- Enrollment
- 2,370
- Students per teacher
- 18.4:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Lexington, KY
Paul Laurence Dunbar High School
Federal NCES profile for Paul Laurence Dunbar High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 37/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 210186001669
👥 S:T ratio 32
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 48
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Paul Laurence Dunbar High School earns 37/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 77% of Kentucky schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Kentucky.
- #3 of 9
- high schools in Lexington · Resource Index
- 37
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.1:1
- large classes for Kentucky
- 42.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Paul Laurence Dunbar High School has class sizes larger than 77% of Kentucky schools. Computed live against every Kentucky school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Paul Laurence Dunbar High School ranks #3 of 9 high schools in Lexington, KY.
School address
District: Fayette County · Kentucky
NCES ID 210186001669 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-57 students YoY
Paul Laurence Dunbar High School held near 1,889 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-57 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 107.7 → 111.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-57 students YoY 210186001669 · Lexington, KY High · MID · TRAD
1,828 enr · 17.1:1 · 42.8% lunch · RII 37
Nearest enrollment peer: Lafayette High School (2,370 students)
Paul Laurence Dunbar High School held near 1,889 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-57 headcount). Teacher FTE added 107.7 → 111.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Kentucky schools → · Find another →
Paul Laurence Dunbar High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Lafayette High
Lafayette High School
2,370 students
- Bryan Station
Bryan Station High School
2,030 students
- Henry Clay Hig
Henry Clay High School
1,939 students
- This school
Paul Laurence Dunbar High School
1,828 students
- Frederick Doug
Frederick Douglass High School
1,770 students
- Tates Creek Hi
Tates Creek High School
1,723 students
What this shows Paul Laurence Dunbar High School reports 1,828 students on the CCD universe file.
How Paul Laurence Dunbar High School compares
Paul Laurence Dunbar High School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Kentucky and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Kentucky | Kentucky avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.1:1 | ▲ 13% | 15.2:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 42.8% | ▼ 28% | 59.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,828 | top 1% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.1:1
Leaner classes than 30% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,828
Bigger than 98% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
42.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 28% below the Kentucky average of 59.2%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
17.1:1
students per teacher
- 13% above state mean
Top 77% in Kentucky - lower ratio than 23% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
43.2%
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
$18,318
per pupil, district-wide
- above Kentucky avg of $14,362
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors7.0 FTE
Per 261 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
228
in-school suspensions + 121 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 12.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 19.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 40.0%
Hispanic or Latino 31.3%
African American 13.7%
Asian 11.1%
Two or More 3.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: White at 40.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 71.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 71.0, Paul Laurence Dunbar High School is more mixed than the Kentucky school average of 34.5.
Programs
AP courses offered 27
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Fayette County reports $18,318 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Paul Laurence Dunbar High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lafayette High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Bryan Station High School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Henry Clay High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Frederick Douglass High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Tates Creek High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Paul Laurence Dunbar High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,030
- Students per teacher
- 19:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
- Enrollment
- 1,939
- Students per teacher
- 16.2:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 1,770
- Students per teacher
- 19.5:1
- Resource Index
- 19/100
- Enrollment
- 1,723
- Students per teacher
- 17.1:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
Similar high schools in Lexington
6 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Lafayette High School
Standard public school
2,370 students 18.4:1 students per teacher
Bryan Station High School
Standard public school
2,030 students 19:1 students per teacher
Henry Clay High School
Standard public school
1,939 students 16.2:1 students per teacher
Frederick Douglass High School
Standard public school
1,770 students 19.5:1 students per teacher
Tates Creek High School
Standard public school
1,723 students 17.1:1 students per teacher
Steam Academy
Alternative education program
453 students 23.8:1 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 (~1,828 students)
Frequently asked questions about Paul Laurence Dunbar High School
How many students attend Paul Laurence Dunbar High School?
Paul Laurence Dunbar High School has 1,828 students enrolled. It is a high school in Lexington, KY. CCD year-over-year: 1,946 (2022-23) → 1,889 (2023-24), nearly flat (-57).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School is 17.1:1, which is 13% higher than the Kentucky average of 15.2:1 and 9% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School?
42.8% of students at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Kentucky average of 59.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Paul Laurence Dunbar High School?
The largest demographic group at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School is White at 40.0% of enrollment, in Lexington, KY. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 71.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Paul Laurence Dunbar High School?
Paul Laurence Dunbar High School has a Resource Investment Index of 37/100 (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 Paul Laurence Dunbar High School rank among high schools in Lexington?
By Resource Investment Index, Paul Laurence Dunbar High School ranks #3 of 9 high schools in Lexington, KY. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Lexington on the city page.
What other schools are in Fayette County?
Besides Paul Laurence Dunbar High School, Fayette County also operates Lafayette High School (2,370 students), Bryan Station High School (2,030 students), and Henry Clay High School (1,939 students). See the Fayette County district page for the complete list.