Lawrence Central High School

2,517 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.

2,517

Total Students

143.3

Full-Time Teachers

17.6

Student/Teacher Ratio

60.2%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Lawrence Central High School
Demographic	Student Count
White	259
Hispanic	810
Black	1,268
Asian	16
Two or More	159
American Indian	2
Pacific Islander	3

Black
1,268 (50.4%)
Hispanic
810 (32.2%)
White
259 (10.3%)
Two or More
159 (6.3%)
Asian
16 (0.6%)
Pacific Islander
3 (0.1%)
American Indian
2 (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:	2,517
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	143.3
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	17.6
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 9 656

Grade 10 642

Grade 11 624

Grade 12 590

Ungraded 5