- Enrollment
- 1,075
- Students per teacher
- 13.4:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Ferguson, MO
Central Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Central Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 21/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 291201000454
👥 S:T ratio 33
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Central Elementary earns 21/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 91% of Missouri schools.
- #7 of 7
- public schools in Ferguson · Resource Index
- 21
- Resource Index · Lower
- 16.7:1
- large classes for Missouri
- 98.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Central Elementary has class sizes larger than 91% of Missouri schools. Computed live against every Missouri school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Central Elementary ranks #7 of 7 public schools in Ferguson, MO.
School address
District: Ferguson-Florissant R-Ii · Missouri
NCES ID 291201000454 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+97 students YoY
Central Elementary grew from 180 students in 2022-23 to 277 in 2023-24 (+53.9%).
Teacher FTE added 15.5 → 16.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+97 students YoY 291201000454 · Ferguson, MO Other · SMALL · TRAD
250 enr · 16.7:1 · 98.3% lunch · RII 21
Nearest enrollment peer: Mccluer High (1,075 students)
Central Elementary grew from 180 students in 2022-23 to 277 in 2023-24 (+53.9%). Teacher FTE added 15.5 → 16.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Missouri schools → · Find another →
Central Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Mccluer High
Mccluer High
1,075 students
- Mccluer North
Mccluer North High
1,059 students
- Cross Keys Mid
Cross Keys Middle
608 students
- Ferguson Middl
Ferguson Middle
582 students
- Steam Academy
Steam Academy at Msb High Scho
434 students
- This school 250
Central Elementary
250 students
What this shows Central Elementary reports 250 students on the CCD universe file.
How Central Elementary compares
Central Elementary is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Missouri and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Missouri | Missouri avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 16.7:1 | ▲ 30% | 12.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 98.3% | ▲ 113% | 46.1% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 250 | top 61% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.7:1
Leaner classes than 33% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
250
Bigger than 25% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
98.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 113% above the Missouri average of 46.1%
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
16.7:1
students per teacher
- 30% above state mean
Top 91% in Missouri - lower ratio than 9% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
47.2%
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
$15,424
per pupil, district-wide
- above Missouri avg of $14,087
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
15
in-school suspensions + 12 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 6.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 10.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 88.8%
Two or More 4.8%
White 3.6%
Hispanic or Latino 2.8%
Largest group: African American at 88.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 20.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 20.7, Central Elementary is less mixed than the Missouri school average of 31.0.
Programs
District finance for Ferguson-Florissant R-Ii reports $15,424 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mccluer High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Mccluer North High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Cross Keys Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Ferguson Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Steam Academy at Msb High Scho | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower 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
- 1,059
- Students per teacher
- 12.2:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 608
- Students per teacher
- 12.4:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 582
- Students per teacher
- 12.1:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 434
- Students per teacher
- 15:1
- Resource Index
- 55/100
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 (~250 students)
Frequently asked questions about Central Elementary
How many students attend Central Elementary?
Central Elementary has 250 students enrolled. It is a public school in Ferguson, MO. CCD year-over-year: 180 (2022-23) → 277 (2023-24), up 97.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Central Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Central Elementary is 16.7:1, which is 30% higher than the Missouri average of 12.8:1 and 6% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Central Elementary?
98.3% of students at Central Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Missouri average of 46.1%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Central Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Central Elementary is African American at 88.8% of enrollment, in Ferguson, MO.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Central Elementary?
Central Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 21/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Central Elementary rank among public schools in Ferguson?
By Resource Investment Index, Central Elementary ranks #7 of 7 public schools in Ferguson, MO. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Ferguson on the city page.
What other schools are in Ferguson-Florissant R-Ii?
Besides Central Elementary, Ferguson-Florissant R-Ii also operates Mccluer High (1,075 students), Mccluer North High (1,059 students), and Cross Keys Middle (608 students). See the Ferguson-Florissant R-Ii district page for the complete list.