- Enrollment
- 1,702
- Students per teacher
- 17.2:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
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 →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+18 students YoY
Central Elem held near 498 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+18 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 36.4 → 34.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+18 students YoY 280171000271 · Gulfport, MS Other · SMALL · TRAD
482 enr · 13.4:1 · 100.0% lunch · RII 32
Nearest enrollment peer: Gulfport High School (1,702 students)
Central Elem held near 498 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+18 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 36.4 → 34.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Mississippi schools → · Find another →
Central Elem in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Gulfport High
Gulfport High School
1,702 students
- Bayou View Mid
Bayou View Middle School
827 students
- Bayou View Ele 638
Bayou View Elementary School
638 students
- Gulfport Centr 568
Gulfport Central Middle School
568 students
- West Elementar 492
West Elementary School
492 students
- This school 482
Central Elem
482 students
What this shows Central Elem reports 482 students on the CCD universe file.
How Central Elem compares
Central Elem held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs 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 methodology
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
$11,784
per pupil, district-wide
- below Mississippi avg of $13,683
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.
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
District finance for Gulfport School Dist reports $11,784 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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
- 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
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 (~482 students)
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. CCD year-over-year: 480 (2022-23) → 498 (2023-24), nearly flat (+18).
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, 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 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.
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.