- Enrollment
- 737
- Students per teacher
- 12.9:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Plainfield, NJ
Plainfield High School
Federal NCES profile for Plainfield High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 30/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 341314005604
👥 S:T ratio 36
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 54
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Plainfield High School earns 30/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 94% of New Jersey schools. It is also one of the largest schools in New Jersey.
- #13 of 16
- public schools in Plainfield · Resource Index
- 30
- Resource Index · Lower
- 16:1
- large classes for New Jersey
- 68.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Plainfield High School has class sizes larger than 94% of New Jersey schools. Computed live against every New Jersey school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Plainfield High School ranks #13 of 16 public schools in Plainfield, NJ.
School address
District: Plainfield Public School District · New Jersey
NCES ID 341314005604 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+220 students YoY
Plainfield High School grew from 1,925 students in 2022-23 to 2,145 in 2023-24 (+11.4%).
Teacher FTE lost 130.0 → 129.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+220 students YoY 341314005604 · Plainfield, NJ High · LARGE · TRAD
2,077 enr · 16:1 · 68.1% lunch · RII 30
Nearest enrollment peer: Hubbard Middle School (737 students)
Plainfield High School grew from 1,925 students in 2022-23 to 2,145 in 2023-24 (+11.4%). Teacher FTE lost 130.0 → 129.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · New Jersey schools → · Find another →
Plainfield High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- This school
Plainfield High School
2,077 students
- Hubbard Middle 737
Hubbard Middle School
737 students
- Maxson Middle 721
Maxson Middle School
721 students
- Cedarbrook Ele 671
Cedarbrook Elementary School
671 students
- Washington Com 557
Washington Community School
557 students
- Dewitt D. Barl 423
Dewitt D. Barlow Elementary School
423 students
What this shows Plainfield High School reports 2,077 students on the CCD universe file.
How Plainfield High School compares
Plainfield High School is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs New Jersey and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs New Jersey | New Jersey avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 16:1 | ▲ 36% | 11.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 68.1% | ▲ 130% | 29.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 2,077 | top 1% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16:1
Leaner classes than 38% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
2,077
Bigger than 98% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
68.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 130% above the New Jersey average of 29.6%
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
16:1
students per teacher
- 36% above state mean
Top 94% in New Jersey - lower ratio than 6% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
47.2%
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
$21,278
per pupil, district-wide
- below New Jersey avg of $26,225
Well above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting substantially higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors9.0 FTE
Per 231 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 134 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 6.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 82.2%
African American 15.7%
White 0.8%
Two or More 0.5%
Asian 0.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 82.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 30.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 30.0, Plainfield High School is less mixed than the New Jersey school average of 51.2.
Programs
AP courses offered 22
District finance for Plainfield Public School District reports $21,278 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Plainfield High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hubbard Middle School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Maxson Middle School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Cedarbrook Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Washington Community School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Dewitt D. Barlow Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Plainfield High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 721
- Students per teacher
- 10.4:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 671
- Students per teacher
- 13.2:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 557
- Students per teacher
- 13:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 423
- Students per teacher
- 14.6:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
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 (~2,077 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~16:1)
Frequently asked questions about Plainfield High School
How many students attend Plainfield High School?
Plainfield High School has 2,077 students enrolled. It is a high school in Plainfield, NJ. CCD year-over-year: 1,925 (2022-23) → 2,145 (2023-24), up 220.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Plainfield High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Plainfield High School is 16:1, which is 36% higher than the New Jersey average of 11.8:1 and 2% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Plainfield High School?
68.1% of students at Plainfield High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the New Jersey average of 29.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Plainfield High School?
The largest demographic group at Plainfield High School is Hispanic or Latino at 82.2% of enrollment, in Plainfield, NJ.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Plainfield High School?
Plainfield High School has a Resource Investment Index of 30/100 (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 Plainfield High School rank among public schools in Plainfield?
By Resource Investment Index, Plainfield High School ranks #13 of 16 public schools in Plainfield, NJ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Plainfield on the city page.
What other schools are in Plainfield Public School District?
Besides Plainfield High School, Plainfield Public School District also operates Hubbard Middle School (737 students), Maxson Middle School (721 students), and Cedarbrook Elementary School (671 students). See the Plainfield Public School District district page for the complete list.