Enrollment
482
Mississippi · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Gulfport, MS
Central Elem
Federal NCES profile for Central Elem, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 32/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 280171000271
👥 S:T ratio 46
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 4
📋 Attendance 9
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Central Elem earns 32/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Mississippi median.
- #5 of 5
- schools in Gulfport · Resource Index
- 32
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.4:1
- students per teacher
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Central Elem has class sizes near the Mississippi median. Computed live against every Mississippi school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Central Elem ranks #5 of 5 schools in Gulfport, MS.
School address
District: Gulfport School Dist · Mississippi
NCES ID 280171000271 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
36.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13.4:1
vs 13.3:1 Mississippi avg
+1% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
100.0%
vs 80.5% Mississippi avg
+24% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Central Elem compares with Mississippi and U.S. medians
What stands out at Central Elem
Central Elem is a high-poverty, mid-sized combined-grade school in Gulfport, Mississippi, enrolling 482 students.
At 13.4:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the Mississippi median, within a few percentage points of the 13.3:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 100.0% lands close to the Mississippi typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
With 482 students, its enrollment sits close to the Mississippi median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 877 scored Mississippi schools.
Among 249 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Mississippi schools statewide, it ranks #188, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by African American (57%) and Hispanic or Latino (17%) (diversity index 61/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 482 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 36.3% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 24.5% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 99 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 482 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Among Gulfport's public schools, it stands alongside West Elementary School (492 students): Central Elem is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (13.4:1 vs 11.7:1).
Gulfport School Dist also operates Gulfport High School (1,702 students) and Bayou View Middle School (827 students) alongside Central Elem.
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 Elem compares
Central Elem on the metrics families compare, against Mississippi and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Mississippi | Mississippi avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.4:1 | ▲ 1% | 13.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 24% | 80.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 482 | top 38% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.4:1
Leaner classes than 63% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
482
Bigger than 59% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
100.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 24% above the Mississippi average of 80.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
13.4:1
students per teacher
- 1% above state mean
Top 53% in Mississippi - lower ratio than 47% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
36.3%
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
$10,227
per pupil, district-wide
- below Mississippi avg of $11,990
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 482 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
98
in-school suspensions + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 20.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 20.5 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
African American 57.3%
Hispanic or Latino 16.8%
White 16.6%
Two or More 8.1%
Asian 0.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: African American at 57.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 60.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 60.9, Central Elem is more mixed than the Mississippi school average of 41.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Gulfport School Dist, which includes Central Elem.
$10,227
Per student
-15%
vs Mississippi
Avg $11,990
-38%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 36.9%
State 38.6%
Federal 24.5%
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 Elem Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gulfport High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Bayou View Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Bayou View Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Gulfport Central Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| West Elementary School | Similar size | 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
- 1,702
- Students per teacher
- 17.2:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 827
- Students per teacher
- 14.8:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 638
- Students per teacher
- 14.2:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
- Enrollment
- 568
- Students per teacher
- 12.3:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 492
- Students per teacher
- 11.7:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
Similar other schools in Gulfport
4 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
West Elementary School
Standard public school
492 students 11.7:1 students per teacher
Anniston Avenue Elementary School
Standard public school
482 students 11.8:1 students per teacher
Pass Road Elementary School
Standard public school
377 students 13.5:1 students per teacher
Twenty Eighth St Elem
Standard public school
359 students 12.4:1 students per teacher
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Mississippi, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~482 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~13.4:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Central Elem's federal record.
- Compare Central Elem against another school. Compare schools
- Gulfport School Dist'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 Elem
How many students attend Central Elem?
Central Elem has 482 students enrolled. It is a public school in Gulfport, MS.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Central Elem?
The student-teacher ratio at Central Elem is 13.4:1, which is 1% higher than the Mississippi average of 13.3:1 and 15% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Central Elem?
100.0% of students at Central Elem are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Mississippi average of 80.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Central Elem?
The largest demographic group at Central Elem is African American at 57.3% of enrollment, in Gulfport, MS. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 60.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Central Elem?
Central Elem has a Resource Investment Index of 32/100 (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 Elem rank among schools in Gulfport?
By Resource Investment Index, Central Elem ranks #5 of 5 schools in Gulfport, MS. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Gulfport on the city page.
Is Central Elem a good school?
Central Elem earns 32/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Mississippi median. 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 Gulfport School Dist?
Besides Central Elem, Gulfport School Dist also operates Gulfport High School (1,702 students), Bayou View Middle School (827 students), and Bayou View Elementary School (638 students). See the Gulfport School Dist 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.