- Enrollment
- 1,714
- Students per teacher
- 16.5:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Baltimore, MD
Paul Laurence Dunbar High
Federal NCES profile for Paul Laurence Dunbar High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 24/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 240009000298
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 28
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Paul Laurence Dunbar High earns 24/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 99% of Maryland schools.
- #41 of 42
- high schools in Baltimore · Resource Index
- 24
- Resource Index · Lower
- 25.3:1
- large classes for Maryland
- 73.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Paul Laurence Dunbar High has class sizes larger than 99% of Maryland schools. Computed live against every Maryland school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Paul Laurence Dunbar High ranks #41 of 42 high schools in Baltimore, MD.
School address
District: Baltimore City Public Schools · Maryland
NCES ID 240009000298 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+34 students YoY
Paul Laurence Dunbar High held near 1,101 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+34 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 43.0 → 48.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+34 students YoY 240009000298 · Baltimore, MD High · MID · TRAD
1,087 enr · 25.3:1 · 73.2% lunch · RII 24
Nearest enrollment peer: Mergenthaler Vocational-Technical High (1,714 students)
Paul Laurence Dunbar High held near 1,101 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+34 headcount). Teacher FTE added 43.0 → 48.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Maryland schools → · Find another →
Paul Laurence Dunbar High in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Mergenthaler V
Mergenthaler Vocational-Technical High
1,714 students
- Baltimore Poly
Baltimore Polytechnic Institute
1,632 students
- Baltimore City
Baltimore City College
1,470 students
- Kipp Harmony A
Kipp Harmony Academy
1,399 students
- Roland Park El
Roland Park Elementary/Middle
1,371 students
- This school
Paul Laurence Dunbar High
1,087 students
What this shows Paul Laurence Dunbar High reports 1,087 students on the CCD universe file.
How Paul Laurence Dunbar High compares
Paul Laurence Dunbar High held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Maryland and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Maryland | Maryland avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 25.3:1 | ▲ 74% | 14.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 73.2% | ▲ 49% | 49.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,087 | top 11% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
25.3:1
Leaner classes than 5% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,087
Bigger than 93% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
73.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 49% above the Maryland average of 49.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
25.3:1
students per teacher
- 74% above state mean
Top 99% in Maryland - lower ratio than 1% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
60.7%
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
$22,977
per pupil, district-wide
- above Maryland avg of $18,753
Well above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting substantially higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 362 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 19 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
Student demographics
African American 80.2%
Hispanic or Latino 17.3%
White 1.4%
Asian 0.5%
Two or More 0.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: African American at 80.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 32.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 32.7, Paul Laurence Dunbar High is less mixed than the Maryland school average of 52.3.
Programs
AP courses offered 7
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Baltimore City Public Schools reports $22,977 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Paul Laurence Dunbar High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mergenthaler Vocational-Technical High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Baltimore Polytechnic Institute | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Baltimore City College | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Kipp Harmony Academy | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Roland Park Elementary/Middle | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Paul Laurence Dunbar High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,632
- Students per teacher
- 21.2:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 1,470
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 1,399
- Students per teacher
- 13.7:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 1,371
- Students per teacher
- 19.6:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
Similar high schools in Baltimore
6 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Dundalk High
Standard public school
2,087 students 15.5:1 students per teacher
Perry Hall High
Standard public school
2,012 students 16.6:1 students per teacher
Woodlawn High
Standard public school
1,922 students 17:1 students per teacher
Kenwood High
Standard public school
1,900 students 16.5:1 students per teacher
Parkville High
Standard public school
1,877 students 12.3:1 students per teacher
Catonsville High
Standard public school
1,735 students 16.2:1 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 (~1,087 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~25.3:1)
Frequently asked questions about Paul Laurence Dunbar High
How many students attend Paul Laurence Dunbar High?
Paul Laurence Dunbar High has 1,087 students enrolled. It is a high school in Baltimore, MD. CCD year-over-year: 1,067 (2022-23) → 1,101 (2023-24), nearly flat (+34).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Paul Laurence Dunbar High?
The student-teacher ratio at Paul Laurence Dunbar High is 25.3:1, which is 74% higher than the Maryland average of 14.5:1 and 61% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Paul Laurence Dunbar High?
73.2% of students at Paul Laurence Dunbar High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Maryland average of 49.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Paul Laurence Dunbar High?
The largest demographic group at Paul Laurence Dunbar High is African American at 80.2% of enrollment, in Baltimore, MD.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Paul Laurence Dunbar High?
Paul Laurence Dunbar High has a Resource Investment Index of 24/100 (lower 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 Paul Laurence Dunbar High rank among high schools in Baltimore?
By Resource Investment Index, Paul Laurence Dunbar High ranks #41 of 42 high schools in Baltimore, MD. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Baltimore on the city page.
What other schools are in Baltimore City Public Schools?
Besides Paul Laurence Dunbar High, Baltimore City Public Schools also operates Mergenthaler Vocational-Technical High (1,714 students), Baltimore Polytechnic Institute (1,632 students), and Baltimore City College (1,470 students). See the Baltimore City Public Schools district page for the complete list.