Enrollment
484
North Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Elizabeth City, NC
Central Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Central Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 34/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 370354001452
👥 S:T ratio 12
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 3
📋 Attendance 52
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Central Elementary earns 34/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 93% of North Carolina schools.
- #4 of 6
- elementary schools in Elizabeth City · Resource Index
- 34
- Resource Index · Typical
- 22:1
- large classes for North Carolina
- 99.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Central Elementary has class sizes larger than 93% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Central Elementary ranks #4 of 6 elementary schools in Elizabeth City, NC.
School address
NCES ID 370354001452 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
22.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
22:1
vs 15.8:1 North Carolina avg
+39% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
99.1%
vs 66.0% North Carolina avg
+50% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Central Elementary compares with North Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at Central Elementary
Central Elementary is a high-poverty, mid-sized elementary school in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, enrolling 484 students.
Class loads run heavy: 22:1 is larger than about 93% of North Carolina schools and 39% above the 15.8:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 99.1% of students eligible for free meals.
With 484 students, its enrollment sits close to the North Carolina median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 2,698 scored North Carolina schools.
Against 565 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #345.
Its student body is led by African American (45%) and White (36%) (diversity index 66/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 484 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Attendance runs somewhat below the norm, with 19.4% of students chronically absent per the 2021-22 civil-rights collection.
Its district draws 19.4% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Elizabeth City's elementary schools, it stands alongside Northside Elementary (419 students): Central Elementary is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (22:1 vs 15.5:1).
Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Public Schools also operates Northeastern High (658 students) and Pasquotank County High (653 students) alongside Central Elementary.
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 Elementary compares
Central Elementary on the metrics families compare, against North Carolina and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs North Carolina | North Carolina avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 22:1 | ▲ 39% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 99.1% | ▲ 50% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 484 | top 51% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
22:1
Leaner classes than 10% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
484
Bigger than 60% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
99.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 50% 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
22:1
students per teacher
- 39% above state mean
Top 93% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 7% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
19.4%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$13,245
per pupil, district-wide
- above North Carolina avg of $12,017
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 484 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
2
in-school suspensions + 24 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
African American 44.6%
White 36.2%
Hispanic or Latino 9.9%
Two or More 7.0%
Asian 1.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Largest group: African American at 44.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 65.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 65.5, Central Elementary is more mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Public Schools, which includes Central Elementary.
$13,245
Per student
+10%
vs North Carolina
Avg $12,017
-20%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 18.8%
State 61.8%
Federal 19.4%
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 Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northeastern High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Pasquotank County High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Elizabeth City Middle | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Sheep-Harney Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Northside Elementary | Similar size | 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
- 658
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 653
- Students per teacher
- 16.7:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 484
- Students per teacher
- 13.1:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 441
- Students per teacher
- 15.2:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 419
- Students per teacher
- 15.5:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
Similar elementary schools in Elizabeth City
5 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Northside Elementary
Standard public school
419 students 15.5:1 students per teacher
J C Sawyer Elementary
Standard public school
400 students 15.4:1 students per teacher
P W Moore Elementary
Standard public school
353 students 13.6:1 students per teacher
Weeksville Elementary
Standard public school
304 students 19:1 students per teacher
Pasquotank Elementary
Standard public school
270 students 12.9:1 students per teacher
Similar elementary schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of North Carolina, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~484 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~22:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Central Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Central Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Public Schools'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 Elementary
How many students attend Central Elementary?
Central Elementary has 484 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Elizabeth City, NC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Central Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Central Elementary is 22:1, which is 39% higher than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 40% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Central Elementary?
99.1% 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 African American at 44.6% of enrollment, in Elizabeth City, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 65.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Central Elementary?
Central Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 34/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Central Elementary rank among elementary schools in Elizabeth City?
By Resource Investment Index, Central Elementary ranks #4 of 6 elementary schools in Elizabeth City, NC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Elizabeth City on the city page.
Is Central Elementary a good school?
Central Elementary earns 34/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 93% of North Carolina schools. 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 Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Public Schools?
Besides Central Elementary, Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Public Schools also operates Northeastern High (658 students), Pasquotank County High (653 students), and Elizabeth City Middle (484 students). See the Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Public Schools district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Compare schools
Side-by-side comparison tool
Schools in North Carolina
All public schools in North Carolina
Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Public Schools
All schools in this district
Schools in Elizabeth City
All schools in this city
School districts
Ranked by enrollment & spending
Rankings
Best schools by state & type
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.