Is Muncie Central High School a good school?

Muncie Central High School ranks in the bottom 22.5% of Indiana alternative schools.

How many students attend Muncie Central High School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 1,348 students attended Muncie Central High School.

What is the racial makeup of Muncie Central High School?

Students at Muncie Central High School are 54% White, 22% African American, 15% Two or more races, 7% Hispanic, 2% Asian.

Muncie Central High School

Summary:

Muncie Central High School is an alternative public school serving grades PK-12 in Muncie, Indiana, with a total enrollment of 1,326 students. While the school has a diverse student population, it faces significant challenges, including declining graduation rates, high chronic absenteeism, and consistently lower test scores compared to the state and district averages.

Muncie Central's four-year graduation rate has dropped from 90.7% in 2018-2019 to 81.1% in 2022-2023, which is lower than the state average. The school also experiences high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 47.6% to 78.4% over the past three school years, significantly higher than the state average. Academically, Muncie Central's test scores are consistently lower than the state and district averages across various assessments, including SAT, ILEARN, and ISTEP+. For example, in 2022-2023, only 34.25% of 11th-grade students were proficient or better in SAT Evidence-based Reading and Writing, compared to the state average of 50.51%.

Interestingly, Muncie Central's performance is significantly lower than the nearby Burris Laboratory School, another alternative public school within the same district. Burris Laboratory School has much higher test scores, graduation rates, and lower chronic absenteeism, suggesting that Muncie Central may be facing unique challenges not present in other schools in the Muncie Community Schools district. Despite the higher per-student spending at Muncie Central compared to nearby schools, the school's academic performance remains significantly lower, indicating that simply increasing funding may not be the sole solution to addressing the school's challenges.

Detail:

Public, Alternative PK, KG-12

801 N Walnut St
Muncie, IN 47305

(765) 747-5260

District: Muncie Community Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
334^th of 431 Indiana Alternative Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $10,100

Student/teacher ratio: 15.8

Number of students: 1,348

Racial breakdown:

White:

53.7%

African American:

21.7%

Two or more races:

15.4%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 55.3%

See top rated Indiana elementary schools

Compare Muncie Central High School to nearby alternative schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Muncie Central High School ranks worse than 77.5% of high schools in Indiana. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 22.97. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Muncie Central High School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.

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

Compare Details Muncie Central High School has the largest alternative school student body size in the Muncie Community Schools District. Student population at Muncie Central High School is diverse. Racial makeup is: White (53.7%), African American (21.7%), two or more races (15.4%). (See more...)

Compare Details 55.3% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the highest percentage in the Muncie Community Schools District. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Muncie Central High School is 15.8. 1 alternative schools in the Muncie Community Schools District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)

Compare Muncie Central High School employs 85 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Muncie Central High School is $10,100. 1 alternative schools in the Muncie Community Schools District spend more per student.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Muncie Central High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Muncie Central High School 334^th of 431 Indiana public high schools. (See Muncie Central High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Multi-racial students:

Special Education students:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

African American students:

Hispanic students:

White students:

Muncie Community Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Muncie Community Schools 291^st of 381 Indiana school districts. (See district ranking list.)

What do you think?

Your rating for Muncie Central High School?

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Rank History for Muncie Central High School

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Rank History for all students at Muncie Central High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	IN State Percentile
2005	37.24	272^nd	349	22.1%
2006	30.70	296^th	349	15.2%
2007	28.36	304^th	354	14.1%
2008	31.44	305^th	360	15.3%
2009	30.70	305^th	364	16.2%
2010	29.72	266^th	362	26.5%
2011	30.41	276^th	364	24.2%
2012	43.77	200^th	373	46.4%
2013	32.67	241^st	353	31.7%
2014	28.33	291^st	379	23.2%
2015	28.38	313^th	400	21.8%
2016	22.02	334^th	394	15.2%
2017	19.73	322^nd	380	15.3%
2018	15.62	340^th	385	11.7%
2019	23.17	320^th	389	17.7%
2021	15.89	345^th	388	11.1%
2022	20.72	333^rd	409	18.6%
2023	19.73	327^th	398	17.8%
2024	22.97	334^th	431	22.5%

See the entire list of Indiana Alternative School Rankings!

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

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	IN State Percentile
2022	31.56	59^th	94	37.2%
2023	19.55	87^th	104	16.3%
2024	35.75	65^th	102	36.3%

See the entire list of Best Indiana Alternative Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Muncie Central High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	IN State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	32.18	199^th	285	30.2%
2024	18.09	264^th	289	8.7%

See the entire list of Best Indiana Alternative Schools for Special Education Students!

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

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	IN State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	17.66	331^st	379	12.7%
2024	20.58	316^th	377	16.2%

See the entire list of Best Indiana Alternative Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Muncie Central High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	IN State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	14.69	343^rd	388	11.6%
2024	18.55	326^th	392	16.8%

See the entire list of Best Indiana Alternative Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Muncie Central High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	IN State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	24.15	307^th	383	19.8%
2024	22.48	306^th	392	21.9%

See the entire list of Best Indiana Alternative Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at Muncie Central High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	IN State Percentile
2022	29.27	84^th	125	32.8%
2023	30.18	83^rd	125	33.6%
2024	21.82	115^th	132	12.9%

See the entire list of Best Indiana Alternative Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Muncie Central High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	IN State Percentile
2022	31.53	108^th	164	34.1%
2023	29.90	114^th	166	31.3%
2024	23.88	147^th	184	20.1%

See the entire list of Best Indiana Alternative Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Muncie Central High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	IN State Percentile
2022	19.96	322^nd	378	14.8%
2023	18.68	331^st	375	11.7%
2024	22.48	314^th	381	17.6%

See the entire list of Best Indiana Alternative 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.

Data source: Indiana Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Muncie Central High School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1988	954	279	2	4	0	n/a	n/a	0	1239
1989	1331	289	12	3	0	n/a	n/a	0	1635
1990	1284	264	10	2	2	n/a	n/a	0	1562
1991	1169	253	22	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	1445
1992	1162	245	2	13	0	n/a	n/a	0	1422
1993	1132	243	15	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	1392
1994	1123	229	13	8	0	n/a	n/a	0	1373
1995	1085	252	8	5	0	n/a	n/a	0	1350
1996	1085	252	8	5	0	n/a	n/a	0	1350
1997	1085	276	8	4	0	n/a	n/a	0	1373
1998	1044	288	9	5	1	n/a	n/a	0	1347
1999	1012	278	16	8	2	n/a	n/a	0	1316
2000	974	287	17	10	4	n/a	n/a	0	1292
2001	912	281	22	12	4	n/a	n/a	0	1231
2002	906	290	22	14	7	n/a	n/a	0	1239
2003	906	290	22	14	7	n/a	n/a	0	1239
2004	908	276	24	22	0	n/a	n/a	0	1230
2005	900	257	19	19	0	n/a	n/a	0	1195
2006	851	267	17	20	3	n/a	n/a	0	1158
2007	798	261	18	14	4	n/a	n/a	51	1146
2008	759	260	17	16	8	n/a	n/a	62	1122
2009	710	248	12	20	7	n/a	n/a	65	1062
2010	659	215	8	23	5	n/a	n/a	68	978
2011	632	212	9	21	4	0	67	0	945
2012	602	176	10	21	3	0	62	0	874
2013	592	198	12	22	2	1	82	0	909
2014	559	220	18	26	3	0	87	0	913
2015	1060	362	10	43	6	0	152	0	1633
2016	975	370	8	43	6	1	148	0	1551
2017	925	340	8	53	4	0	139	0	1469
2018	841	334	4	51	8	0	132	0	1370
2019	792	327	6	75	7	0	134	0	1341
2020	771	305	3	72	4	0	145	0	1300
2021	762	319	2	72	6	1	168	0	1330
2022	811	337	2	90	7	2	188	0	1437
2023	720	330	15	86	6	3	166	0	1326
2024	724	292	23	95	4	3	207	0	1348

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 Muncie Central High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	1239	66.6	18.6	268.3
1989	1635	102.0	16.0	16.5
1990	1562	92.4	16.9	15.5
1991	1445	87.6	16.4	20.1
1992	1422	85.2	16.6	22
1993	1392	85.1	16.4	23.3
1994	1373	84.2	16.3	25.5
1995	1350	79.0	17.1	25.8
1996	1350	79.0	17.1	25.8
1997	1373	76.3	18.0	25.1
1998	1347	80.5	16.7	26.4
1999	1316	87.6	15.0	32.1
2000	1292	76.2	17.0	28.9
2001	1231	81.9	15.0	28.1
2002	1239	77.1	16.1	33.4
2003	1239	77.1	16.1	33.4
2004	1230	76.5	16.1	35
2005	1195	76.1	15.7	38.2
2006	1158	73.8	15.7	39.7
2007	1146	n/a	n/a	42.6
2008	1122	69.5	16.1	47.5
2009	1062	66.4	16.0	46.4
2010	978	62.4	15.6	54.6
2011	945	68.2	13.8	55.3
2012	874	72.5	12.0	56.2
2013	909	73.5	12.3	58.2
2014	913	70.5	12.9	61
2015	1633	119.0	13.7	68.5
2016	1551	96.0	16.1	66.9
2017	1469	99.3	14.7	68.1
2018	1370	90.6	15.1	72.3
2019	1341	75.0	17.8	70.1
2020	1300	76.3	17.0	59.2
2021	1330	89.7	14.8	65.2
2022	1437	96.0	14.9	64
2023	1326	89.8	14.7	70.4
2024	1348	85.0	15.8	55.3

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 Muncie Central High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	1239	66.6	18.6	268.3
1989	1635	102.0	16.0	16.5
1990	1562	92.4	16.9	15.5
1991	1445	87.6	16.4	20.1
1992	1422	85.2	16.6	22
1993	1392	85.1	16.4	23.3
1994	1373	84.2	16.3	25.5
1995	1350	79.0	17.1	25.8
1996	1350	79.0	17.1	25.8
1997	1373	76.3	18.0	25.1
1998	1347	80.5	16.7	26.4
1999	1316	87.6	15.0	32.1
2000	1292	76.2	17.0	28.9
2001	1231	81.9	15.0	28.1
2002	1239	77.1	16.1	33.4
2003	1239	77.1	16.1	33.4
2004	1230	76.5	16.1	35
2005	1195	76.1	15.7	38.2
2006	1158	73.8	15.7	39.7
2007	1146	n/a	n/a	42.6
2008	1122	69.5	16.1	47.5
2009	1062	66.4	16.0	46.4
2010	978	62.4	15.6	54.6
2011	945	68.2	13.8	55.3
2012	874	72.5	12.0	56.2
2013	909	73.5	12.3	58.2
2014	913	70.5	12.9	61
2015	1633	119.0	13.7	68.5
2016	1551	96.0	16.1	66.9
2017	1469	99.3	14.7	68.1
2018	1370	90.6	15.1	72.3
2019	1341	75.0	17.8	70.1
2020	1300	76.3	17.0	59.2
2021	1330	89.7	14.8	65.2
2022	1437	96.0	14.9	64
2023	1326	89.8	14.7	70.4
2024	1348	85.0	15.8	55.3

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 Muncie Central High School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$1,043 (10.4%)	$9,014 (89.6%)	$10,057
2020	$1,075 (10.3%)	$9,330 (89.7%)	$10,404
2021	$1,243 (11.8%)	$9,277 (88.2%)	$10,520
2022	$1,125 (11.1%)	$8,975 (88.9%)	$10,100

Data source: Indiana Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Muncie 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 320^th of 389 High schools	Ranks 327^th of 398 High schools	0.1%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
End of Course Biology (Muncie Central High School)	17.6	7.8	9.8%
End of Course Biology (Muncie Community Schools)	17.4	7.8	9.6%
End of Course Biology (Indiana)	38.6	29	9.6%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	1341	1326	1.1%
African American	327	330	0.9%
American Indian	7	6	14.3%
Asian	6	15	150%
Hispanic	75	86	14.7%
Pacific Islander	0	3
White	792	720	9.1%
Two or More Races	134	166	23.9%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	70.1%	70.4%	0.3%

Schools Near Muncie Central High School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking ()				Ranking ()				SAT Evidence-based Reading and Writing (2024)	SAT Mathematics (2024)	ILEARN English Language Arts (2024)							ILEARN Math (2024)							ILEARN Social Studies (2024)	ILEARN Biology (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2022)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score ()	Statewide Rank ()	State Percentile ()	SchoolDigger Rating ()	Average Standard Score ()	Statewide Rank ()	State Percentile ()	Rank Change from Previous Year	SAT Evidence-based Reading and Writing 11th Grade	SAT Mathematics 11th Grade	ILEARN English Language Arts 3rd Grade	ILEARN English Language Arts 4th Grade	ILEARN English Language Arts 5th Grade	ILEARN English Language Arts 6th Grade	ILEARN English Language Arts 7th Grade	ILEARN English Language Arts 8th Grade	ILEARN English Language Arts All Grades	ILEARN Math 3rd Grade	ILEARN Math 4th Grade	ILEARN Math 5th Grade	ILEARN Math 6th Grade	ILEARN Math 7th Grade	ILEARN Math 8th Grade	ILEARN Math All Grades	ILEARN Social Studies 5th Grade	ILEARN Biology End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Muncie Central High School	Public, Alternative	PK, KG-12	801 N Walnut St	Muncie	47305	Delaware County	Muncie Community Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(765) 747-5260	1,348	85	15.8	55.3%	724 (53.7%)	292 (21.7%)	95 (7.0%)	23 (1.7%)	4 (0.3%)	3 (0.2%)	207 (15.4%)								(n/a)	34.4	10.2																21.2	$10,100	$1,125	$8,975
Burris Laboratory School	Public, Alternative	K-12	2000 University Ave	Muncie	47306	Delaware County	Burris Laboratory School	No	No	No	Yes	(765) 285-8600	668	52	12.8	24.7%	497 (74.4%)	53 (7.9%)	36 (5.4%)	22 (3.3%)	4 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	56 (8.4%)								(n/a)	81.6	49.0	63.6	47.8	52.1	57.9	48.3	59.0	54.8	72.7	67.4	41.7	40.4	43.1	39.3	49.4	54.2	61.3	$9,777	$895	$8,883
Youth Opportunity Center	Public, Alternative	K-12	3700 W Kilgore Ave	Muncie	47304	Delaware County	Muncie Community Schools	No	No	No	No	(765) 747-5223	39	5	7.8	7.7%	22 (56.4%)	8 (20.5%)	3 (7.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (15.4%)								(n/a)								0.0	3.5						0.0	0.0			$23,069	$10,986	$12,082
Muncie Virtual Academy	Public, Alternative	K-12	4301 S Cowan Rd	Muncie	47302	Delaware County	Muncie Community Schools	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(765) 256-9999	62	2	41.3	40.3%	36 (58.1%)	14 (22.6%)	4 (6.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (11.3%)								(n/a)	100.0	0.0					0.0	0.0	3.9					0.0	0.0	2.0
Anderson Preparatory Academy	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	101 West 29th Street	Anderson	46016	Madison County	Anderson Preparatory Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(765) 649-8472	843	68	12.3	56.0%	375 (44.5%)	217 (25.7%)	138 (16.4%)	2 (0.2%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	109 (12.9%)								(n/a)	21.7	0.0	9.8	5.7	6.3	8.3	5.3	17.1	9.1	19.6	13.2	6.3	4.2	0.0	2.6	6.7	8.3		$11,194	$2,072	$9,122

Muncie Central High School

Muncie Central High School:

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Muncie Community Schools:

What do you think?

Rank History for Muncie Central High School

Rank History for all students at Muncie Central High School

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

Rank History for Special Education students at Muncie Central High School

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

Rank History for Female students at Muncie Central High School

Rank History for Male students at Muncie Central High School

Rank History for African American students at Muncie Central High School

Rank History for Hispanic students at Muncie Central High School

Rank History for White students at Muncie Central High School

Enrollment information for Muncie Central High School

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

Student/Teacher Ratio Muncie Central High School

Per Pupil Expenditures for Muncie Central High School

Impact of COVID-19 on Muncie Central High School

Rankings

Test Scores

Student Body

Schools Near Muncie Central High School