Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
High· 20 schools in district

Central High School

905 15th Street, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401Tuscaloosa City →
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades 09–12Non-Charter
783
Students
Total enrolled
87%
Grad Rate
Nat'l avg 87%
~avg
$14,403
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
~avg
16.8 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
↑ 9% vs nat'l
32/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
↓ 36% vs nat'l
⇄ Compare with another school
Large public school
Serves 783 students in grades 09–12 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Near-average funding
District spends $14,403 per pupil — close to the national average of $14,347.
Below-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 32th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

Central High School is a large high in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, serving grades 09–12 with 783 students. The district invests $14,403 per student — close to the national average of $14,347, with a 16.8:1 student-teacher ratio near the national norm. About 84% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting significant economic challenges in the surrounding community. A neighborhood opportunity score of 32/100 — below the national median of 50 — is worth factoring into a fuller picture of long-term student outcomes.

Student Body & Demographics at Central High School

783
Total Students
16.8 : 1
Student:Teacher
84%
Free Lunch
47
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
PK
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Highlighted grades (09–12) are served by this school
Gender Distribution403 male · 380 female
51%
49%
Male 51%Female 49%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility84%
National avg 52% · 658 students
Student Composition
90%
Asian1%
White5%
Hispanic / Latino4%
Black90%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 010336001608

Academic Outcomes at Central High School

Graduation Rate (Adjusted Cohort)
85-89
Near avg
National avg 87%
Graduation Rate Comparison
This school
87%
State avg
91%
National avg
87%
Neighborhood Opportunity Score
32
/ 100
Below-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 32th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 4th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 35401

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$14,403Near avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$14,403
State avg
$14,511
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$6,337
Student Support$2,737
Administration$1,728
Operations$2,160
Other$1,440
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $14,403 spent per student, an estimated $6,380 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
42%
40%
State government
42.3%
Local (property tax)
39.7%
Federal programs
18.0%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • 87% graduation rate — near the national average of 87%
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Worth Considering
  • Below-median neighborhood opportunity score (32/100) — national median is 50
  • 84% of students on free or reduced lunch — a high share that can indicate resource pressure
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
K–12 Pathway in District
Elementary
Southview Elementary SchoolThe Alberta School of Performing ArtsVerner Elementary SchoolRock Quarry Elementary School
+8 more
↓
Middle
Eastwood Middle SchoolNorthridge Middle SchoolWestlawn Middle SchoolTuscaloosa Magnet School Middle
↓
High School
Northridge High SchoolPaul W Bryant High SchoolTuscaloosa Career and Technology Academy
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelHigh
Grades09 – 12
Location—
CountyTuscaloosa County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictTuscaloosa City →
Phone: (205)759-3720
NCES ID: 010336001608
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in Tuscaloosa seeking a public high school, especially those prioritizing a diverse, community-focused learning environment. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

More in Tuscaloosa City
High
Northridge High School
1,145 students · 09–12
● 44 opp35% FRL
High
Paul W Bryant High School
1,042 students · 09–12
48% FRL
Mid
Eastwood Middle School
758 students · 06–08
78% FRL
Mid
Northridge Middle School
740 students · 06–08
● 44 opp39% FRL
Elem
Southview Elementary School
713 students · PK–05
71% FRL
Elem
The Alberta School of Performing Arts
671 students · PK–08
● 32 opp82% FRL
Elem
Verner Elementary School
629 students · PK–05
● 44 opp19% FRL
Elem
Rock Quarry Elementary School
605 students · PK–05
● 44 opp13% FRL
District School Rankings
Location
905 15th Street, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
Data Sources & Transparency
Enrollment & Profile
NCES Common Core of Data. Grades, enrollment, demographics, school characteristics. Updated annually.
Funding & Spending
NCES F-33 Finance Survey. District-level spending data. School-level breakdowns are not publicly reported.
Graduation Rate
EDFacts Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR). High schools only. Small cohorts may be range-coded for privacy.
Opportunity Score
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census Bureau). Census tract outcomes for children born in the 1980s.
Fact-Based Rankings
Best-school rankings are computed from federal metrics only — enrollment, per-pupil spending, student-teacher ratio, opportunity score, and graduation rate. No editorial opinion or paid placements.
Equity Data (Coming Soon)
AP access, counselor ratios, and chronic absenteeism from the CRDC will be added in a future update.

Questions to Ask on Your School Visit

Research shows the most important factors are invisible in the data. Here is what to ask when you visit.

High
1
What percentage of students take AP or dual enrollment courses?
Indicates academic rigor and college prep
2
What college counseling and application support is provided?
Ratio of students per counselor matters
3
What career and vocational pathways are offered?
CTE programs, internships, industry partnerships
4
How does the school support students at risk of not graduating?
Credit recovery, attendance intervention
5
What's the school's culture around attendance and behavior?
Discipline approach, restorative practices
6
What happens after graduation — where do students go?
Ask about college, career, military outcomes
7
What does the school do with student performance data?
How data is used to personalize instruction
8
How would you describe teacher retention here?
High turnover can disrupt continuity of learning
9
What's the culture around student diversity and inclusion?
How differences are celebrated and managed

Frequently Asked Questions

About this school and the data on this page

About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.