Decatur Central High School

Decatur Central High School, a high-enrollment 9-12 campus in Indianapolis, Indiana, part of MSD Decatur Township, instructs 1,974 students, covering grades 9 through 12. Compared to the state average of about 816 students per school, that is 142% larger than typical.

Decatur Central High School is one of 9 schools operated by MSD Decatur Township, a district that caters to 6,485 students overall.

Demographically, Decatur Central High School records that the most-represented group is White (48%), with the rest of the student body spread across multiple groups. Beyond that, the school logs 29% Black, 16% Hispanic, 6% multiracial.

On the resource side, Decatur Central High School reports 131 full-time-equivalent teachers, putting the student-to-teacher ratio at about 15.1:1. The state averages around 16.6:1, so this campus is tighter than the state norm typical. Around 56% of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, often used as a Title I proxy.

Across the wider county, community-level numbers for Marion County indicate median household earnings sit near $66,346, about 35% of the adult population holds a bachelor's degree or above, and roughly 12% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Decatur Central High School is one of 274 public schools in Marion County (combined enrollment of about 161,456 students).

Decatur Middle School is the nearest neighboring public school, about 0.2 miles from this campus. 8 of the 8 nearest public schools sit inside a five-mile radius.

Decatur Central High School operates from a downtown location.

Looking at the recent track record. Decatur Central High School's enrollment has edged up 5% since 2018, when it stood at 1,880 (now 1,974). The White share of enrollment ticked down from 69% to 48% over that span. Class-load math has narrowed: from 19.6:1 in 2018 to 15.1:1 in 2025.

On allk12, the page collects discussion, questions, and updates around school events, parent volunteer needs, and clubs. Members of the school community can share what they know.