- Enrollment
- 563
- Students per teacher
- 8.9:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Forrest City, AR
Central Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Central Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 22/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 050627001425
👥 S:T ratio 5
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 5
📋 Attendance 49
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Central Elementary School earns 22/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 99% of Arkansas schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Arkansas schools.
- #4 of 4
- public schools in Forrest City · Resource Index
- 22
- Resource Index · Lower
- 23.8:1
- large classes for Arkansas
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Central Elementary School has class sizes larger than 99% of Arkansas schools. Computed live against every Arkansas school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Central Elementary School ranks #4 of 4 public schools in Forrest City, AR.
School address
District: Forrest City School District · Arkansas
NCES ID 050627001425 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-16 students YoY
Central Elementary School held near 709 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-16 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 31.0 → 28.9 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-16 students YoY 050627001425 · Forrest City, AR Other · MID · TRAD
713 enr · 23.8:1 · 100.0% lunch · RII 22
Nearest enrollment peer: Forrest City High School (563 students)
Central Elementary School held near 709 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-16 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 31.0 → 28.9 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arkansas schools → · Find another →
Central Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- This school
Central Elementary School
713 students
- Forrest City H
Forrest City High School
563 students
- Stewart Elemen
Stewart Elementary School
400 students
- Forrest City J 270
Forrest City Jr. High
270 students
- Lincoln Academ 132
Lincoln Academy
132 students
What this shows Central Elementary School reports 713 students on the CCD universe file.
How Central Elementary School compares
Central Elementary School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Arkansas and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Arkansas | Arkansas avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 23.8:1 | ▲ 75% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 69% | 59.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 713 | top 12% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
23.8:1
Leaner classes than 7% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
713
Bigger than 81% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
100.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 69% above the Arkansas average of 59.2%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
23.8:1
students per teacher
- 75% above state mean
Top 99% in Arkansas - lower ratio than 1% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
20.6%
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
$14,410
per pupil, district-wide
- above Arkansas avg of $12,818
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.5 FTE
Per 475 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 96.6%
White 2.8%
Hispanic or Latino 0.3%
Asian 0.3%
Largest group: African American at 96.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 6.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 6.6, Central Elementary School is less mixed than the Arkansas school average of 40.4.
Programs
District finance for Forrest City School District reports $14,410 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Central Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forrest City High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Stewart Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Forrest City Jr. High | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Lincoln Academy | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower 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
- 400
- Students per teacher
- 20:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 270
- Students per teacher
- 15.9:1
- Resource Index
- 54/100
- Enrollment
- 132
- Students per teacher
- 13.2:1
- Resource Index
- 70/100
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 (~713 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~23.8:1)
Frequently asked questions about Central Elementary School
How many students attend Central Elementary School?
Central Elementary School has 713 students enrolled. It is a public school in Forrest City, AR. CCD year-over-year: 725 (2022-23) → 709 (2023-24), nearly flat (-16).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Central Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Central Elementary School is 23.8:1, which is 75% higher than the Arkansas average of 13.6:1 and 52% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Central Elementary School?
100.0% of students at Central Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arkansas average of 59.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Central Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Central Elementary School is African American at 96.6% of enrollment, in Forrest City, AR.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Central Elementary School?
Central Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 22/100 (lower 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 School rank among public schools in Forrest City?
By Resource Investment Index, Central Elementary School ranks #4 of 4 public schools in Forrest City, AR. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking.
What other schools are in Forrest City School District?
Besides Central Elementary School, Forrest City School District also operates Forrest City High School (563 students), Stewart Elementary School (400 students), and Forrest City Jr. High (270 students). See the Forrest City School District district page for the complete list.