Enrollment
291
Alabama · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Tuscaloosa, AL
Central Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Central Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 40/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 010336001252
👥 S:T ratio 47
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 42
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Central Elementary School earns 40/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 94% of Alabama schools.
- #7 of 13
- schools in Tuscaloosa · Resource Index
- 40
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.2:1
- small classes for Alabama
- 82.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Central Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 94% of Alabama schools. Computed live against every Alabama school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Central Elementary School ranks #7 of 13 schools in Tuscaloosa, AL.
School address
District: Tuscaloosa City · Alabama
NCES ID 010336001252 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
22.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13.2:1
vs 17.7:1 Alabama avg
-25% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
82.5%
vs 58.8% Alabama avg
+40% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Central Elementary School compares with Alabama and U.S. medians
What stands out at Central Elementary School
Central Elementary School is a high-poverty, mid-sized combined-grade school in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, enrolling 291 students.
Classes run notably small here: at 13.2:1, Central Elementary School is leaner than roughly 94% of Alabama schools and 25% under the state's 17.7:1 norm, more adult attention per pupil than most peers.
Economic need is high: 82.5% of students qualify for free meals, 40% above the Alabama average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
Enrollment of 291 puts it in the smaller third of Alabama schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 1,365 scored Alabama schools.
Against 199 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #91.
Its student body is predominantly African American (80% of enrollment) (diversity index 32/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 291 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 47.8% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 18.0% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Tuscaloosa's public schools, it stands alongside Rock Quarry Elementary School (671 students): Central Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (13.2:1 vs 18.1:1).
Tuscaloosa City also operates Northridge High School (1,153 students) and Paul W Bryant High School (1,134 students) alongside Central Elementary School.
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 School compares
Central Elementary School on the metrics families compare, against Alabama and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Alabama | Alabama avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.2:1 | ▼ 25% | 17.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 82.5% | ▲ 40% | 58.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 291 | top 82% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.2:1
Leaner classes than 65% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
291
Bigger than 31% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
82.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 40% above the Alabama average of 58.8%
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
13.2:1
students per teacher
- 25% below state mean
Top 6% in Alabama - lower ratio than 94% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
47.8%
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
$12,947
per pupil, district-wide
- above Alabama avg of $12,491
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 291 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 8 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.7 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 80.4%
Hispanic or Latino 17.2%
Two or More 1.7%
White 0.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: African American at 80.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 32.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 32.4, Central Elementary School is less mixed than the Alabama school average of 42.5.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Tuscaloosa City, which includes Central Elementary School.
$12,947
Per student
+4%
vs Alabama
Avg $12,491
-22%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 39.7%
State 42.3%
Federal 18.0%
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 School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northridge High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Paul W Bryant High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Central High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Northridge Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Eastwood Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Central Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,153
- Students per teacher
- 22.6:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 1,134
- Students per teacher
- 22.2:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 796
- Students per teacher
- 17.3:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 775
- Students per teacher
- 16.5:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 711
- Students per teacher
- 19.8:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
Similar other schools in Tuscaloosa
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Rock Quarry Elementary School
Standard public school
671 students 18.1:1 students per teacher
Southview Elementary School
Standard public school
644 students 16.9:1 students per teacher
The Alberta School of Performing Arts
Standard public school
632 students 13.4:1 students per teacher
Verner Elementary School
Standard public school
608 students 17.9:1 students per teacher
Taylorville Primary School
Standard public school
578 students 20.6:1 students per teacher
University Place Elementary School
Standard public school
570 students 16.3:1 students per teacher
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Alabama, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~291 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Central Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Central Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Tuscaloosa City'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 School
How many students attend Central Elementary School?
Central Elementary School has 291 students enrolled. It is a public school in Tuscaloosa, AL.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Central Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Central Elementary School is 13.2:1, which is 25% lower than the Alabama average of 17.7:1 and 16% 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 School?
82.5% of students at Central Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Alabama average of 58.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Central Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Central Elementary School is African American at 80.4% of enrollment, in Tuscaloosa, AL.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Central Elementary School?
Central Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 40/100 (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 School rank among schools in Tuscaloosa?
By Resource Investment Index, Central Elementary School ranks #7 of 13 schools in Tuscaloosa, AL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Tuscaloosa on the city page.
Is Central Elementary School a good school?
Central Elementary School earns 40/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 94% of Alabama 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 Tuscaloosa City?
Besides Central Elementary School, Tuscaloosa City also operates Northridge High School (1,153 students), Paul W Bryant High School (1,134 students), and Central High School (796 students). See the Tuscaloosa City district page for the complete list.
Related tools
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.