- Enrollment
- 1,770
- Students per teacher
- 24.6:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Seattle, WA
The Center School
Federal NCES profile for The Center School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 61/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 530771002842
👥 S:T ratio 53
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 67
📋 Attendance 56
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
The Center School earns 61/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 90% of Washington schools.
- #3 of 14
- high schools in Seattle · Resource Index
- 61
- Resource Index · Higher
- 11.8:1
- small classes for Washington
- 17.6%
- free-lunch eligible
The Center School has class sizes smaller than 90% of Washington schools. Computed live against every Washington school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, The Center School ranks #3 of 14 high schools in Seattle, WA.
School address
District: Seattle School District No. 1 · Washington
NCES ID 530771002842 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-61 students YoY
The Center School shrank from 245 students in 2022-23 to 184 in 2023-24 (-24.9%).
Teacher FTE lost 14.6 → 12.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-61 students YoY 530771002842 · Seattle, WA High · SMALL · TRAD
165 enr · 11.8:1 · 17.6% lunch · RII 61
Nearest enrollment peer: Lincoln High School (1,770 students)
The Center School shrank from 245 students in 2022-23 to 184 in 2023-24 (-24.9%). Teacher FTE lost 14.6 → 12.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Washington schools → · Find another →
The Center School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Lincoln High S
Lincoln High School
1,770 students
- Ballard High S
Ballard High School
1,697 students
- Roosevelt High
Roosevelt High School
1,542 students
- Garfield High
Garfield High School
1,507 students
- West Seattle H
West Seattle High School
1,479 students
- This school 165
The Center School
165 students
What this shows The Center School reports 165 students on the CCD universe file.
How The Center School compares
The Center School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Washington and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Washington | Washington avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 11.8:1 | ▼ 33% | 17.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 17.6% | ▼ 61% | 45.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 165 | top 76% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.8:1
Leaner classes than 77% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
165
Bigger than 16% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
17.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 61% below the Washington average of 45.0%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
11.8:1
students per teacher
- 33% below state mean
Top 10% in Washington - lower ratio than 90% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
17.6%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$21,806
per pupil, district-wide
- above Washington avg of $20,912
Well above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting substantially higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 165 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 5 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 3.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 72.2%
Hispanic or Latino 12.8%
Two or More 10.5%
African American 2.3%
Asian 0.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.8%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.8%
Largest group: White at 72.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 45.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 45.1, The Center School is less mixed than the Washington school average of 53.3.
Programs
AP courses offered 3
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Seattle School District No. 1 reports $21,806 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How The Center School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Ballard High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Roosevelt High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Garfield High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| West Seattle High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to The Center School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,697
- Students per teacher
- 22.6:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 1,542
- Students per teacher
- 20.6:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 1,507
- Students per teacher
- 22.2:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 1,479
- Students per teacher
- 24.6:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
Similar high schools in Seattle
6 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Lincoln High School
Standard public school
1,770 students 24.6:1 students per teacher
Evergreen High School
Standard public school
1,080 students 19.6:1 students per teacher
Summit Public School: Sierra
Standard public school
214 students 12.6:1 students per teacher
New Start
Alternative education program
142 students 17.8:1 students per teacher
Interagency Open Doors
Alternative education program
132 students
Puget Sound Skills Center
Vocational / career-technical school
3 students
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 (~165 students)
Frequently asked questions about The Center School
How many students attend The Center School?
The Center School has 165 students enrolled. It is a high school in Seattle, WA. CCD year-over-year: 245 (2022-23) → 184 (2023-24), down 61.
What is the student-teacher ratio at The Center School?
The student-teacher ratio at The Center School is 11.8:1, which is 33% lower than the Washington average of 17.6:1 and 25% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at The Center School?
17.6% of students at The Center School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Washington average of 45.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of The Center School?
The largest demographic group at The Center School is White at 72.2% of enrollment, in Seattle, WA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for The Center School?
The Center School has a Resource Investment Index of 61/100 (higher 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 The Center School rank among high schools in Seattle?
By Resource Investment Index, The Center School ranks #3 of 14 high schools in Seattle, WA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Seattle on the city page.
What other schools are in Seattle School District No. 1?
Besides The Center School, Seattle School District No. 1 also operates Lincoln High School (1,770 students), Ballard High School (1,697 students), and Roosevelt High School (1,542 students). See the Seattle School District No. 1 district page for the complete list.