- Enrollment
- 2,148
- Students per teacher
- 19.9:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Louisville, KY
Southern High
Federal NCES profile for Southern 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 210299000637
👥 S:T ratio 14
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 14
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Southern High earns 24/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 95% of Kentucky schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Kentucky.
- #18 of 18
- high schools in Louisville · Resource Index
- 24
- Resource Index · Lower
- 21.6:1
- large classes for Kentucky
- 65.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Southern High has class sizes larger than 95% of Kentucky schools. Computed live against every Kentucky school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Southern High ranks #18 of 18 high schools in Louisville, KY.
School address
District: Jefferson County · Kentucky
NCES ID 210299000637 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+153 students YoY
Southern High grew from 1,387 students in 2022-23 to 1,540 in 2023-24 (+11.0%).
Teacher FTE added 80.9 → 90.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+153 students YoY 210299000637 · Louisville, KY High · MID · TRAD
1,725 enr · 21.6:1 · 65.0% lunch · RII 24
Nearest enrollment peer: Ballard High (2,148 students)
Southern High grew from 1,387 students in 2022-23 to 1,540 in 2023-24 (+11.0%). Teacher FTE added 80.9 → 90.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Kentucky schools → · Find another →
Southern High in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Ballard High
Ballard High
2,148 students
- Dupont Manual
Dupont Manual High
1,899 students
- Marion C. Moor
Marion C. Moore School
1,892 students
- Eastern High
Eastern High
1,790 students
- Pleasure Ridge
Pleasure Ridge Park High
1,777 students
- This school
Southern High
1,725 students
What this shows Southern High reports 1,725 students on the CCD universe file.
How Southern High compares
Southern High is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Kentucky and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Kentucky | Kentucky avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 21.6:1 | ▲ 42% | 15.2:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 65.0% | ▲ 10% | 59.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,725 | top 1% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
21.6:1
Leaner classes than 11% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,725
Bigger than 97% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
65.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 10% above the Kentucky average of 59.2%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
21.6:1
students per teacher
- 42% above state mean
Top 95% in Kentucky - lower ratio than 5% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
43.0%
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
$18,189
per pupil, district-wide
- above Kentucky avg of $14,362
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors4.0 FTE
Per 431 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
753
in-school suspensions + 240 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 43.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 57.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 10 expulsions.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 39.7%
African American 29.4%
White 24.8%
Two or More 3.8%
Asian 2.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 39.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 69.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 69.3, Southern High is more mixed than the Kentucky school average of 34.5.
Programs
AP courses offered 1
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Jefferson County reports $18,189 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Southern High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ballard High | Similar size | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Dupont Manual High | Similar size | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Marion C. Moore School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Eastern High | Similar size | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Pleasure Ridge Park High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Southern High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,899
- Students per teacher
- 17.9:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 1,892
- Students per teacher
- 14.9:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 1,790
- Students per teacher
- 16:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 1,777
- Students per teacher
- 20.4:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
Similar high schools in Louisville
6 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Ballard High
Standard public school
2,148 students 19.9:1 students per teacher
Dupont Manual High
Standard public school
1,899 students 17.9:1 students per teacher
Pleasure Ridge Park High
Standard public school
1,777 students 20.4:1 students per teacher
Louisville Male High
Standard public school
1,763 students 18.8:1 students per teacher
Fern Creek High
Standard public school
1,525 students 14.1:1 students per teacher
Atherton High
Standard public school
1,466 students 18.3:1 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 (~1,725 students)
Frequently asked questions about Southern High
How many students attend Southern High?
Southern High has 1,725 students enrolled. It is a high school in Louisville, KY. CCD year-over-year: 1,387 (2022-23) → 1,540 (2023-24), up 153.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Southern High?
The student-teacher ratio at Southern High is 21.6:1, which is 42% higher than the Kentucky average of 15.2:1 and 38% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Southern High?
65.0% of students at Southern High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Kentucky average of 59.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Southern High?
The largest demographic group at Southern High is Hispanic or Latino at 39.7% of enrollment, in Louisville, KY. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 69.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Southern High?
Southern 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 Southern High rank among high schools in Louisville?
By Resource Investment Index, Southern High ranks #18 of 18 high schools in Louisville, 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 Louisville on the city page.
What other schools are in Jefferson County?
Besides Southern High, Jefferson County also operates Ballard High (2,148 students), Dupont Manual High (1,899 students), and Marion C. Moore School (1,892 students). See the Jefferson County district page for the complete list.