Enrollment
322
Illinois · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Des Plaines, IL
Central Elem School
Federal NCES profile for Central Elem School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 59/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 171212001461
👥 S:T ratio 53
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 55
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Central Elem School earns 59/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 75% of Illinois schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Illinois schools.
- #4 of 11
- elementary schools in Des Plaines · Resource Index
- 59
- Resource Index · Higher
- 11.8:1
- small classes for Illinois
- 322
- students enrolled
Central Elem School has class sizes smaller than 75% of Illinois schools. Computed live against every Illinois school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Central Elem School ranks #4 of 11 elementary schools in Des Plaines, IL.
School address
Teachers (FTE)
26.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
11.8:1
vs 14:1 Illinois avg
-16% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Central Elem School compares with Illinois and U.S. medians
What stands out at Central Elem School
Central Elem School is a mid-sized elementary school in Des Plaines, Illinois, enrolling 322 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 11.8:1 puts it in the smaller third of Illinois schools by student-teacher ratio.
With 322 students, its enrollment sits close to the Illinois median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index outscores 93% of the 3,845 Illinois schools with a score on record, a top-tier result on this measure.
Its student body is led by White (52%) and Hispanic or Latino (23%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 65/100).
Attendance runs somewhat below the norm, with 18.0% of students chronically absent per the 2021-22 civil-rights collection.
The surrounding Ccsd 62 spends $25,337 per pupil, 49% above the Illinois average, a better-resourced district than most.
Among Des Plaines's elementary schools, it stands alongside North Elementary School (599 students): Central Elem School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (11.8:1 vs 10.8:1).
Ccsd 62 also operates Forest Elem School (658 students) and Chippewa Middle School (652 students) alongside Central Elem School.
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 School compares
Central Elem School on the metrics families compare, against Illinois and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Illinois | Illinois avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 11.8:1 | ▼ 16% | 14:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Enrollment | 322 | top 59% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.8:1
Leaner classes than 79% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
322
Bigger than 36% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Staffing depth
11.8:1
students per teacher
- 16% below state mean
Top 25% in Illinois - lower ratio than 75% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
18.0%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$25,337
per pupil, district-wide
- above Illinois avg of $17,042
Well above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting substantially higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
Enrollment 322 Top 59% in Illinois - larger than 41% of 3,845 state schools
Teachers (FTE) 26.0
Students per teacher 11.8:1 -16% vs state
Free-lunch eligible -
NCES ID 171212001461
Student demographics
White 52.2%
Hispanic or Latino 23.0%
Asian 14.9%
Two or More 5.0%
African American 3.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 1.9%
Largest group: White at 52.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 64.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 64.9, Central Elem School is more mixed than the Illinois school average of 38.9.
Programs & staff
Gifted & talented Yes
Counselors (FTE) 0.0
Discipline & special education
Chronically absent 18.0%
In-school suspensions 0
Out-of-school suspensions 0
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Ccsd 62, which includes Central Elem School.
$25,337
Per student
+49%
vs Illinois
Avg $17,042
+53%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 66.9%
State 25.4%
Federal 7.7%
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 School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Elem School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Lower S:T ratio |
| Chippewa Middle School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| North Elementary School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| Algonquin Middle School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Lower S:T ratio |
| Iroquois Community School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Central Elem School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 658
- Students per teacher
- 10.3:1
- Resource Index
- 68/100
- Enrollment
- 652
- Students per teacher
- 10.8:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 599
- Students per teacher
- 10.8:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
- Enrollment
- 597
- Students per teacher
- 9.8:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 411
- Students per teacher
- 13.1:1
- Resource Index
- 60/100
Similar elementary schools in Des Plaines
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
North Elementary School
Standard public school
599 students 10.8:1 students per teacher
Apollo Elem School
Standard public school
536 students 11.3:1 students per teacher
Iroquois Community School
Standard public school
411 students 13.1:1 students per teacher
Brentwood Elem School
Standard public school
375 students 13:1 students per teacher
Devonshire School
Standard public school
370 students 11.9:1 students per teacher
Plainfield Elem School
Standard public school
285 students 10.1:1 students per teacher
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Central Elem School's federal record.
- Compare Central Elem School against another school. Compare schools
- Ccsd 62'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 School
How many students attend Central Elem School?
Central Elem School has 322 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Des Plaines, IL.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Central Elem School?
The student-teacher ratio at Central Elem School is 11.8:1, which is 16% lower than the Illinois average of 14:1 and 25% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Central Elem School?
The largest demographic group at Central Elem School is White at 52.2% of enrollment, in Des Plaines, IL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 64.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Central Elem School?
Central Elem School has a Resource Investment Index of 59/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Central Elem School rank among elementary schools in Des Plaines?
By Resource Investment Index, Central Elem School ranks #4 of 11 elementary schools in Des Plaines, IL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Des Plaines on the city page.
Is Central Elem School a good school?
Central Elem School earns 59/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 75% of Illinois schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Illinois schools. 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 Ccsd 62?
Besides Central Elem School, Ccsd 62 also operates Forest Elem School (658 students), Chippewa Middle School (652 students), and North Elementary School (599 students). See the Ccsd 62 district page for the complete list.