Ben Davis Ninth Grade Center

Ben Davis Ninth Grade Center is a big high school in Indianapolis, Indiana, part of MSD Wayne Township. The school instructs 1,243 students in grade 9. Compared to the state average of about 816 students per school, that is 52% bigger than typical.

Within MSD Wayne Township, which oversees 17 schools and 16,094 students, Ben Davis Ninth Grade Center is one campus in the system.

On demographics, Ben Davis Ninth Grade Center shows that 37% of students identify as Black, with the remaining enrollment distributed across several groups. Beyond that, the school reports 37% Hispanic, 21% White, 4% multiracial. By comparison, Marion County as a whole is about 27% Black, so the school skews considerably more Black than its surroundings.

In terms of school funding signals, Ben Davis Ninth Grade Center reports 77 full-time-equivalent teachers, putting the student-to-teacher ratio at about 16.2:1. The state averages about 16.6:1, putting this campus right in line with peers. An estimated 68% of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, a number frequently used as a low-income enrollment indicator.

In the broader community, ACS estimates for Marion County put median household income runs about $66,346, roughly 35% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and census figures put the poverty rate at about 12%. In all, Marion County runs 274 public schools (combined enrollment of about 161,456 students), of which Ben Davis Ninth Grade Center is one.

The closest other public school is Ben Davis High School, roughly 0.1 miles away. Within five miles, there are 8 other public schools.

Ben Davis Ninth Grade Center operates from a downtown location.

Looking at the recent track record. Over the past 7-year window, the student count rose 6%: 1,178 students in 2018 compared to 1,243 in 2025. White enrollment moved from 30% to 21% across the same window. Class-load math has widened: from 13.1:1 in 2018 to 16.2:1 in 2025.

On the community side, posts here usually surface around pickup logistics, teacher feedback, and after-school programs. Members of the school community can share what they know.