Lawrence Central High School

Summary:

Lawrence Central High School is a public high school located in Indianapolis, Indiana, serving 2,317 students in grades 9-12. The school is part of the MSD Lawrence Township district, which is ranked 279 out of 381 districts in Indiana and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

While Lawrence Central maintains a relatively high four-year graduation rate, the school faces significant challenges. It has a much higher percentage of African American (50.84%) and Hispanic (28.83%) students compared to nearby schools, and consistently ranks in the bottom quarter of Indiana high schools, placing it in the bottom 25% statewide. The school also struggles with a high chronic absenteeism rate, ranging from 44.1% to 51.4% in recent years, and its students significantly underperform on standardized tests, with proficiency rates in core subjects like reading, writing, and math well below district and state averages. Additionally, Lawrence Central serves a population facing significant economic disadvantages, with 57.34% to 73.2% of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch.

In contrast, nearby schools like Lawrence North High School and Purdue Polytechnic High School North demonstrate relatively stronger academic performance and lower chronic absenteeism rates, providing potential models for improvement at Lawrence Central. Addressing the school's racial disparities, chronic absenteeism, academic underperformance, and socioeconomic challenges through targeted interventions and community collaboration may be crucial for providing a high-quality education for its students.


Detail:

Public 9-12

 7300 E 56th St
       Indianapolis, IN  46226


(317) 964-7400

District: MSD Lawrence Township

SchoolDigger Rank:
378th of 431 Indiana High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $11,522 Help


Feeder schools for Lawrence Central High School:

Elementary:    Amy Beverland Elementary
    Brook Park Elementary School
    Harrison Hill Elementary School
    Skiles Test Elementary School
Middle:    Belzer Middle School

Student/teacher ratio:  19.0 Help
Number of students:  2,417

Racial breakdown:

African American:
51.2%
Hispanic:
29.9%
White:
11.0%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  78.4% Help


 See top rated Indiana high schools

 Compare Lawrence Central High School to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends
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Compare Details Lawrence Central High School ranks worse than 87.7% of high schools in Indiana. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 13.17. (See more...)
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The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Lawrence Central High School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.
Help
Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Racial makeup is: African American (51.2%), Hispanic (29.9%), White (11%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 78.4% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the highest percentage in the MSD Lawrence Township School District. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Lawrence Central High School is 19. 1 high schools in the MSD Lawrence Township School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
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Compare Lawrence Central High School employs 126.8 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Lawrence Central High School is $11,522, which is the highest among 3 high schools in the MSD Lawrence Township School District!
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Lawrence Central High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Lawrence Central High School 378th of 431 Indiana public high schools. (See Lawrence Central High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Multi-racial students:
English Language Learner students:
Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
African American students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


MSD Lawrence Township:

SchoolDigger ranks MSD Lawrence Township 282nd of 381 Indiana school districts. (See district ranking list.)


What do you think?

Your rating for Lawrence Central High School?

Rank History for Lawrence Central High School

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Lawrence Central High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools IN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2005 54.05 188th 349 46.1%
2006 45.93 238th 349 31.8%
2007 44.62 245th 354 30.8%
2008 34.78 295th 360 18.1%
2009 37.02 287th 364 21.2%
2010 35.47 225th 362 37.8%
2011 32.33 267th 364 26.6%
2012 52.63 136th 373 63.5%
2013 40.19 192nd 353 45.6%
2014 21.85 319th 379 15.8%
2015 23.12 333rd 400 16.8%
2016 28.51 318th 394 19.3%
2017 17.60 329th 380 13.4%
2018 19.76 329th 385 14.5%
2019 19.01 330th 389 15.2%
2021 25.64 304th 388 21.6%
2022 16.47 345th 409 15.6%
2023 14.00 355th 398 10.8%
2024 13.17 378th 431 12.3%
See the entire list of Indiana High School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Lawrence Central High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools IN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 71.53 29th 94 69.1%
2023 33.26 65th 104 37.5%
2024 27.51 78th 102 23.5%
See the entire list of Best Indiana High Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Lawrence Central High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools IN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 33.79 47th 74 36.5%
2024 26.09 77th 94 18.1%
See the entire list of Best Indiana High Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Lawrence Central High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools IN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 27.36 229th 285 19.6%
2024 36.63 177th 289 38.8%
See the entire list of Best Indiana High Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Lawrence Central High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools IN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 15.04 341st 379 10.0%
2024 12.28 346th 377 8.2%
See the entire list of Best Indiana High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Lawrence Central High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools IN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 13.80 350th 388 9.8%
2024 12.24 353rd 392 9.9%
See the entire list of Best Indiana High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Lawrence Central High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools IN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 13.27 347th 383 9.4%
2024 10.50 360th 392 8.2%
See the entire list of Best Indiana High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at Lawrence Central High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools IN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 28.95 85th 125 32.0%
2023 33.31 70th 125 44.0%
2024 30.99 89th 132 32.6%
See the entire list of Best Indiana High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Lawrence Central High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools IN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 16.01 143rd 164 12.8%
2023 15.18 151st 166 9.0%
2024 14.42 168th 184 8.7%
See the entire list of Best Indiana High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Lawrence Central High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools IN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 63.13 123rd 378 67.5%
2023 48.78 162nd 375 56.8%
2024 44.55 193rd 381 49.3%
See the entire list of Best Indiana High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Indiana Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Lawrence Central High School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 




Data source: Indiana Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 4)
75%

0%

0%

0%

25%

  

Reviews:
by a parent
Sunday, April 16, 2017

Open Quote Lawrence Central has been a great experience for our son who is involved in AP classes and the performing arts. Outstanding teachers who genuinely care about student engagement are what sets this school apart from others. Close Quote


by a student on FaceBook
Sunday, August 14, 2011

Open Quote I love Lawrence Central and highly recommend it to all families. This websites rating of 1 star is WAY off! If you don't believe me, visit the school. Close Quote


by a parent
Monday, January 17, 2011

Open Quote This is an amazing HS. All 3 of my kids graduated from this school and went on to Purdue University with no problems. The staff at LC really care about student success. I would HIGHLY recommend this school to everyone. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Lawrence Central High School

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 1285 431 35 23 0 n/a n/a 0 1774
1989 1222 428 35 21 2 n/a n/a 0 1708
1990 1251 452 27 27 2 n/a n/a 0 1759
1991 1232 460 49 27 2 n/a n/a 0 1770
1992 1427 499 31 33 0 n/a n/a 0 1990
1993 1761 615 54 34 3 n/a n/a 0 2467
1994 1935 677 41 53 7 n/a n/a 0 2713
1995 1390 581 20 32 3 n/a n/a 19 2045
1996 1390 581 20 32 3 n/a n/a 19 2045
1997 1471 591 26 25 4 n/a n/a 29 2146
1998 1506 639 36 21 2 n/a n/a 0 2204
1999 1478 631 43 35 2 n/a n/a 0 2189
2000 1494 626 29 33 2 n/a n/a 0 2184
2001 1468 639 52 44 3 n/a n/a 0 2206
2002 1198 544 34 63 3 n/a n/a 0 1842
2003 1198 544 34 63 3 n/a n/a 0 1842
2004 1353 774 35 74 4 n/a n/a 0 2240
2005 1299 816 32 77 5 n/a n/a 0 2229
2006 1343 823 33 85 5 n/a n/a 0 2289
2007 1232 877 30 97 5 n/a n/a 65 2306
2008 1179 943 28 126 5 n/a n/a 84 2365
2009 1161 1048 30 136 6 n/a n/a 106 2487
2010 1124 1110 22 169 7 n/a n/a 147 2579
2011 1071 1112 17 222 2 0 161 0 2585
2012 956 1122 23 235 1 3 174 0 2514
2013 872 1138 24 273 2 2 184 0 2495
2014 733 1055 30 280 2 2 177 0 2279
2015 675 1134 33 317 5 1 166 0 2331
2016 618 1231 23 352 3 0 161 0 2388
2017 553 1225 20 385 3 1 153 0 2340
2018 507 1270 19 438 1 2 149 0 2386
2019 442 1220 23 472 1 2 143 0 2303
2020 415 1200 29 521 3 1 141 0 2310
2021 377 1170 25 563 4 1 139 0 2279
2022 340 1134 18 607 4 0 152 0 2255
2023 296 1178 12 668 3 0 160 0 2317
2024 265 1238 18 722 2 2 170 0 2417

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Lawrence Central High School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 1774 75.6 23.4 1.6
1989 1708 80.2 21.2 2.5
1990 1759 82.7 21.2 2.6
1991 1770 86.0 20.5 7.3
1992 1990 88.8 22.4 6.8
1993 2467 109.5 22.5 11.2
1994 2713 121.4 22.3 7.5
1995 2045 116.1 17.6 9
1996 2045 116.1 17.6 9
1997 2146 112.5 19.1 9.8
1998 2204 120.7 18.3 14.3
1999 2189 120.5 18.2 19
2000 2184 121.1 18.0 15.8
2001 2206 120.6 18.3 20.4
2002 1842 111.3 16.5 25.5
2003 1842 111.3 16.5 25.5
2004 2240 110.0 20.4 32.3
2005 2229 110.3 20.2 38.3
2006 2289 102.5 22.3 34.2
2007 2306 n/a n/a 36.6
2008 2365 116.8 20.2 40.7
2009 2487 126.0 19.7 38.5
2010 2579 126.7 20.3 44.1
2011 2585 145.2 17.7 47.3
2012 2514 158.0 15.9 51
2013 2495 155.0 16.0 54.4
2014 2279 119.0 19.1 56.7
2015 2331 115.0 20.2 59.6
2016 2388 122.0 19.5 61.9
2017 2340 120.2 19.4 61
2018 2386 125.6 18.9 64.3
2019 2303 118.9 19.3 63.7
2020 2310 119.1 19.3 64.7
2021 2279 110.3 20.6 64.1
2022 2255 129.5 17.4 57.3
2023 2317 118.5 19.5 73.2
2024 2417 126.8 19.0 78.4

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Lawrence Central High School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 1774 75.6 23.4 1.6
1989 1708 80.2 21.2 2.5
1990 1759 82.7 21.2 2.6
1991 1770 86.0 20.5 7.3
1992 1990 88.8 22.4 6.8
1993 2467 109.5 22.5 11.2
1994 2713 121.4 22.3 7.5
1995 2045 116.1 17.6 9
1996 2045 116.1 17.6 9
1997 2146 112.5 19.1 9.8
1998 2204 120.7 18.3 14.3
1999 2189 120.5 18.2 19
2000 2184 121.1 18.0 15.8
2001 2206 120.6 18.3 20.4
2002 1842 111.3 16.5 25.5
2003 1842 111.3 16.5 25.5
2004 2240 110.0 20.4 32.3
2005 2229 110.3 20.2 38.3
2006 2289 102.5 22.3 34.2
2007 2306 n/a n/a 36.6
2008 2365 116.8 20.2 40.7
2009 2487 126.0 19.7 38.5
2010 2579 126.7 20.3 44.1
2011 2585 145.2 17.7 47.3
2012 2514 158.0 15.9 51
2013 2495 155.0 16.0 54.4
2014 2279 119.0 19.1 56.7
2015 2331 115.0 20.2 59.6
2016 2388 122.0 19.5 61.9
2017 2340 120.2 19.4 61
2018 2386 125.6 18.9 64.3
2019 2303 118.9 19.3 63.7
2020 2310 119.1 19.3 64.7
2021 2279 110.3 20.6 64.1
2022 2255 129.5 17.4 57.3
2023 2317 118.5 19.5 73.2
2024 2417 126.8 19.0 78.4

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Lawrence Central High School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $330 (3.2%) $9,938 (96.8%) $10,268
2020 $294 (2.8%) $10,186 (97.2%) $10,479
2021 $594 (5.5%) $10,272 (94.5%) $10,866
2022 $702 (6.1%) $10,820 (93.9%) $11,522

Data source: Indiana Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Lawrence Central High School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 330th of 389 High schoolsRanks 355th of 398 High schools
 4.4%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
End of Course Biology (Lawrence Central High School)14.78.1
 6.6%
   End of Course Biology (MSD Lawrence Township)26.814.4
 12.4%
   End of Course Biology (Indiana)38.629
 9.6%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students23032317
 0.6%
African American12201178
 3.4%
American Indian13
 200%
Asian2312
 47.8%
Hispanic472668
 41.5%
Pacific Islander20
 100%
White442296
 33%
Two or More Races143160
 11.9%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients63.7%73.2%
 9.5%


Schools Near Lawrence Central High School









Frequently Asked Questions about Lawrence Central High School

In the 2023-24 school year, 2,417 students attended Lawrence Central High School.

Lawrence Central High School ranks in the bottom 12.3% of Indiana high schools.

Students at Lawrence Central High School are 51% African American, 30% Hispanic, 11% White, 7% Two or more races.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Indiana Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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