- Enrollment
- 1,391
- Students per teacher
- 20.5:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Portage, MI
Portage Northern High School
Federal NCES profile for Portage Northern High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 26/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 262895006493
👥 S:T ratio 22
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 28
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Portage Northern High School earns 26/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 77% of Michigan schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Michigan.
- #3 of 3
- high schools in Portage · Resource Index
- 26
- Resource Index · Lower
- 19.6:1
- large classes for Michigan
- 27.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Portage Northern High School has class sizes larger than 77% of Michigan schools. Computed live against every Michigan school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Portage Northern High School ranks #3 of 3 high schools in Portage, MI.
School address
District: Portage Public Schools · Michigan
NCES ID 262895006493 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-34 students YoY
Portage Northern High School held near 1,218 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-34 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 61.4 → 62.3 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-34 students YoY 262895006493 · Portage, MI High · MID · TRAD
1,194 enr · 19.6:1 · 27.0% lunch · RII 26
Nearest enrollment peer: Portage Central High School (1,391 students)
Portage Northern High School held near 1,218 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-34 headcount). Teacher FTE added 61.4 → 62.3 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Michigan schools → · Find another →
Portage Northern High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Portage Centra
Portage Central High School
1,391 students
- This school
Portage Northern High School
1,194 students
- Portage Centra
Portage Central Middle School
719 students
- Portage West M
Portage West Middle School
717 students
- Portage North
Portage North Middle School
609 students
- Moorsbridge El
Moorsbridge Elementary School
591 students
What this shows Portage Northern High School reports 1,194 students on the CCD universe file.
How Portage Northern High School compares
Portage Northern High School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Michigan and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Michigan | Michigan avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 19.6:1 | ▲ 12% | 17.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 27.0% | ▼ 50% | 54.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,194 | top 3% | - | - |
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.
1,194
Bigger than 94% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
27.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 50% below the Michigan average of 54.3%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
19.6:1
students per teacher
- 12% above state mean
Top 77% in Michigan - lower ratio than 23% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
28.9%
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
$13,765
per pupil, district-wide
- below Michigan avg of $15,012
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
24
in-school suspensions + 121 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 12.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 2 expulsions.
Student demographics
White 63.1%
Two or More 11.0%
African American 10.2%
Hispanic or Latino 9.0%
Asian 6.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: White at 63.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 56.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 56.7, Portage Northern High School is more mixed than the Michigan school average of 36.2.
Programs
AP courses offered 14
District finance for Portage Public Schools reports $13,765 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Portage Northern High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portage Central High School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Portage Central Middle School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Portage West Middle School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Portage North Middle School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Moorsbridge Elementary School | Smaller | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Portage Northern High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 719
- Students per teacher
- 18.9:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 717
- Students per teacher
- 21.7:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 609
- Students per teacher
- 20.3:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 591
- Students per teacher
- 19.7:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
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 (~1,194 students)
Frequently asked questions about Portage Northern High School
How many students attend Portage Northern High School?
Portage Northern High School has 1,194 students enrolled. It is a high school in Portage, MI. CCD year-over-year: 1,252 (2022-23) → 1,218 (2023-24), nearly flat (-34).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Portage Northern High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Portage Northern High School is 19.6:1, which is 12% higher than the Michigan average of 17.5:1 and 25% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Portage Northern High School?
27.0% of students at Portage Northern High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Michigan average of 54.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Portage Northern High School?
The largest demographic group at Portage Northern High School is White at 63.1% of enrollment, in Portage, MI. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 56.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Portage Northern High School?
Portage Northern High School has a Resource Investment Index of 26/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Portage Northern High School rank among high schools in Portage?
By Resource Investment Index, Portage Northern High School ranks #3 of 3 high schools in Portage, 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 Portage on the city page.
What other schools are in Portage Public Schools?
Besides Portage Northern High School, Portage Public Schools also operates Portage Central High School (1,391 students), Portage Central Middle School (719 students), and Portage West Middle School (717 students). See the Portage Public Schools district page for the complete list.