- Enrollment
- 1,633
- Students per teacher
- 14.8:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Waycross, GA
Center Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Center Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 46/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 130543001395
👥 S:T ratio 45
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 6
📋 Attendance 62
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Center Elementary School earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Georgia median.
- #4 of 5
- elementary schools in Waycross · Resource Index
- 46
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.8:1
- students per teacher
- 93.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Center Elementary School has class sizes near the Georgia median. Computed live against every Georgia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Center Elementary School ranks #4 of 5 elementary schools in Waycross, GA.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-10 students YoY
Center Elementary School held near 470 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-10 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 34.6 → 37.1 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-10 students YoY 130543001395 · Waycross, GA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
470 enr · 13.8:1 · 93.8% lunch · RII 46
Nearest enrollment peer: Ware County High School (1,633 students)
Center Elementary School held near 470 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-10 headcount). Teacher FTE added 34.6 → 37.1 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Georgia schools → · Find another →
Center Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Ware County Hi
Ware County High School
1,633 students
- Wacona Element
Wacona Elementary School
885 students
- Ware County Mi
Ware County Middle School
752 students
- Waycross Middl 606
Waycross Middle School
606 students
- This school 470
Center Elementary School
470 students
- Williams Heigh 436
Williams Heights Elementary School
436 students
What this shows Center Elementary School reports 470 students on the CCD universe file.
How Center Elementary School compares
Center Elementary School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Georgia and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Georgia | Georgia avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.8:1 | ▼ 4% | 14.4:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 93.8% | ▲ 55% | 60.7% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 470 | top 73% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.8:1
Leaner classes than 59% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
470
Bigger than 58% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
93.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 55% above the Georgia average of 60.7%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
13.8:1
students per teacher
- 4% below state mean
Top 45% in Georgia - lower ratio than 55% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
15.3%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$15,387
per pupil, district-wide
- above Georgia avg of $14,615
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 470 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 88 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 18.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 57.2%
White 23.2%
Hispanic or Latino 10.4%
Two or More 8.3%
Asian 0.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: African American at 57.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 60.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 60.1, Center Elementary School is more mixed than the Georgia school average of 50.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Ware County reports $15,387 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Center Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ware County High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Wacona Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Ware County Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Waycross Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Williams Heights Elementary School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Center Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 885
- Students per teacher
- 18.1:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 752
- Students per teacher
- 13:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 606
- Students per teacher
- 12.9:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 436
- Students per teacher
- 11.5:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
Similar elementary schools in Waycross
4 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Williams Heights Elementary School
Standard public school
436 students 11.5:1 students per teacher
Waresboro Elementary School
Standard public school
429 students 12.6:1 students per teacher
Ruskin Elementary School
Standard public school
363 students 11.7:1 students per teacher
Memorial Drive Elementary School
Standard public school
346 students 10.2:1 students per teacher
Nationwide elementary schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~470 students)
Frequently asked questions about Center Elementary School
How many students attend Center Elementary School?
Center Elementary School has 470 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Waycross, GA. CCD year-over-year: 480 (2022-23) → 470 (2023-24), nearly flat (-10).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Center Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Center Elementary School is 13.8:1, which is 4% lower than the Georgia average of 14.4:1 and 12% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Center Elementary School?
93.8% of students at Center Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Georgia average of 60.7%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Center Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Center Elementary School is African American at 57.2% of enrollment, in Waycross, GA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 60.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Center Elementary School?
Center Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 46/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Center Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Waycross?
By Resource Investment Index, Center Elementary School ranks #4 of 5 elementary schools in Waycross, GA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Waycross on the city page.
What other schools are in Ware County?
Besides Center Elementary School, Ware County also operates Ware County High School (1,633 students), Wacona Elementary School (885 students), and Ware County Middle School (752 students). See the Ware County district page for the complete list.