- Enrollment
- 2,485
- Students per teacher
- 25.9:1
- Resource Index
- 21/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · San Diego, CA
Central Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Central Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 29/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 063432005431
👥 S:T ratio 20
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 67
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Central Elementary earns 29/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median.
- #96 of 179
- elementary schools in San Diego · Resource Index
- 29
- Resource Index · Lower
- 19.9:1
- students per teacher
- 84.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Central Elementary has class sizes near the California median. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Central Elementary ranks #96 of 179 elementary schools in San Diego, CA.
School address
District: San Diego Unified · California
NCES ID 063432005431 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-39 students YoY
Central Elementary shrank from 533 students in 2022-23 to 494 in 2023-24 (-7.3%).
Teacher FTE lost 25.4 → 24.4 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-39 students YoY 063432005431 · San Diego, CA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
497 enr · 19.9:1 · 84.4% lunch · RII 29
Nearest enrollment peer: Henry High (2,485 students)
Central Elementary shrank from 533 students in 2022-23 to 494 in 2023-24 (-7.3%). Teacher FTE lost 25.4 → 24.4 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Central Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Henry High
Henry High
2,485 students
- Mira Mesa High
Mira Mesa High
2,187 students
- Hoover High
Hoover High
2,011 students
- Scripps Ranch
Scripps Ranch High
1,890 students
- Point Loma Hig
Point Loma High
1,724 students
- This school 497
Central Elementary
497 students
What this shows Central Elementary reports 497 students on the CCD universe file.
How Central Elementary compares
Central Elementary is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 19.9:1 | ▼ 7% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 84.4% | ▲ 52% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 497 | top 46% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19.9:1
Leaner classes than 16% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
497
Bigger than 61% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
84.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 52% above the California average of 55.5%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
19.9:1
students per teacher
- 7% below state mean
Top 34% in California - lower ratio than 66% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
70.6%
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
$20,783
per pupil, district-wide
- above California avg of $18,665
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 166 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
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.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 69.0%
Asian 14.5%
African American 13.5%
Two or More 1.4%
White 1.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.4%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 69.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 48.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 48.4, Central Elementary is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
District finance for San Diego Unified reports $20,783 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Central Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Henry High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Mira Mesa High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Hoover High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Scripps Ranch High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Point Loma High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Central Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,187
- Students per teacher
- 24.9:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 2,011
- Students per teacher
- 20.5:1
- Resource Index
- 12/100
- Enrollment
- 1,890
- Students per teacher
- 27:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 1,724
- Students per teacher
- 26.1:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
Similar elementary schools in San Diego
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Albert Einstein Academies
Standard public school
1,448 students 24.1:1 students per teacher
Design 39 Campus
Standard public school
1,216 students 27:1 students per teacher
Nestor Language Academy Charter
Standard public school
1,079 students 25.7:1 students per teacher
Ocean View Hills
Standard public school
1,020 students 23.7:1 students per teacher
Language Academy
Standard public school
1,015 students 22.6:1 students per teacher
Del Sur Elementary
Standard public school
891 students 24.1:1 students per teacher
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 (~497 students)
Frequently asked questions about Central Elementary
How many students attend Central Elementary?
Central Elementary has 497 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in San Diego, CA. CCD year-over-year: 533 (2022-23) → 494 (2023-24), down 39.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Central Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Central Elementary is 19.9:1, which is 7% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 27% higher than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Central Elementary?
84.4% of students at Central Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Central Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Central Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 69.0% of enrollment, in San Diego, CA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Central Elementary?
Central Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 29/100 (lower 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 Elementary rank among elementary schools in San Diego?
By Resource Investment Index, Central Elementary ranks #96 of 179 elementary schools in San Diego, CA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in San Diego on the city page.
What other schools are in San Diego Unified?
Besides Central Elementary, San Diego Unified also operates Henry High (2,485 students), Mira Mesa High (2,187 students), and Hoover High (2,011 students). See the San Diego Unified district page for the complete list.