- Enrollment
- 319
- Students per teacher
- 15.9:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Sidney, MT
Central Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Central Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 43/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 302420000699
👥 S:T ratio 36
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 46
📋 Attendance 59
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Central Elementary earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 85% of Montana schools.
- #3 of 6
- public schools in Sidney · Resource Index
- 43
- Resource Index · Typical
- 16:1
- large classes for Montana
- 272
- students enrolled
Central Elementary has class sizes larger than 85% of Montana schools. Computed live against every Montana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Central Elementary ranks #3 of 6 public schools in Sidney, MT.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+5 students YoY
Central Elementary held near 256 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+5 headcount).
Teacher FTE held 17.0 → 17.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+5 students YoY 302420000699 · Sidney, MT Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
272 enr · 16:1 · RII 43
Nearest enrollment peer: Sidney Middle School (319 students)
Central Elementary held near 256 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+5 headcount). Teacher FTE held 17.0 → 17.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Montana schools → · Find another →
Central Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Sidney Middle
Sidney Middle School
319 students
- West Side Elem
West Side Elementary
288 students
- This school
Central Elementary
272 students
What this shows Central Elementary reports 272 students on the CCD universe file.
How Central Elementary compares
Central Elementary held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Montana and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Montana | Montana avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 16:1 | ▲ 36% | 11.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Enrollment | 272 | top 23% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16:1
Leaner classes than 38% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
272
Bigger than 28% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Staffing depth
16:1
students per teacher
- 36% above state mean
Top 85% in Montana - lower ratio than 15% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
16.5%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$12,008
per pupil, district-wide
- below Montana avg of $19,859
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 272 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
7
in-school suspensions + 3 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 3.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 80.9%
Hispanic or Latino 10.7%
Two or More 5.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.8%
African American 1.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.4%
Largest group: White at 80.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 33.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 33.1, Central Elementary is more mixed than the Montana school average of 23.6.
Programs
District finance for Sidney Elem reports $12,008 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sidney Middle School | Similar size | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| West Side Elementary | Similar size | No free-lunch data | 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
- 288
- Students per teacher
- 13.7:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
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 (~272 students)
Frequently asked questions about Central Elementary
How many students attend Central Elementary?
Central Elementary has 272 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Sidney, MT. CCD year-over-year: 251 (2022-23) → 256 (2023-24), nearly flat (+5).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Central Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Central Elementary is 16:1, which is 36% higher than the Montana average of 11.8:1 and 2% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Central Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Central Elementary is White at 80.9% of enrollment, in Sidney, MT.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Central Elementary?
Central Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 43/100 (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 Elementary rank among public schools in Sidney?
By Resource Investment Index, Central Elementary ranks #3 of 6 public schools in Sidney, MT. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Sidney on the city page.
What other schools are in Sidney Elem?
Besides Central Elementary, Sidney Elem also operates Sidney Middle School (319 students) and West Side Elementary (288 students). See the Sidney Elem district page for the complete list.