- Enrollment
- 2,086
- Students per teacher
- 13.7:1
- Resource Index
- 53/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Lincoln, NE
Southwest High School
Federal NCES profile for Southwest High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 42/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 317284001033
👥 S:T ratio 22
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 30
📋 Attendance 45
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Southwest High School earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 94% of Nebraska schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Nebraska.
- #4 of 8
- high schools in Lincoln · Resource Index
- 42
- Resource Index · Typical
- 19.4:1
- large classes for Nebraska
- 20.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Southwest High School has class sizes larger than 94% of Nebraska schools. Computed live against every Nebraska school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Southwest High School ranks #4 of 8 high schools in Lincoln, NE.
School address
District: Lincoln Public Schools · Nebraska
NCES ID 317284001033 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-122 students YoY
Southwest High School shrank from 2,171 students in 2022-23 to 2,049 in 2023-24 (-5.6%).
Teacher FTE lost 109.9 → 106.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-122 students YoY 317284001033 · Lincoln, NE High · LARGE · TRAD
2,110 enr · 19.4:1 · 20.1% lunch · RII 42
Nearest enrollment peer: Lincoln High School (2,086 students)
Southwest High School shrank from 2,171 students in 2022-23 to 2,049 in 2023-24 (-5.6%). Teacher FTE lost 109.9 → 106.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Nebraska schools → · Find another →
Southwest High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- This school
Southwest High School
2,110 students
- Lincoln High S
Lincoln High School
2,086 students
- Lincoln East H
Lincoln East High School
1,982 students
- North Star Hig
North Star High School
1,927 students
- Lincoln Southe
Lincoln Southeast High School
1,848 students
- Lincoln Northe
Lincoln Northeast High School
1,819 students
What this shows Southwest High School reports 2,110 students on the CCD universe file.
How Southwest High School compares
Southwest High School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Nebraska and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Nebraska | Nebraska avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 19.4:1 | ▲ 44% | 13.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 20.1% | ▼ 35% | 30.9% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 2,110 | top 1% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19.4:1
Leaner classes than 18% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
2,110
Bigger than 98% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
20.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 35% below the Nebraska average of 30.9%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
19.4:1
students per teacher
- 44% above state mean
Top 94% in Nebraska - lower ratio than 6% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
22.1%
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
$13,573
per pupil, district-wide
- below Nebraska avg of $18,497
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 352 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
164
in-school suspensions + 134 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 7.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 14.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 10 expulsions.
Student demographics
White 73.3%
Hispanic or Latino 10.5%
Two or More 7.4%
African American 4.8%
Asian 3.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: White at 73.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 44.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 44.2, Southwest High School is more mixed than the Nebraska school average of 34.9.
Programs
AP courses offered 17
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Lincoln Public Schools reports $13,573 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Southwest High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln High School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Lincoln East High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| North Star High School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Lincoln Southeast High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Lincoln Northeast High School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Southwest High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,982
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 1,927
- Students per teacher
- 15.2:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 1,848
- Students per teacher
- 15.9:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 1,819
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
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 (~2,110 students)
Frequently asked questions about Southwest High School
How many students attend Southwest High School?
Southwest High School has 2,110 students enrolled. It is a high school in Lincoln, NE. CCD year-over-year: 2,171 (2022-23) → 2,049 (2023-24), down 122.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Southwest High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Southwest High School is 19.4:1, which is 44% higher than the Nebraska average of 13.5:1 and 24% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Southwest High School?
20.1% of students at Southwest High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Nebraska average of 30.9%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Southwest High School?
The largest demographic group at Southwest High School is White at 73.3% of enrollment, in Lincoln, NE.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Southwest High School?
Southwest High School has a Resource Investment Index of 42/100 (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 Southwest High School rank among high schools in Lincoln?
By Resource Investment Index, Southwest High School ranks #4 of 8 high schools in Lincoln, NE. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Lincoln on the city page.
What other schools are in Lincoln Public Schools?
Besides Southwest High School, Lincoln Public Schools also operates Lincoln High School (2,086 students), Lincoln East High School (1,982 students), and North Star High School (1,927 students). See the Lincoln Public Schools district page for the complete list.