Public School Review - Established 2003

Northern High School vs. Central High School

Should you attend Northern High School or Central High School? Visitors to our site frequently compare these two schools. Compare their rankings, test scores, reviews and more to help you determine which school is the best choice for you.

School Overview

School
Northern High School
3801 Leonard St Ne
Grand Rapids, MI 49525
: 
10/
10
Top 5%
Central High School
5901 Hall St Se
Grand Rapids, MI 49546
: 
10/
10
Top 5%
Top Rankings

Northern High School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Michigan for:

Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Highest overall rank (Top 5%)
Math Proficiency
Highest math proficiency (Top 10%)
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 1%)
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 20%)

Central High School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Michigan for:

Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Highest overall rank (Top 5%)
Math Proficiency
Highest math proficiency (Top 10%)
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 5%)
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 1%)
Overview
Serving 1,134 students in grades 9-12, Northern High School ranks in the top 5% of all schools in Michigan for overall test scores (math proficiency is top 10%, and reading proficiency is top 10%).
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is 65% (which is higher than the Michigan state average of 34%). The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is 84% (which is higher than the Michigan state average of 45%).
The student:teacher ratio of 19:1 is higher than the Michigan state level of 17:1.
Minority enrollment is 27% of the student body (majority Asian and Black), which is lower than the Michigan state average of 36% (majority Black).
Serving 1,053 students in grades 9-12, Central High School ranks in the top 5% of all schools in Michigan for overall test scores (math proficiency is top 10%, and reading proficiency is top 10%).
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is 65% (which is higher than the Michigan state average of 34%). The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is 76% (which is higher than the Michigan state average of 45%).
The student:teacher ratio of 21:1 is higher than the Michigan state level of 17:1.
Minority enrollment is 18% of the student body (majority Asian), which is lower than the Michigan state average of 36% (majority Black).
Grades Offered
9-12
9-12
Total Students
1,134 students
1,053 students
This chart displays total students of Northern High School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays total students of Central High School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Male | % Female
50% | 50%
48% | 52%
This chart displays gender of Northern High School
This chart displays gender of Central High School
Total Classroom Teachers
59 teachers
50 teachers
This chart displays the total teachers of Northern High School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the total teachers of Central High School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Student : Teacher Ratio
19:1
21:1
This chart displays the student teacher ratio of Northern High School and the public school average student teacher ratio of Michigan by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the student teacher ratio of Central High School and the public school average student teacher ratio of Michigan by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.

Test Scores

#89 out of 3069 schools in MI
(Top 5%)
#126 out of 3069 schools in MI
(Top 5%)
This chart displays the overall school rank of Northern High School, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
This chart displays the overall school rank of Central High School, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
65%
(Top 10% in MI)
65%
(Top 10% in MI)
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Northern High School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of public schools in Michigan by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Central High School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of public schools in Michigan by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
84%
(Top 1% in MI)
76%
(Top 5% in MI)
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Northern High School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Michigan by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Central High School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Michigan by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
63%
(Top 10% in MI)
56%
(Top 20% in MI)
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of Northern High School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of public schools in Michigan by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of Central High School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of public schools in Michigan by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
93%
(Top 20% in MI)
98%
(Top 1% in MI)
This chart displays graduation rate of Northern High School and public school graduation rate of Michigan by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
This chart displays graduation rate of Central High School and public school graduation rate of Michigan by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.

Students by Grade

Students by Grade
This chart displays the students of Northern High School by grade.
This chart displays the students of Central High School by grade.
Grade 9 Students
276
238
Grade 10 Students
270
252
Grade 11 Students
291
285
Grade 12 Students
297
278

Students by Ethnicity

% American Indian
n/a
n/a
This chart displays the percentage of American Indian students in Northern High School and percentage of American Indian public school students in Michigan by year, with the latest 2007-08 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of American Indian students in Central High School and percentage of American Indian public school students in Michigan by year, with the latest 2012-13 school year data.
% Asian
10%
7%
This chart displays the percentage of Asian students in Northern High School and the percentage of Asian public school students in Michigan by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of Asian students in Central High School and the percentage of Asian public school students in Michigan by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Hispanic
5%
4%
This chart displays the percentage of Hispanic students in Northern High School and the percentage of Hispanic public school students in Michigan by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of Hispanic students in Central High School and the percentage of Hispanic public school students in Michigan by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Black
7%
2%
This chart displays the percentage of Black students in Northern High School and the percentage of Black public school students in Michigan by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of Black students in Central High School and the percentage of Black public school students in Michigan by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% White
73%
82%
This chart displays the percentage of White students in Northern High School and the percentage of White public school students in Michigan by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of White students in Central High School and the percentage of White public school students in Michigan by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
5%
5%
This chart displays the percentage of students of two or more races in Northern High School and the percentage of public school students of two or more races in Michigan by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of students of two or more races in Central High School and the percentage of public school students of two or more races in Michigan by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
0.45
0.32
This chart displays the diversity score of Northern High School and the public school average diversity score of Michigan by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the diversity score of Central High School and the public school average diversity score of Michigan by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.

Additional Information

Eligible for Free Lunch
15%
12%
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for free lunch in Northern High School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for free lunch in Michigan by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for free lunch in Central High School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for free lunch in Michigan by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Eligible for Reduced Lunch
2%
1%
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Northern High School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Michigan by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Central High School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Michigan by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
 
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