Enrollment
2,455
Indiana · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Indianapolis, IN
Perry Meridian High School
Federal NCES profile for Perry Meridian High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 47/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 180882001464
👥 S:T ratio 22
📚 AP courses 100
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 18
📋 Attendance 25
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Perry Meridian High School earns 47/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 89% of Indiana schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Indiana.
- #15 of 32
- high schools in Indianapolis · Resource Index
- 47
- Resource Index · Typical
- 19.6:1
- large classes for Indiana
- 52.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Perry Meridian High School has class sizes larger than 89% of Indiana schools. Computed live against every Indiana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Perry Meridian High School ranks #15 of 32 high schools in Indianapolis, IN.
School address
District: Perry Township Schools · Indiana
NCES ID 180882001464 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
125.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
19.6:1
vs 15.9:1 Indiana avg
+23% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
52.9%
vs 49.5% Indiana avg
+7% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Perry Meridian High School compares with Indiana and U.S. medians
What stands out at Perry Meridian High School
Perry Meridian High School is a higher-need, large high school in Indianapolis, Indiana, enrolling 2,455 students.
Class loads run heavy: 19.6:1 is larger than about 89% of Indiana schools and 23% above the 15.9:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 52.9% lands close to the Indiana typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Indiana, bigger than 99% of state schools at 2,455 students.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,862 scored Indiana schools.
Against 28 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #18.
Its student body is led by White (41%) and Asian (30%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 71/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 20 Advanced Placement courses.
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 409 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 30.1% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 16.0% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 28 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Indianapolis's high schools, it stands alongside North Central High School (3,682 students): Perry Meridian High School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (19.6:1 vs 16.3:1).
Perry Township Schools also operates Southport High School (2,431 students) and Southport Middle School (1,304 students) alongside Perry Meridian 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 Perry Meridian High School compares
Perry Meridian High School on the metrics families compare, against Indiana and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Indiana | Indiana avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 19.6:1 | ▲ 23% | 15.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 52.9% | ▲ 7% | 49.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 2,455 | top 1% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19.6:1
Leaner classes than 17% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
2,455
Bigger than 99% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
52.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 7% above the Indiana average of 49.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
19.6:1
students per teacher
- 23% above state mean
Top 89% in Indiana - lower ratio than 11% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
30.1%
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
$12,395
per pupil, district-wide
- above Indiana avg of $12,079
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors6.0 FTE
Per 409 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
240
in-school suspensions + 184 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 9.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 17.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 28 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 41.0%
Asian 29.8%
Hispanic or Latino 14.3%
African American 9.9%
Two or More 4.9%
Largest group: White at 41.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 71.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 71.0, Perry Meridian High School is more mixed than the Indiana school average of 39.0.
Programs
AP courses offered 20
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Perry Township Schools, which includes Perry Meridian High School.
$12,395
Per student
+3%
vs Indiana
Avg $12,079
-25%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 25.7%
State 58.3%
Federal 16.0%
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 Perry Meridian High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southport High School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Southport Middle School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Perry Meridian Middle School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Rosa Parks Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Mary Bryan Elementary School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Perry Meridian High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,431
- Students per teacher
- 18.1:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 1,304
- Students per teacher
- 17.9:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 1,278
- Students per teacher
- 16:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 658
- Students per teacher
- 14:1
- Resource Index
- 66/100
- Enrollment
- 644
- Students per teacher
- 11.3:1
- Resource Index
- 63/100
Similar high schools in Indianapolis
6 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
North Central High School
Standard public school
3,682 students 16.3:1 students per teacher
Franklin Central High School
Standard public school
3,438 students 21.8:1 students per teacher
Warren Central High School
Standard public school
3,391 students 18.3:1 students per teacher
Ben Davis High School
Standard public school
3,315 students 18.1:1 students per teacher
Pike High School
Standard public school
3,188 students 16:1 students per teacher
Lawrence North High School
Standard public school
2,799 students 19.3:1 students per teacher
Similar high schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Indiana, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~2,455 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Perry Meridian High School's federal record.
- Compare Perry Meridian High School against another school. Compare schools
- Perry Township Schools'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 Perry Meridian High School
How many students attend Perry Meridian High School?
Perry Meridian High School has 2,455 students enrolled. It is a high school in Indianapolis, IN.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Perry Meridian High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Perry Meridian High School is 19.6:1, which is 23% higher than the Indiana average of 15.9:1 and 25% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Perry Meridian High School?
52.9% of students at Perry Meridian High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Indiana average of 49.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Perry Meridian High School?
The largest demographic group at Perry Meridian High School is White at 41.0% of enrollment, in Indianapolis, IN. 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 Perry Meridian High School?
Perry Meridian High School has a Resource Investment Index of 47/100 (typical 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 Perry Meridian High School rank among high schools in Indianapolis?
By Resource Investment Index, Perry Meridian High School ranks #15 of 32 high schools in Indianapolis, IN. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Indianapolis on the city page.
Is Perry Meridian High School a good school?
Perry Meridian High School earns 47/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 89% of Indiana schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Indiana. 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 Perry Township Schools?
Besides Perry Meridian High School, Perry Township Schools also operates Southport High School (2,431 students), Southport Middle School (1,304 students), and Perry Meridian Middle School (1,278 students). See the Perry Township Schools 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.