- Enrollment
- 1,714
- Students per teacher
- 16.5:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Baltimore, MD
Western High
Federal NCES profile for Western High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 28/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 240009000330
👥 S:T ratio 27
🌟 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
Western High earns 28/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 91% of Maryland schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Maryland schools.
- #40 of 42
- high schools in Baltimore · Resource Index
- 28
- Resource Index · Lower
- 18.2:1
- large classes for Maryland
- 68.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Western High has class sizes larger than 91% of Maryland schools. Computed live against every Maryland school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Western High ranks #40 of 42 high schools in Baltimore, MD.
School address
District: Baltimore City Public Schools · Maryland
NCES ID 240009000330 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+66 students YoY
Western High grew from 1,262 students in 2022-23 to 1,328 in 2023-24 (+5.2%).
Teacher FTE added 71.0 → 74.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+66 students YoY 240009000330 · Baltimore, MD High · MID · TRAD
1,290 enr · 18.2:1 · 68.3% lunch · RII 28
Nearest enrollment peer: Mergenthaler Vocational-Technical High (1,714 students)
Western High grew from 1,262 students in 2022-23 to 1,328 in 2023-24 (+5.2%). Teacher FTE added 71.0 → 74.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Maryland schools → · Find another →
Western High in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Mergenthaler V
Mergenthaler Vocational-Technical High
1,714 students
- Baltimore Poly
Baltimore Polytechnic Institute
1,632 students
- Baltimore City
Baltimore City College
1,470 students
- Kipp Harmony A
Kipp Harmony Academy
1,399 students
- Roland Park El
Roland Park Elementary/Middle
1,371 students
- This school
Western High
1,290 students
What this shows Western High reports 1,290 students on the CCD universe file.
How Western High compares
Western High is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Maryland and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Maryland | Maryland avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 18.2:1 | ▲ 26% | 14.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 68.3% | ▲ 39% | 49.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,290 | top 8% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.2:1
Leaner classes than 23% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,290
Bigger than 95% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
68.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 39% above the Maryland average of 49.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
18.2:1
students per teacher
- 26% above state mean
Top 91% in Maryland - lower ratio than 9% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
53.1%
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
$22,977
per pupil, district-wide
- above Maryland avg of $18,753
Well above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting substantially higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 430 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 66 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 85.3%
Hispanic or Latino 11.1%
White 2.2%
Asian 0.5%
Two or More 0.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: African American at 85.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 26.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 26.0, Western High is less mixed than the Maryland school average of 52.3.
Programs
AP courses offered 13
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Baltimore City Public Schools reports $22,977 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Western High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mergenthaler Vocational-Technical High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Baltimore Polytechnic Institute | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Baltimore City College | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Kipp Harmony Academy | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Roland Park Elementary/Middle | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Western High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,632
- Students per teacher
- 21.2:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 1,470
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 1,399
- Students per teacher
- 13.7:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 1,371
- Students per teacher
- 19.6:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
Similar high schools in Baltimore
6 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Dundalk High
Standard public school
2,087 students 15.5:1 students per teacher
Perry Hall High
Standard public school
2,012 students 16.6:1 students per teacher
Woodlawn High
Standard public school
1,922 students 17:1 students per teacher
Kenwood High
Standard public school
1,900 students 16.5:1 students per teacher
Parkville High
Standard public school
1,877 students 12.3:1 students per teacher
Catonsville High
Standard public school
1,735 students 16.2:1 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 (~1,290 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~18.2:1)
Frequently asked questions about Western High
How many students attend Western High?
Western High has 1,290 students enrolled. It is a high school in Baltimore, MD. CCD year-over-year: 1,262 (2022-23) → 1,328 (2023-24), up 66.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Western High?
The student-teacher ratio at Western High is 18.2:1, which is 26% higher than the Maryland average of 14.5:1 and 16% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Western High?
68.3% of students at Western High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Maryland average of 49.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Western High?
The largest demographic group at Western High is African American at 85.3% of enrollment, in Baltimore, MD.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Western High?
Western High has a Resource Investment Index of 28/100 (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 Western High rank among high schools in Baltimore?
By Resource Investment Index, Western High ranks #40 of 42 high schools in Baltimore, MD. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Baltimore on the city page.
What other schools are in Baltimore City Public Schools?
Besides Western High, Baltimore City Public Schools also operates Mergenthaler Vocational-Technical High (1,714 students), Baltimore Polytechnic Institute (1,632 students), and Baltimore City College (1,470 students). See the Baltimore City Public Schools district page for the complete list.