Lawrence Central High School

2,317 Students

High School 9th - 12th

School Overview

Lawrence Central High School, located on the northeast side of Indianapolis, is a large, diverse public high school serving the Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township. Known for its distinct "Bear" mascot and school spirit, the institution offers a comprehensive academic curriculum that includes a wide array of Advanced Placement (AP) courses, dual-credit opportunities, and specialized career-technical education programs designed to prepare students for both higher education and the workforce.

Beyond academics, Lawrence Central is widely recognized for its robust extracurricular culture, particularly its award-winning performing arts programs and competitive athletic teams. The school prides itself on fostering an inclusive environment that reflects the multicultural makeup of the surrounding community. With a strong emphasis on student leadership and community engagement, Lawrence Central strives to balance a traditional high school experience with modern, innovative approaches to teaching and student support.

2,317

Total Students

118.5

Full-Time Teachers

19.6

Student/Teacher Ratio

65.4%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Lawrence Central High School
Demographic	Student Count
White	296
Hispanic	668
Black	1,178
Asian	12
Two or More	160
American Indian	3

Black
1,178 (50.8 %)
Hispanic
668 (28.8 %)
White
296 (12.8 %)
Two or More
160 (6.9 %)
Asian
12 (0.5 %)
American Indian
3 (0.1 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	High School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	MSD Lawrence Township
Phone:	(317)964-7400
Grade Range:	9th - 12th
Total Students:	2,317
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	118.5
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	19.6
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	1,411
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	104

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Grade 9 608

Grade 10 582

Grade 11 579

Grade 12 537

Ungraded 11