,959 students
- Renaissance Hi
Renaissance High School
1,197 students
- Earhart Elemen
Earhart Elementarymiddle School
1,002 students
- Martin Luther 976
Martin Luther King Jr Senior High School
976 students
- This school 305
Northwestern High School
305 students
What this shows Northwestern High School reports 305 students on the CCD universe file.
How Northwestern High School compares
Northwestern High School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Michigan and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Michigan | Michigan avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 12.2:1 | ▼ 30% | 17.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 88.0% | ▲ 62% | 54.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 305 | top 59% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.2:1
Leaner classes than 74% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
305
Bigger than 33% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
88.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 62% above the Michigan average of 54.3%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
12.2:1
students per teacher
- 30% below state mean
Top 14% in Michigan - lower ratio than 86% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Funding equity
$22,002
per pupil, district-wide
- above Michigan avg of $15,012
Well above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting substantially higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 305 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
24
in-school suspensions + 31 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 7.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 18.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 98.0%
Hispanic or Latino 1.0%
White 0.7%
Two or More 0.3%
Largest group: African American at 98.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 3.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 3.9, Northwestern High School is less mixed than the Michigan school average of 36.2.
Programs
AP courses offered 7
District finance for Detroit Public Schools Community District reports $22,002 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Northwestern High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cass Technical High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Western International High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Renaissance High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Earhart Elementarymiddle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Martin Luther King Jr Senior High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Northwestern High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,959
- Students per teacher
- 23.6:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 1,197
- Students per teacher
- 19.9:1
- Resource Index
- 18/100
- Enrollment
- 1,002
- Students per teacher
- 20.4:1
- Resource Index
- 12/100
- Enrollment
- 976
- Students per teacher
- 25:1
- Resource Index
- 20/100
Similar high schools in Detroit
6 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
East English Village Preparatory Academy at Finney
Standard public school
639 students 15.6:1 students per teacher
Henry Ford High School
Standard public school
607 students 16.9:1 students per teacher
Southeastern High School
Standard public school
602 students 19.4:1 students per teacher
Voyageur College Prep
Standard public school
524 students 23.8:1 students per teacher
Denby High School
Standard public school
464 students 15.5:1 students per teacher
University Preparatory Science and Math Psad High School
Standard public school
452 students 16.1:1 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 (~305 students)
Frequently asked questions about Northwestern High School
How many students attend Northwestern High School?
Northwestern High School has 305 students enrolled. It is a high school in Detroit, MI. CCD year-over-year: 358 (2022-23) → 291 (2023-24), down 67.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Northwestern High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Northwestern High School is 12.2:1, which is 30% lower than the Michigan average of 17.5:1 and 22% 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 Northwestern High School?
88.0% of students at Northwestern High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Michigan average of 54.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Northwestern High School?
The largest demographic group at Northwestern High School is African American at 98.0% of enrollment, in Detroit, MI.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Northwestern High School?
Northwestern High School has a Resource Investment Index of 40/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Northwestern High School rank among high schools in Detroit?
By Resource Investment Index, Northwestern High School ranks #5 of 16 high schools in Detroit, 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 Detroit on the city page.
What other schools are in Detroit Public Schools Community District?
Besides Northwestern High School, Detroit Public Schools Community District also operates Cass Technical High School (2,493 students), Western International High School (1,959 students), and Renaissance High School (1,197 students). See the Detroit Public Schools Community District district page for the complete list.