Is North Central High School a good school?

North Central High School ranks 250 th of 437 Washington high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend North Central High School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 1,624 students attended North Central High School.

What is the racial makeup of North Central High School?

Students at North Central High School are 63% White, 14% Two or more races, 11% Hispanic, 5% African American, 3% Asian, 3% Pacific Islander, 1% American Indian.

What schools feed into North Central High School?

North Central High School is fed by the following schools: Elementary : Audubon Elementary Elementary : Finch Elementary Elementary : Garfield Elementary Elementary : Holmes Elementary Elementary : Logan Elementary Elementary : Stevens Elementary Elementary : Willard Elementary Middle : Denny Yasuhara Middle School Middle : Glover Middle School

North Central High School

Summary:

North Central High School is a public high school in Spokane, Washington, serving grades 6-12 with a total enrollment of 1,674 students. The school is part of the Spokane School District, which is ranked 123 out of 247 districts in Washington and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

North Central High School has a relatively diverse student population, with 63.08% White, 4.06% African American, 11.35% Hispanic, 2.57% Asian, 1.37% Native American, 2.39% Pacific Islander, and 15.05% two or more races. This diversity is higher than nearby schools like Lewis & Clark High School (68.2% White) and The Community School (79.75% White). However, the school's academic performance, as measured by standardized test scores, is generally lower than the state and district averages. North Central High School also has a higher percentage of students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds, with 63.74% receiving free or reduced-price lunch, compared to 38.18% at Lewis & Clark High School.

North Central High School's statewide ranking has declined in recent years, from a high of 65 out of 301 Washington high schools in 2016-2017 to a low of 250 out of 437 in 2023-2024. The school's performance on standardized tests also varies significantly among different student subgroups, with Asian and White students generally performing better than their African American, Hispanic, and multi-racial peers. While North Central High School has had a relatively high four-year graduation rate, ranging from 91.8% to 95.4% over the past five years, its dropout rate has also been higher, ranging from 3.7% to 6.8% during the same period.

Detail:

Public 6-12

1600 N Howard St
Spokane, WA 99205-4798

(509) 354-6300

District: Spokane School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
250^th of 437 Washington High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $16,360

Feeder schools for North Central High School:

Elementary:	Audubon Elementary
	Finch Elementary
	Garfield Elementary
	Holmes Elementary
	More...
	Logan Elementary
	Stevens Elementary
	Willard Elementary
Middle:	Denny Yasuhara Middle School
	Glover Middle School

Student/teacher ratio: 18.4

Number of students: 1,624

Racial breakdown:

White:

62.6%

Two or more races:

14.2%

Hispanic:

11.1%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 65.8%

See top rated Washington high schools

Compare North Central High School to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details North Central High School ranks better than 92.5% of middle schools in Washington. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 92.95. (See more...)

Compare Details North Central High School ranks worse than 57.2% of high schools in Washington. It also ranks 4^th among 6 ranked high schools in the Spokane School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 43.76. (See more...)

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

The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (62.6%), two or more races (14.2%), Hispanic (11.1%). (See more...)

Compare Details 65.8% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Compare Details (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at North Central High School is 18.4. 10 high schools in the Spokane School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)

Compare North Central High School employs 87.8 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at North Central High School is $16,360. 9 high schools in the Spokane School District spend more per student.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

North Central High School:

SchoolDigger ranks North Central High School 40^th of 535 Washington public middle schools. (See North Central High School in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

White students:

SchoolDigger ranks North Central High School 250^th of 437 Washington public high schools. (See North 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:

Hispanic students:

White students:

Spokane School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Spokane School District 123^rd of 247 Washington school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

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Your rating for North Central High School?

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Rank History for North Central High School

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Rank History for all middle school students at North Central High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	WA State Percentile
2017	89.90	31^st	435	92.9%
2018	93.82	21^st	437	95.2%
2019	89.94	39^th	512	92.4%
2021	93.47	35^th	529	93.4%
2022	81.87	86^th	541	84.1%
2023	89.17	51^st	539	90.5%
2024	92.95	40^th	535	92.5%

See the entire list of Washington High School Rankings!

Rank History for middle school Low Socio Economic Status students at North Central High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	WA State Percentile
2018	99.94	1^st	349	99.7%
2019	95.71	4^th	448	99.1%
2021	98.90	3^rd	458	99.3%
2022	92.47	15^th	475	96.8%
2023	96.96	5^th	463	98.9%
2024	92.53	11^th	455	97.6%

See the entire list of Best Washington High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for middle school Female students at North Central High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	WA State Percentile
2018	93.74	16^th	376	95.7%
2019	92.97	20^th	452	95.6%
2021	93.22	29^th	469	93.8%
2022	72.46	114^th	479	76.2%
2023	83.73	59^th	464	87.3%
2024	89.76	37^th	464	92.0%

See the entire list of Best Washington High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for middle school Male students at North Central High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	WA State Percentile
2018	93.26	22^nd	371	94.1%
2019	60.60	157^th	453	65.3%
2021	91.28	42^nd	476	91.2%
2022	86.91	53^rd	480	89.0%
2023	91.43	37^th	470	92.1%
2024	94.17	33^rd	466	92.9%

See the entire list of Best Washington High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for middle school White students at North Central High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	WA State Percentile
2018	91.46	20^th	325	93.8%
2019	82.65	63^rd	470	86.6%
2021	92.24	29^th	480	94.0%
2022	78.13	86^th	488	82.4%
2023	88.56	44^th	488	91.0%
2024	90.34	36^th	486	92.6%

See the entire list of Best Washington High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Washington Office of Superindentent of Public Instruction, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Rank History for North Central High School

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Rank History for all high school students at North Central High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	WA State Percentile
2004	68.66	117^th	390	70.0%
2005	58.40	184^th	394	53.3%
2006	52.34	220^th	395	44.3%
2007	60.58	174^th	399	56.4%
2008	57.17	195^th	396	50.8%
2009	62.49	171^st	402	57.5%
2010	32.58	313^th	423	26.0%
2011	60.21	139^th	440	68.4%
2012	55.44	202^nd	450	55.1%
2013	52.57	246^th	454	45.8%
2015	70.79	72^nd	341	78.9%
2016	62.34	119^th	306	61.1%
2017	74.99	65^th	301	78.4%
2018	43.60	207^th	315	34.3%
2019	54.20	191^st	417	54.2%
2021	40.78	263^rd	455	42.2%
2022	34.86	295^th	434	32.0%
2023	48.81	216^th	442	51.1%
2024	43.76	250^th	437	42.8%

See the entire list of Washington High School Rankings!

Rank History for high school Multi-racial students at North Central High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	WA State Percentile
2018	11.17	84^th	91	7.7%
2019	32.69	116^th	163	28.8%
2021	25.42	157^th	195	19.5%
2022	8.88	173^rd	179	3.4%
2023	18.55	146^th	166	12.0%
2024	30.37	115^th	161	28.6%

See the entire list of Best Washington High Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for high school English Language Learner students at North Central High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	WA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2018	26.51	54^th	65	16.9%

See the entire list of Best Washington High Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for high school Special Education students at North Central High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	WA State Percentile
2018	25.33	114^th	139	18.0%
2019	26.57	110^th	128	14.1%
2021	20.90	188^th	212	11.3%
2023	20.85	101^st	110	8.2%
2024	44.28	50^th	110	54.5%

See the entire list of Best Washington High Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for high school Low Socio Economic Status students at North Central High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	WA State Percentile
2018	29.69	182^nd	227	19.8%
2019	42.27	208^th	344	39.5%
2021	34.93	271^st	392	30.9%
2022	29.60	272^nd	370	26.5%
2023	41.37	210^th	362	42.0%
2024	34.38	245^th	356	31.2%

See the entire list of Best Washington High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for high school Homeless students at North Central High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	WA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	46.31	22^nd	45	51.1%

See the entire list of Best Washington High Schools for Homeless Students!

Rank History for high school Female students at North Central High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	WA State Percentile
2018	37.23	179^th	243	26.3%
2019	56.84	152^nd	358	57.5%
2021	40.35	230^th	390	41.0%
2022	30.03	268^th	368	27.2%
2023	41.79	211^th	357	40.9%
2024	42.27	204^th	347	41.2%

See the entire list of Best Washington High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for high school Male students at North Central High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	WA State Percentile
2018	41.44	167^th	254	34.3%
2019	48.73	183^rd	355	48.5%
2021	39.93	234^th	395	40.8%
2022	32.99	249^th	363	31.4%
2023	48.47	182^nd	358	49.2%
2024	37.69	233^rd	362	35.6%

See the entire list of Best Washington High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for high school Asian students at North Central High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	WA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	21.91	94^th	118	20.3%

See the entire list of Best Washington High Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for high school African American students at North Central High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	WA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	18.51	101^st	111	9.0%

See the entire list of Best Washington High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for high school Hispanic students at North Central High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	WA State Percentile
2018	52.20	72^nd	156	53.8%
2019	75.17	43^rd	241	82.2%
2021	26.96	216^th	278	22.3%
2022	17.15	237^th	261	9.2%
2023	41.49	135^th	249	45.8%
2024	36.35	155^th	248	37.5%

See the entire list of Best Washington High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for high school White students at North Central High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	WA State Percentile
2018	39.23	165^th	222	25.7%
2019	51.07	181^st	382	52.6%
2021	36.22	265^th	413	35.8%
2022	36.83	261^st	390	33.1%
2023	47.55	204^th	379	46.2%
2024	37.98	253^rd	374	32.4%

See the entire list of Best Washington High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Washington Office of Superindentent of Public Instruction, 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: Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 3)

50%

Reviews:

by a citizen
Sunday, November 8, 2009

I attended north central all 4 years of my high school career. I was the athletic, preppy, get along with everyone student. i took ap classes and honors classes through all 4 years. it was and will always be a great school. it might seem "ghetto" because of the neighborhood, but i ensure you it is one of the best schools in the greater spokane area. it offers great academic programs and options for students. the sports department is lacking but its still fair. give nc a shot. i did. Close Quote

Enrollment information for North 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	1427	26	26	17	52	n/a	n/a	0	1548
1989	1350	22	29	16	51	n/a	n/a	0	1468
1990	1263	29	38	14	50	n/a	n/a	0	1394
1991	1290	29	39	22	66	n/a	n/a	0	1446
1992	1310	36	39	17	71	n/a	n/a	0	1473
1993	1334	47	26	23	63	n/a	n/a	0	1493
1994	1343	51	28	22	61	n/a	n/a	0	1505
1995	1274	53	36	43	69	n/a	n/a	0	1475
1996	1274	53	36	43	69	n/a	n/a	0	1475
1997	1272	64	41	45	68	n/a	n/a	0	1490
1998	1287	56	40	44	73	n/a	n/a	0	1500
1999	1331	61	41	38	68	n/a	n/a	0	1539
2000	1332	60	41	46	62	n/a	n/a	0	1541
2001	1316	60	36	47	72	n/a	n/a	0	1531
2002	1329	45	37	47	77	n/a	n/a	0	1535
2003	1329	45	37	47	77	n/a	n/a	0	1535
2004	1293	55	31	36	65	n/a	n/a	0	1480
2005	1362	63	27	55	70	n/a	n/a	6	1583
2006	1374	65	26	47	72	n/a	n/a	26	1610
2007	1266	53	31	48	74	n/a	n/a	47	1519
2008	1228	62	30	49	80	n/a	n/a	66	1515
2009	1136	66	32	54	73	n/a	n/a	78	1439
2010	1089	54	30	63	60	n/a	n/a	98	1394
2011	1208	46	25	46	41	9	52	0	1427
2012	966	30	27	78	29	16	103	0	1249
2013	858	29	14	114	33	28	119	0	1195
2014	882	27	24	120	34	25	139	0	1251
2015	883	39	25	121	31	29	152	0	1280
2016	933	44	26	136	32	21	175	0	1367
2017	1009	44	35	160	28	20	196	0	1492
2018	1017	54	34	156	29	19	198	0	1507
2019	1029	55	38	155	23	19	202	0	1521
2020	1033	46	48	171	21	33	196	0	1548
2021	1037	40	43	156	18	36	197	1	1528
2022	1072	47	42	174	19	32	205	4	1595
2023	1056	68	43	190	23	40	252	2	1674
2024	1017	76	42	180	24	42	231	12	1624

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 North Central High School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	1548	69.0	22.4	0
1989	1468	64.0	22.9	n/a
1990	1394	64.0	21.7	0
1991	1446	65.1	22.2	n/a
1992	1473	69.0	21.3	n/a
1993	1493	70.3	21.2	n/a
1994	1505	72.4	20.8	n/a
1995	1475	70.7	20.9	n/a
1996	1475	70.7	20.9	n/a
1997	1490	71.2	20.9	n/a
1998	1500	71.1	21.1	n/a
1999	1539	71.9	21.4	n/a
2000	1541	73.7	20.9	n/a
2001	1531	73.2	20.9	n/a
2002	1535	73.9	20.8	41
2003	1535	73.9	20.8	41
2004	1480	75.0	19.7	43.4
2005	1583	75.4	21.0	41.6
2006	1610	81.4	19.8	42.8
2007	1519	85.0	17.9	45.3
2008	1515	88.2	17.2	46.4
2009	1439	88.0	16.4	50.4
2010	1394	86.8	16.0	48.7
2011	1427	73.9	19.2	48.8
2012	1249	68.7	18.1	56.1
2013	1195	67.1	17.7	55.3
2014	1251	n/a	n/a	54.5
2015	1280	69.0	18.5	57.1
2016	1367	70.0	19.5	55.4
2017	1492	76.9	19.3	55.4
2018	1507	79.8	18.8	55.3
2019	1521	78.3	19.4	56.1
2020	1548	75.8	20.4	56.7
2021	1528	75.7	20.1	55.9
2022	1595	84.4	18.8	56.7
2023	1674	91.5	18.2	63.7
2024	1624	87.8	18.4	65.8

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 North Central High School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	1548	69.0	22.4	0
1989	1468	64.0	22.9	n/a
1990	1394	64.0	21.7	0
1991	1446	65.1	22.2	n/a
1992	1473	69.0	21.3	n/a
1993	1493	70.3	21.2	n/a
1994	1505	72.4	20.8	n/a
1995	1475	70.7	20.9	n/a
1996	1475	70.7	20.9	n/a
1997	1490	71.2	20.9	n/a
1998	1500	71.1	21.1	n/a
1999	1539	71.9	21.4	n/a
2000	1541	73.7	20.9	n/a
2001	1531	73.2	20.9	n/a
2002	1535	73.9	20.8	41
2003	1535	73.9	20.8	41
2004	1480	75.0	19.7	43.4
2005	1583	75.4	21.0	41.6
2006	1610	81.4	19.8	42.8
2007	1519	85.0	17.9	45.3
2008	1515	88.2	17.2	46.4
2009	1439	88.0	16.4	50.4
2010	1394	86.8	16.0	48.7
2011	1427	73.9	19.2	48.8
2012	1249	68.7	18.1	56.1
2013	1195	67.1	17.7	55.3
2014	1251	n/a	n/a	54.5
2015	1280	69.0	18.5	57.1
2016	1367	70.0	19.5	55.4
2017	1492	76.9	19.3	55.4
2018	1507	79.8	18.8	55.3
2019	1521	78.3	19.4	56.1
2020	1548	75.8	20.4	56.7
2021	1528	75.7	20.1	55.9
2022	1595	84.4	18.8	56.7
2023	1674	91.5	18.2	63.7
2024	1624	87.8	18.4	65.8

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.

Immunization Rates