- Enrollment
- 655
- Students per teacher
- 19.8:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Palacios, TX
Central El
Federal NCES profile for Central El, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 37/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 483402003780
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 78
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Central El earns 37/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 98% of Texas schools.
- #4 of 4
- public schools in Palacios · Resource Index
- 37
- Resource Index · Typical
- 27.7:1
- large classes for Texas
- 66.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Central El has class sizes larger than 98% of Texas schools. Computed live against every Texas school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Central El ranks #4 of 4 public schools in Palacios, TX.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+10 students YoY
Central El held near 359 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+10 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 22.7 → 25.1 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+10 students YoY 483402003780 · Palacios, TX Other · MID · TRAD
610 enr · 27.7:1 · 66.2% lunch · RII 37
Nearest enrollment peer: Palacios H S (655 students)
Central El held near 359 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+10 headcount). Teacher FTE added 22.7 → 25.1 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Texas schools → · Find another →
Central El in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Palacios H S
Palacios H S
655 students
- This school
Central El
610 students
- Palacios J H
Palacios J H
293 students
- East Side Int
East Side Int
275 students
What this shows Central El reports 610 students on the CCD universe file.
How Central El compares
Central El held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Texas and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Texas | Texas avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 27.7:1 | ▲ 88% | 14.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 66.2% | ▲ 7% | 61.9% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 610 | top 36% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
27.7:1
Leaner classes than 3% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
610
Bigger than 74% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
66.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 7% above the Texas average of 61.9%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
27.7:1
students per teacher
- 88% above state mean
Top 98% in Texas - lower ratio than 2% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
9.0%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
Funding equity
$15,773
per pupil, district-wide
- above Texas avg of $14,348
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 610 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
8
in-school suspensions + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 74.3%
White 20.3%
Asian 3.0%
Two or More 2.0%
African American 0.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 74.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 40.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 40.5, Central El is less mixed than the Texas school average of 44.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Palacios Isd reports $15,773 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Central El Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palacios H S | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Palacios J H | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| East Side Int | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Central El's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 293
- Students per teacher
- 12.2:1
- Resource Index
- 57/100
- Enrollment
- 275
- Students per teacher
- 13.1:1
- Resource Index
- 61/100
Nationwide other 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 (~610 students)
Frequently asked questions about Central El
How many students attend Central El?
Central El has 610 students enrolled. It is a public school in Palacios, TX. CCD year-over-year: 349 (2022-23) → 359 (2023-24), nearly flat (+10).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Central El?
The student-teacher ratio at Central El is 27.7:1, which is 88% higher than the Texas average of 14.7:1 and 76% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Central El?
66.2% of students at Central El are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Texas average of 61.9%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Central El?
The largest demographic group at Central El is Hispanic or Latino at 74.3% of enrollment, in Palacios, TX.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Central El?
Central El has a Resource Investment Index of 37/100 (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 Central El rank among public schools in Palacios?
By Resource Investment Index, Central El ranks #4 of 4 public schools in Palacios, TX. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking.
What other schools are in Palacios Isd?
Besides Central El, Palacios Isd also operates Palacios H S (655 students), Palacios J H (293 students), and East Side Int (275 students). See the Palacios Isd district page for the complete list.