Enrollment
371
Illinois · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Riverside, IL
Central Elem School
Federal NCES profile for Central Elem School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 61/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 173399003493
👥 S:T ratio 44
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 69
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Central Elem School earns 61/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Illinois median.
- #3 of 3
- schools in Riverside · Resource Index
- 61
- Resource Index · Higher
- 13.9:1
- students per teacher
- 371
- students enrolled
Central Elem School has class sizes near the Illinois median. Computed live against every Illinois school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Central Elem School ranks #3 of 3 schools in Riverside, IL.
School address
District: Riverside Sd 96 · Illinois
NCES ID 173399003493 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
27.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13.9:1
vs 14:1 Illinois avg
-1% 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 combined-grade school in Riverside, Illinois, enrolling 371 students.
At 13.9:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the Illinois median, within a few percentage points of the 14:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
With 371 students, its enrollment sits close to the Illinois median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index outscores 95% 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 (62%) and Hispanic or Latino (27%) (diversity index 54/100).
12.4% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
Among Riverside's public schools, it stands alongside A F Ames Elem School (482 students): Central Elem School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (13.9:1 vs 15.2:1).
Riverside Sd 96 also operates L J Hauser Jr High School (597 students) and A F Ames Elem School (482 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 | 13.9:1 | ▼ 1% | 14:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Enrollment | 371 | top 50% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.9:1
Leaner classes than 60% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
371
Bigger than 43% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Staffing depth
13.9:1
students per teacher
- 1% below state mean
Top 54% in Illinois - lower ratio than 46% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
12.4%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$16,099
per pupil, district-wide
- below Illinois avg of $17,042
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
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 371 Top 50% in Illinois - larger than 50% of 3,845 state schools
Teachers (FTE) 27.0
Students per teacher 13.9:1 -1% vs state
Free-lunch eligible -
NCES ID 173399003493
Student demographics
White 62.0%
Hispanic or Latino 27.0%
Two or More 7.0%
African American 2.2%
Asian 1.9%
Largest group: White at 62.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 53.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 53.7, 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 12.4%
In-school suspensions 0
Out-of-school suspensions 0
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Riverside Sd 96, which includes Central Elem School.
$16,099
Per student
-6%
vs Illinois
Avg $17,042
-3%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 82.3%
State 12.9%
Federal 4.8%
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| L J Hauser Jr High School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| A F Ames Elem School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| Blythe Park Elem School | Smaller | No free-lunch data | Lower S:T ratio |
| Hollywood Elem School | Smaller | No free-lunch data | Lower 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
- 597
- Students per teacher
- 12.5:1
- Resource Index
- 60/100
- Enrollment
- 482
- Students per teacher
- 15.2:1
- Resource Index
- 62/100
- Enrollment
- 230
- Students per teacher
- 11.5:1
- Resource Index
- 67/100
- Enrollment
- 114
- Students per teacher
- 12:1
- Resource Index
- 62/100
Similar other schools in Riverside
2 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Central Elem School's federal record.
- Compare Central Elem School against another school. Compare schools
- Riverside Sd 96'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 371 students enrolled. It is a public school in Riverside, IL.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Central Elem School?
The student-teacher ratio at Central Elem School is 13.9:1, which is 1% lower than the Illinois average of 14:1 and 11% 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 62.0% of enrollment, in Riverside, IL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 53.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Central Elem School?
Central Elem School has a Resource Investment Index of 61/100 (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 schools in Riverside?
By Resource Investment Index, Central Elem School ranks #3 of 3 schools in Riverside, IL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Riverside on the city page.
Is Central Elem School a good school?
Central Elem School earns 61/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Illinois 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 Riverside Sd 96?
Besides Central Elem School, Riverside Sd 96 also operates L J Hauser Jr High School (597 students), A F Ames Elem School (482 students), and Blythe Park Elem School (230 students). See the Riverside Sd 96 district page for the complete list.