- Enrollment
- 3,074
- Students per teacher
- 21.8:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
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 →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+35 students YoY
Central El Sch grew from 662 students in 2022-23 to 697 in 2023-24 (+5.3%).
Teacher FTE lost 45.0 → 43.3 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+35 students YoY 420228002790 · Allentown, PA Elementary · MID · TRAD
694 enr · 15.4:1 · 100.0% lunch · RII 17
Nearest enrollment peer: William Allen Hs (3,074 students)
Central El Sch grew from 662 students in 2022-23 to 697 in 2023-24 (+5.3%). Teacher FTE lost 45.0 → 43.3 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Pennsylvania schools → · Find another →
Central El Sch in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- William Allen
William Allen Hs
3,074 students
- Louis E Dieruf
Louis E Dieruff Hs
1,914 students
- South Mountain 972
South Mountain Ms
972 students
- Francis D Raub 876
Francis D Raub Ms
876 students
- Brigadier Gene 807
Brigadier General Anna Mae Hays El Sch
807 students
- This school 694
Central El Sch
694 students
What this shows Central El Sch reports 694 students on the CCD universe file.
How Central El Sch compares
Central El Sch is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs 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 methodology
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
$17,939
per pupil, district-wide
- below Pennsylvania avg of $18,725
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
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.
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
District finance for Allentown City Sd reports $17,939 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
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
- 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
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 (~694 students)
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. CCD year-over-year: 662 (2022-23) → 697 (2023-24), up 35.
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, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. 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.
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.