Enrollment
469
Michigan · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Ferndale, MI
University High School
Federal NCES profile for University High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 10/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 261428001901
👥 S:T ratio 1
📚 AP courses 15
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 6
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
University High School earns 10/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 93% of Michigan schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Michigan schools.
- #7 of 7
- public schools in Ferndale · Resource Index
- 10
- Resource Index · Lower
- 24.7:1
- large classes for Michigan
- 80.5%
- free-lunch eligible
University High School has class sizes larger than 93% of Michigan schools. Computed live against every Michigan school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, University High School ranks #7 of 7 public schools in Ferndale, MI.
School address
District: Ferndale Public Schools · Michigan
NCES ID 261428001901 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
19.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
24.7:1
vs 17.5:1 Michigan avg
+41% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
80.5%
vs 54.3% Michigan avg
+48% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How University High School compares with Michigan and U.S. medians
What stands out at University High School
University High School is a high-poverty, mid-sized high school in Ferndale, Michigan, enrolling 469 students.
Class loads run heavy: 24.7:1 is larger than about 93% of Michigan schools and 41% above the 17.5:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 80.5% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 469 puts it in the larger third of Michigan schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index trails 99% of the 3,375 Michigan schools with a score on record, one of the lower results on this measure.
Among 419 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Michigan schools statewide, it ranks #415, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is predominantly African American (97% of enrollment), among the less diverse in the state (diversity index 7/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 3 Advanced Placement courses.
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 469 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 92.5% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Among Ferndale's high schools, it stands alongside Tri County Educational Center (348 students): University High School is larger than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (24.7:1 vs 31.6:1).
Ferndale Public Schools also operates Ferndale High School (739 students) and Ferndale Middle School (528 students) alongside University High School.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How University High School compares
University High School on the metrics families compare, against Michigan and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Michigan | Michigan avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 24.7:1 | ▲ 41% | 17.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 80.5% | ▲ 48% | 54.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 469 | top 30% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
24.7:1
Leaner classes than 5% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
469
Bigger than 58% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
80.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 48% above the Michigan average of 54.3%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
24.7:1
students per teacher
- 41% above state mean
Top 93% in Michigan - lower ratio than 7% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
92.5%
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
$13,463
per pupil, district-wide
- below Michigan avg of $13,507
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 469 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 8 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
African American 96.6%
Two or More 1.5%
White 0.4%
Hispanic or Latino 0.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.4%
Asian 0.2%
Largest group: African American at 96.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 6.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 6.7, University High School is less mixed than the Michigan school average of 36.2.
Programs
AP courses offered 3
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Ferndale Public Schools, which includes University High School.
$13,463
Per student
0%
vs Michigan
Avg $13,507
-19%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 33.0%
State 56.0%
Federal 11.0%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How University High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ferndale High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Ferndale Middle School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Ferndale Lower Elementary Campus | Similar size | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Ferndale Upper Elementary Campus | Similar size | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Tri County Educational Center | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to University High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 739
- Students per teacher
- 18:1
- Resource Index
- 21/100
- Enrollment
- 528
- Students per teacher
- 18.2:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 517
- Students per teacher
- 17.8:1
- Resource Index
- 21/100
- Enrollment
- 501
- Students per teacher
- 16.7:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 348
- Students per teacher
- 31.6:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
Similar high schools in Ferndale
1 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Similar high schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Michigan, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~469 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~24.7:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on University High School's federal record.
- Compare University High School against another school. Compare schools
- Ferndale Public Schools's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about University High School
How many students attend University High School?
University High School has 469 students enrolled. It is a high school in Ferndale, MI.
What is the student-teacher ratio at University High School?
The student-teacher ratio at University High School is 24.7:1, which is 41% higher than the Michigan average of 17.5:1 and 57% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at University High School?
80.5% of students at University High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Michigan average of 54.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of University High School?
The largest demographic group at University High School is African American at 96.6% of enrollment, in Ferndale, MI.
What is the Resource Investment Index for University High School?
University High School has a Resource Investment Index of 10/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 5 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does University High School rank among public schools in Ferndale?
By Resource Investment Index, University High School ranks #7 of 7 public schools in Ferndale, MI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Ferndale on the city page.
Is University High School a good school?
University High School earns 10/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 93% of Michigan schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Michigan schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Ferndale Public Schools?
Besides University High School, Ferndale Public Schools also operates Ferndale High School (739 students), Ferndale Middle School (528 students), and Ferndale Lower Elementary Campus (517 students). See the Ferndale Public Schools district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.