Enrollment
694
Pennsylvania · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Allentown, PA
Central El Sch
Federal NCES profile for Central El Sch, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 17/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 420228002790
👥 S:T ratio 38
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Central El Sch earns 17/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 80% of Pennsylvania schools.
- #20 of 21
- elementary schools in Allentown · Resource Index
- 17
- Resource Index · Lower
- 15.4:1
- large classes for Pennsylvania
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Central El Sch has class sizes larger than 80% of Pennsylvania schools. Computed live against every Pennsylvania school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Central El Sch ranks #20 of 21 elementary schools in Allentown, PA.
School address
District: Allentown City Sd · Pennsylvania
NCES ID 420228002790 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
45.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.4:1
vs 13.6:1 Pennsylvania avg
+13% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
100.0%
vs 58.1% Pennsylvania avg
+72% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Central El Sch compares with Pennsylvania and U.S. medians
What stands out at Central El Sch
Central El Sch is a high-poverty, mid-sized elementary school in Allentown, Pennsylvania, enrolling 694 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 15.4:1 puts it in the larger third of Pennsylvania schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 100.0% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 694 puts it in the larger third of Pennsylvania schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index trails 99% of the 2,889 Pennsylvania schools with a score on record, one of the lower results on this measure.
Among 425 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Pennsylvania schools statewide, it ranks #411, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (72%) and African American (12%) (diversity index 45/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 694 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 68.0% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 18.3% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Allentown's elementary schools, it stands alongside Brigadier General Anna Mae Hays El Sch (807 students): Central El Sch is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (15.4:1 vs 15.8:1).
Allentown City Sd also operates William Allen Hs (3,074 students) and Louis E Dieruff Hs (1,914 students) alongside Central El Sch.
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 El Sch compares
Central El Sch on the metrics families compare, against Pennsylvania and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.4:1 | ▲ 13% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 72% | 58.1% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 694 | top 22% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.4:1
Leaner classes than 43% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
694
Bigger than 80% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
100.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 72% above the Pennsylvania average of 58.1%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
15.4:1
students per teacher
- 13% above state mean
Top 80% in Pennsylvania - lower ratio than 20% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
68.0%
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
$15,572
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 694 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
28
in-school suspensions + 22 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 4.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 7.2 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
Hispanic or Latino 72.0%
African American 12.2%
Two or More 10.5%
White 4.8%
Asian 0.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 72.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 45.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 45.3, Central El Sch is more mixed than the Pennsylvania school average of 37.3.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Allentown City Sd, which includes Central El Sch.
$15,572
Per student
-13%
vs Pennsylvania
Avg $17,970
-6%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 29.0%
State 52.7%
Federal 18.3%
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 El Sch Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| William Allen Hs | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Louis E Dieruff Hs | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| South Mountain Ms | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Francis D Raub Ms | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Brigadier General Anna Mae Hays El Sch | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Central El Sch's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 3,074
- Students per teacher
- 21.8:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 1,914
- Students per teacher
- 18.1:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 972
- Students per teacher
- 13.7:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 876
- Students per teacher
- 16.5:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 807
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 17/100
Similar elementary schools in Allentown
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Brigadier General Anna Mae Hays El Sch
Standard public school
807 students 15.8:1 students per teacher
Luis a. Ramos El Sch
Standard public school
695 students 16.5:1 students per teacher
Union Terrace El Sch
Standard public school
674 students 17.3:1 students per teacher
Roosevelt El Sch
Standard public school
631 students 17.1:1 students per teacher
Hiram W Dodd El Sch
Standard public school
627 students 15.3:1 students per teacher
Muhlenberg El Sch
Standard public school
606 students 18.9:1 students per teacher
Similar elementary 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 (~694 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15.4:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Central El Sch's federal record.
- Compare Central El Sch against another school. Compare schools
- Allentown City 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 El Sch
How many students attend Central El Sch?
Central El Sch has 694 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Allentown, PA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Central El Sch?
The student-teacher ratio at Central El Sch is 15.4:1, which is 13% higher than the Pennsylvania average of 13.6:1 and 2% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Central El Sch?
100.0% of students at Central El Sch are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Pennsylvania average of 58.1%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Central El Sch?
The largest demographic group at Central El Sch is Hispanic or Latino at 72.0% of enrollment, in Allentown, PA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Central El Sch?
Central El Sch has a Resource Investment Index of 17/100 (lower 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 El Sch rank among elementary schools in Allentown?
By Resource Investment Index, Central El Sch ranks #20 of 21 elementary schools in Allentown, PA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Allentown on the city page.
Is Central El Sch a good school?
Central El Sch earns 17/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 80% 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 Allentown City Sd?
Besides Central El Sch, Allentown City Sd also operates William Allen Hs (3,074 students), Louis E Dieruff Hs (1,914 students), and South Mountain Ms (972 students). See the Allentown City 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.