- Enrollment
- 1,856
- Students per teacher
- 20.6:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Plainfield, IN
Central Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Central Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 45/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 180897001493
👥 S:T ratio 29
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 79
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Central Elementary School earns 45/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 77% of Indiana schools.
- #4 of 5
- elementary schools in Plainfield · Resource Index
- 45
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.7:1
- large classes for Indiana
- 25.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Central Elementary School has class sizes larger than 77% of Indiana schools. Computed live against every Indiana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Central Elementary School ranks #4 of 5 elementary schools in Plainfield, IN.
School address
District: Plainfield Community School Corp · Indiana
NCES ID 180897001493 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-1 students YoY
Central Elementary School held near 581 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-1 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 31.4 → 33.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-1 students YoY 180897001493 · Plainfield, IN Elementary · MID · TRAD
549 enr · 17.7:1 · 25.6% lunch · RII 45
Nearest enrollment peer: Plainfield High School (1,856 students)
Central Elementary School held near 581 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-1 headcount). Teacher FTE added 31.4 → 33.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Indiana schools → · Find another →
Central Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Plainfield Hig
Plainfield High School
1,856 students
- Plainfield Com
Plainfield Community Middle School
1,378 students
- This school 549
Central Elementary School
549 students
- Clarks Creek E 544
Clarks Creek Elementary
544 students
- Van Buren Elem 514
Van Buren Elementary School
514 students
- Guilford Eleme 434
Guilford Elementary
434 students
What this shows Central Elementary School reports 549 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 Indiana and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Indiana | Indiana avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.7:1 | ▲ 11% | 15.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 25.6% | ▼ 48% | 49.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 549 | top 34% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.7:1
Leaner classes than 26% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
549
Bigger than 68% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
25.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 48% below the Indiana average of 49.5%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
17.7:1
students per teacher
- 11% above state mean
Top 77% in Indiana - lower ratio than 23% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
8.4%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
Funding equity
$9,973
per pupil, district-wide
- below Indiana avg of $12,921
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 549 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 7 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 73.8%
African American 7.8%
Hispanic or Latino 7.8%
Two or More 6.4%
Asian 4.2%
Largest group: White at 73.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 43.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 43.7, Central Elementary School is more mixed than the Indiana school average of 39.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Plainfield Community School Corp reports $9,973 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plainfield High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Plainfield Community Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Clarks Creek Elementary | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Van Buren Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Guilford Elementary | Similar size | 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
- 1,378
- Students per teacher
- 17.4:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 544
- Students per teacher
- 18.1:1
- Resource Index
- 54/100
- Enrollment
- 514
- Students per teacher
- 16.6:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 434
- Students per teacher
- 15:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
Similar elementary schools in Plainfield
4 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Clarks Creek Elementary
Standard public school
544 students 18.1:1 students per teacher
Van Buren Elementary School
Standard public school
514 students 16.6:1 students per teacher
Guilford Elementary
Standard public school
434 students 15:1 students per teacher
Brentwood Elementary School
Standard public school
420 students 16.2:1 students per teacher
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 (~549 students)
Frequently asked questions about Central Elementary School
How many students attend Central Elementary School?
Central Elementary School has 549 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Plainfield, IN. CCD year-over-year: 582 (2022-23) → 581 (2023-24), nearly flat (-1).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Central Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Central Elementary School is 17.7:1, which is 11% higher than the Indiana average of 15.9:1 and 13% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Central Elementary School?
25.6% of students at Central Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Indiana average of 49.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Central Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Central Elementary School is White at 73.8% of enrollment, in Plainfield, IN.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Central Elementary School?
Central Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 45/100 (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 School rank among elementary schools in Plainfield?
By Resource Investment Index, Central Elementary School ranks #4 of 5 elementary schools in Plainfield, IN. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Plainfield on the city page.
What other schools are in Plainfield Community School Corp?
Besides Central Elementary School, Plainfield Community School Corp also operates Plainfield High School (1,856 students), Plainfield Community Middle School (1,378 students), and Clarks Creek Elementary (544 students). See the Plainfield Community School Corp district page for the complete list.