- Enrollment
- 1,161
- Students per teacher
- 14.3:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Hillsborough, NC
Central Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Central Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 58/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 370348001443
👥 S:T ratio 60
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 48
📋 Attendance 55
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Central Elementary earns 58/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 94% of North Carolina schools.
- #1 of 6
- schools in Hillsborough · Resource Index
- 58
- Resource Index · Higher
- 10:1
- small classes for North Carolina
- 72.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Central Elementary has class sizes smaller than 94% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Central Elementary ranks #1 of 6 schools in Hillsborough, NC.
School address
District: Orange County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370348001443 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-9 students YoY
Central Elementary held near 287 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-9 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 26.2 → 25.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-9 students YoY 370348001443 · Hillsborough, NC Other · SMALL · TRAD
261 enr · 10:1 · 72.6% lunch · RII 58
Nearest enrollment peer: Orange High (1,161 students)
Central Elementary held near 287 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-9 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 26.2 → 25.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Central Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Orange High
Orange High
1,161 students
- Cedar Ridge Hi
Cedar Ridge High
1,148 students
- A L Stanback M
A L Stanback Middle
648 students
- Efland Cheeks
Efland Cheeks Elementary
532 students
- New Hope Eleme
New Hope Elementary
528 students
- This school 261
Central Elementary
261 students
What this shows Central Elementary reports 261 students on the CCD universe file.
How Central Elementary compares
Central Elementary held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs North Carolina and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs North Carolina | North Carolina avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 10:1 | ▼ 37% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 72.6% | ▲ 10% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 261 | top 82% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
10:1
Leaner classes than 89% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
261
Bigger than 27% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
72.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 10% above the North Carolina average of 66.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
10:1
students per teacher
- 37% below state mean
Top 6% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 94% 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
$14,399
per pupil, district-wide
- above North Carolina avg of $12,294
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 261 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 9 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 3.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 40.2%
African American 27.6%
Hispanic or Latino 24.1%
Two or More 6.5%
Asian 1.5%
Largest group: White at 40.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 70.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 70.0, Central Elementary is more mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Orange County Schools reports $14,399 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orange High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Cedar Ridge High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| A L Stanback Middle | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Efland Cheeks Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| New Hope Elementary | Larger | Similar 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
- 1,148
- Students per teacher
- 18.5:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 648
- Students per teacher
- 14.4:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
- Enrollment
- 532
- Students per teacher
- 14:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 528
- Students per teacher
- 12.3:1
- Resource Index
- 55/100
Similar other schools in Hillsborough
5 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Eno River Academy
Standard public school
828 students 13.8:1 students per teacher
River Park Elementary
Standard public school
523 students 13.1:1 students per teacher
Hillsborough Elementary
Standard public school
435 students 13.6:1 students per teacher
Grady Brown Elementary
Standard public school
406 students 11.3:1 students per teacher
Pathways Elementary
Standard public school
371 students 14.3:1 students per teacher
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 (~261 students)
Frequently asked questions about Central Elementary
How many students attend Central Elementary?
Central Elementary has 261 students enrolled. It is a public school in Hillsborough, NC. CCD year-over-year: 296 (2022-23) → 287 (2023-24), nearly flat (-9).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Central Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Central Elementary is 10:1, which is 37% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 36% lower 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?
72.6% of students at Central Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Central Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Central Elementary is White at 40.2% of enrollment, in Hillsborough, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 70.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Central Elementary?
Central Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 58/100 (higher 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 schools in Hillsborough?
By Resource Investment Index, Central Elementary ranks #1 of 6 schools in Hillsborough, NC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Hillsborough on the city page.
What other schools are in Orange County Schools?
Besides Central Elementary, Orange County Schools also operates Orange High (1,161 students), Cedar Ridge High (1,148 students), and A L Stanback Middle (648 students). See the Orange County Schools district page for the complete list.