- Enrollment
- 699
- Students per teacher
- 14.6:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Wilkesboro, NC
Wilkes Central High School
Federal NCES profile for Wilkes Central 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 370495001989
👥 S:T ratio 41
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 28
📋 Attendance 29
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Wilkes Central High School earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the North Carolina median.
- #2 of 4
- public schools in Wilkesboro · Resource Index
- 42
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.7:1
- students per teacher
- 50.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Wilkes Central High School has class sizes near the North Carolina median. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Wilkes Central High School ranks #2 of 4 public schools in Wilkesboro, NC.
School address
District: Wilkes County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370495001989 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-15 students YoY
Wilkes Central High School held near 737 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-15 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 50.0 → 49.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-15 students YoY 370495001989 · Wilkesboro, NC High · MID · TRAD
719 enr · 14.7:1 · 50.8% lunch · RII 42
Nearest enrollment peer: Millers Creek Elementary School (699 students)
Wilkes Central High School held near 737 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-15 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 50.0 → 49.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Wilkes Central High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- This school
Wilkes Central High School
719 students
- Millers Creek
Millers Creek Elementary School
699 students
- West Wilkes Hi
West Wilkes High School
582 students
- North Wilkes H
North Wilkes High School
578 students
- Central Wilkes
Central Wilkes Middle School
564 students
- Mountain View
Mountain View Elementary School
488 students
What this shows Wilkes Central High School reports 719 students on the CCD universe file.
How Wilkes Central High School compares
Wilkes Central High School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs North Carolina and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs North Carolina | North Carolina avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14.7:1 | ▼ 7% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 50.8% | ▼ 23% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 719 | top 24% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.7:1
Leaner classes than 50% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
719
Bigger than 81% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
50.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 23% below the North Carolina average of 66.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
14.7:1
students per teacher
- 7% below state mean
Top 45% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 55% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
28.4%
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
$12,150
per pupil, district-wide
- below North Carolina avg of $12,294
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 360 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
141
in-school suspensions + 68 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 19.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 29.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 9 expulsions.
Student demographics
White 50.8%
Hispanic or Latino 26.6%
African American 11.0%
Two or More 10.3%
Asian 1.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Largest group: White at 50.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 64.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 64.8, Wilkes Central High School is more mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
AP courses offered 11
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Wilkes County Schools reports $12,150 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Wilkes Central High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Millers Creek Elementary School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| West Wilkes High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| North Wilkes High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Central Wilkes Middle School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Mountain View Elementary School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Wilkes Central High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 582
- Students per teacher
- 14.9:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 578
- Students per teacher
- 14.8:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 564
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 488
- Students per teacher
- 16.3:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
Similar high schools in Wilkesboro
1 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
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 (~719 students)
Frequently asked questions about Wilkes Central High School
How many students attend Wilkes Central High School?
Wilkes Central High School has 719 students enrolled. It is a high school in Wilkesboro, NC. CCD year-over-year: 752 (2022-23) → 737 (2023-24), nearly flat (-15).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Wilkes Central High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Wilkes Central High School is 14.7:1, which is 7% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 6% 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 Wilkes Central High School?
50.8% of students at Wilkes Central High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Wilkes Central High School?
The largest demographic group at Wilkes Central High School is White at 50.8% of enrollment, in Wilkesboro, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 64.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Wilkes Central High School?
Wilkes Central 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 Wilkes Central High School rank among public schools in Wilkesboro?
By Resource Investment Index, Wilkes Central High School ranks #2 of 4 public schools in Wilkesboro, NC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking.
What other schools are in Wilkes County Schools?
Besides Wilkes Central High School, Wilkes County Schools also operates Millers Creek Elementary School (699 students), West Wilkes High School (582 students), and North Wilkes High School (578 students). See the Wilkes County Schools district page for the complete list.