Enrollment
1,397
Ohio · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Pataskala, OH
Watkins Memorial High School
Federal NCES profile for Watkins Memorial High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 28/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 390480403097
👥 S:T ratio 5
📚 AP courses 25
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 7
📋 Attendance 31
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Watkins Memorial High School earns 28/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 90% of Ohio schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Ohio.
- #7 of 9
- public schools in Pataskala · Resource Index
- 28
- Resource Index · Lower
- 23.7:1
- large classes for Ohio
- 20.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Watkins Memorial High School has class sizes larger than 90% of Ohio schools. Computed live against every Ohio school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Watkins Memorial High School ranks #7 of 9 public schools in Pataskala, OH.
School address
District: Southwest Licking Local · Ohio
NCES ID 390480403097 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
59.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
23.7:1
vs 18.2:1 Ohio avg
+30% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
20.0%
vs 31.6% Ohio avg
-37% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Watkins Memorial High School compares with Ohio and U.S. medians
What stands out at Watkins Memorial High School
Watkins Memorial High School is a lower-poverty, large high school in Pataskala, Ohio, enrolling 1,397 students.
Class loads run heavy: 23.7:1 is larger than about 90% of Ohio schools and 30% above the 18.2:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 20.0% of students eligible for free meals.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Ohio, bigger than 97% of state schools at 1,397 students.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 3,574 scored Ohio schools.
Among 169 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Ohio schools statewide, it ranks #143, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (79%) and Asian (8%) (diversity index 37/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 5 Advanced Placement courses.
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 466 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 27.6% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Southwest Licking Local spends $10,609 per pupil, 28% below the Ohio average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Discipline events run high: 301 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 1,397 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Among Pataskala's high schools, it stands alongside Licking Heights High School (1,428 students): Watkins Memorial High School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (23.7:1 vs 20.7:1).
Southwest Licking Local also operates Watkins Middle School (1,147 students) and Watkins Intermediate School (801 students) alongside Watkins Memorial 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 Watkins Memorial High School compares
Watkins Memorial High School on the metrics families compare, against Ohio and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Ohio | Ohio avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 23.7:1 | ▲ 30% | 18.2:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 20.0% | ▼ 37% | 31.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,397 | top 3% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
23.7:1
Leaner classes than 7% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,397
Bigger than 96% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
20.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 37% below the Ohio average of 31.6%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
23.7:1
students per teacher
- 30% above state mean
Top 90% in Ohio - lower ratio than 10% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
27.6%
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
$10,609
per pupil, district-wide
- below Ohio avg of $14,655
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 466 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
174
in-school suspensions + 127 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 12.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 21.5 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
White 78.7%
Asian 8.4%
African American 4.3%
Two or More 4.3%
Hispanic or Latino 4.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: White at 78.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 36.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 36.8, Watkins Memorial High School is about as mixed as the Ohio school average of 35.3.
Programs
AP courses offered 5
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Southwest Licking Local, which includes Watkins Memorial High School.
$10,609
Per student
-28%
vs Ohio
Avg $14,655
-36%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 56.0%
State 35.5%
Federal 8.5%
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 Watkins Memorial High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Watkins Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Watkins Intermediate School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Etna Elementary | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Kirkersville Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Pataskala Elementary School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Watkins Memorial High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,147
- Students per teacher
- 20.5:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 801
- Students per teacher
- 25:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 511
- Students per teacher
- 17.6:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 483
- Students per teacher
- 19.3:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 457
- Students per teacher
- 17.6:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
Similar high schools in Pataskala
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 Ohio, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~1,397 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~23.7:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Watkins Memorial High School's federal record.
- Compare Watkins Memorial High School against another school. Compare schools
- Southwest Licking Local'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 Watkins Memorial High School
How many students attend Watkins Memorial High School?
Watkins Memorial High School has 1,397 students enrolled. It is a high school in Pataskala, OH.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Watkins Memorial High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Watkins Memorial High School is 23.7:1, which is 30% higher than the Ohio average of 18.2:1 and 51% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Watkins Memorial High School?
20.0% of students at Watkins Memorial High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Ohio average of 31.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Watkins Memorial High School?
The largest demographic group at Watkins Memorial High School is White at 78.7% of enrollment, in Pataskala, OH.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Watkins Memorial High School?
Watkins Memorial High School has a Resource Investment Index of 28/100 (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 Watkins Memorial High School rank among public schools in Pataskala?
By Resource Investment Index, Watkins Memorial High School ranks #7 of 9 public schools in Pataskala, OH. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Pataskala on the city page.
Is Watkins Memorial High School a good school?
Watkins Memorial High School earns 28/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 90% of Ohio schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Ohio. 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 Southwest Licking Local?
Besides Watkins Memorial High School, Southwest Licking Local also operates Watkins Middle School (1,147 students), Watkins Intermediate School (801 students), and Etna Elementary (511 students). See the Southwest Licking Local 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.