- Enrollment
- 438
- Students per teacher
- 13.7:1
- Resource Index
- 58/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Columbus, KS
Central Elem
Federal NCES profile for Central Elem, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 37/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 200507001342
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 30
📋 Attendance 47
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Central Elem earns 37/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 98% of Kansas schools.
- #3 of 4
- public schools in Columbus · Resource Index
- 37
- Resource Index · Typical
- 24.9:1
- large classes for Kansas
- 51.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Central Elem has class sizes larger than 98% of Kansas schools. Computed live against every Kansas school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Central Elem ranks #3 of 4 public schools in Columbus, KS.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+20 students YoY
Central Elem grew from 188 students in 2022-23 to 208 in 2023-24 (+10.6%).
Teacher FTE held 14.9 → 15.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+20 students YoY 200507001342 · Columbus, KS Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
348 enr · 24.9:1 · 51.6% lunch · RII 37
Nearest enrollment peer: Columbus Junior High and High School (438 students)
Central Elem grew from 188 students in 2022-23 to 208 in 2023-24 (+10.6%). Teacher FTE held 14.9 → 15.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Kansas schools → · Find another →
Central Elem in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Columbus Junio
Columbus Junior High and High School
438 students
- This school
Central Elem
348 students
- Park Elem
Park Elem
208 students
- Highland Elem 130
Highland Elem
130 students
What this shows Central Elem reports 348 students on the CCD universe file.
How Central Elem compares
Central Elem is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Kansas and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Kansas | Kansas avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 24.9:1 | ▲ 80% | 13.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 51.6% | ▲ 21% | 42.7% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 348 | top 40% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
24.9:1
Leaner classes than 5% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
348
Bigger than 39% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
51.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 21% above the Kansas average of 42.7%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
24.9:1
students per teacher
- 80% above state mean
Top 98% in Kansas - lower ratio than 2% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
21.3%
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
$14,603
per pupil, district-wide
- below Kansas avg of $15,788
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 348 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
45
in-school suspensions + 24 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 12.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 19.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 84.2%
Two or More 7.8%
Hispanic or Latino 5.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.4%
African American 0.6%
Asian 0.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: White at 84.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 28.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 28.2, Central Elem is less mixed than the Kansas school average of 39.4.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Columbus reports $14,603 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Central Elem Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus Junior High and High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Park Elem | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Highland Elem | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Central Elem's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 208
- Students per teacher
- 17.3:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 130
- Students per teacher
- 16.3:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
Similar elementary schools in Columbus
1 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
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 (~348 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~24.9:1)
Frequently asked questions about Central Elem
How many students attend Central Elem?
Central Elem has 348 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Columbus, KS. CCD year-over-year: 188 (2022-23) → 208 (2023-24), up 20.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Central Elem?
The student-teacher ratio at Central Elem is 24.9:1, which is 80% higher than the Kansas average of 13.8:1 and 59% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Central Elem?
51.6% of students at Central Elem are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Kansas average of 42.7%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Central Elem?
The largest demographic group at Central Elem is White at 84.2% of enrollment, in Columbus, KS.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Central Elem?
Central Elem 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 Elem rank among public schools in Columbus?
By Resource Investment Index, Central Elem ranks #3 of 4 public schools in Columbus, KS. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking.
What other schools are in Columbus?
Besides Central Elem, Columbus also operates Columbus Junior High and High School (438 students), Park Elem (208 students), and Highland Elem (130 students). See the Columbus district page for the complete list.