Enrollment
834
Pennsylvania · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Harrisburg, PA
Central Dauphin Ms
Federal NCES profile for Central Dauphin Ms, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 41/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 420540000838
👥 S:T ratio 37
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 17
📋 Attendance 42
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Central Dauphin Ms earns 41/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 83% of Pennsylvania schools.
- #2 of 6
- middle schools in Harrisburg · Resource Index
- 41
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.7:1
- large classes for Pennsylvania
- 31.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Central Dauphin Ms has class sizes larger than 83% of Pennsylvania schools. Computed live against every Pennsylvania school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Central Dauphin Ms ranks #2 of 6 middle schools in Harrisburg, PA.
School address
District: Central Dauphin Sd · Pennsylvania
NCES ID 420540000838 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
53.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.7:1
vs 13.6:1 Pennsylvania avg
+15% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
31.1%
vs 58.1% Pennsylvania avg
-46% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Central Dauphin Ms compares with Pennsylvania and U.S. medians
What stands out at Central Dauphin Ms
Central Dauphin Ms is a large middle school in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, enrolling 834 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 15.7:1 puts it in the larger third of Pennsylvania schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 31.1% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 834 puts it in the larger third of Pennsylvania schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 2,889 scored Pennsylvania schools.
Among 446 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Pennsylvania schools statewide, it ranks #374, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (66%) and African American (10%) (diversity index 53/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 417 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Attendance runs somewhat below the norm, with 23.4% of students chronically absent per the 2021-22 civil-rights collection.
Among Harrisburg's middle schools, it stands alongside Linglestown Ms (841 students): Central Dauphin Ms is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (15.7:1 vs 15.3:1).
Central Dauphin Sd also operates Central Dauphin Shs (1,966 students) and Central Dauphin East Shs (1,573 students) alongside Central Dauphin Ms.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Central Dauphin Ms compares
Central Dauphin Ms on the metrics families compare, against Pennsylvania and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.7:1 | ▲ 15% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 31.1% | ▼ 46% | 58.1% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 834 | top 15% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.7:1
Leaner classes than 41% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
834
Bigger than 87% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
31.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 46% below the Pennsylvania average of 58.1%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
15.7:1
students per teacher
- 15% above state mean
Top 83% in Pennsylvania - lower ratio than 17% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
23.4%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$15,143
per pupil, district-wide
- below Pennsylvania avg of $17,970
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 417 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
56
in-school suspensions + 49 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 6.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 12.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
White 66.4%
African American 10.2%
Asian 10.0%
Hispanic or Latino 7.7%
Two or More 5.8%
Largest group: White at 66.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 52.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 52.9, Central Dauphin Ms is more mixed than the Pennsylvania school average of 37.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Central Dauphin Sd, which includes Central Dauphin Ms.
$15,143
Per student
-16%
vs Pennsylvania
Avg $17,970
-9%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 68.5%
State 22.6%
Federal 8.9%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Central Dauphin Ms Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Dauphin Shs | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Central Dauphin East Shs | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Linglestown Ms | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| North Side El Sch | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Central Dauphin East Ms | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Central Dauphin Ms's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,966
- Students per teacher
- 16.1:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 1,573
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 841
- Students per teacher
- 15.3:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 722
- Students per teacher
- 16.8:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 702
- Students per teacher
- 14.3:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
Similar middle schools in Harrisburg
5 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Linglestown Ms
Standard public school
841 students 15.3:1 students per teacher
Susquehanna Twp Ms
Standard public school
820 students 19.5:1 students per teacher
Camp Curtin Academy
Standard public school
724 students 19.6:1 students per teacher
Central Dauphin East Ms
Standard public school
702 students 14.3:1 students per teacher
Rowland Academy
Standard public school
353 students 10.7:1 students per teacher
Similar middle schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Pennsylvania, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~834 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15.7:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Central Dauphin Ms's federal record.
- Compare Central Dauphin Ms against another school. Compare schools
- Central Dauphin Sd's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Central Dauphin Ms
How many students attend Central Dauphin Ms?
Central Dauphin Ms has 834 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Harrisburg, PA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Central Dauphin Ms?
The student-teacher ratio at Central Dauphin Ms is 15.7:1, which is 15% higher than the Pennsylvania average of 13.6:1 and 0% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Central Dauphin Ms?
31.1% of students at Central Dauphin Ms are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Pennsylvania average of 58.1%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Central Dauphin Ms?
The largest demographic group at Central Dauphin Ms is White at 66.4% of enrollment, in Harrisburg, PA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 52.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Central Dauphin Ms?
Central Dauphin Ms has a Resource Investment Index of 41/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Central Dauphin Ms rank among middle schools in Harrisburg?
By Resource Investment Index, Central Dauphin Ms ranks #2 of 6 middle schools in Harrisburg, PA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Harrisburg on the city page.
Is Central Dauphin Ms a good school?
Central Dauphin Ms earns 41/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 83% of Pennsylvania schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Central Dauphin Sd?
Besides Central Dauphin Ms, Central Dauphin Sd also operates Central Dauphin Shs (1,966 students), Central Dauphin East Shs (1,573 students), and Linglestown Ms (841 students). See the Central Dauphin Sd district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.