Enrollment
409
Indiana · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Portage, IN
Central Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Central Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 33/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 180915001508
👥 S:T ratio 22
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 46
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Central Elementary School earns 33/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 89% of Indiana schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Indiana schools.
- #3 of 6
- elementary schools in Portage · Resource Index
- 33
- Resource Index · Typical
- 19.5:1
- large classes for Indiana
- 66.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Central Elementary School has class sizes larger than 89% of Indiana schools. Computed live against every Indiana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Central Elementary School ranks #3 of 6 elementary schools in Portage, IN.
School address
District: Portage Township Schools · Indiana
NCES ID 180915001508 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
21.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
19.5:1
vs 15.9:1 Indiana avg
+23% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
66.2%
vs 49.5% Indiana avg
+34% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Central Elementary School compares with Indiana and U.S. medians
What stands out at Central Elementary School
Central Elementary School is a higher-need, mid-sized elementary school in Portage, Indiana, enrolling 409 students.
Class loads run heavy: 19.5:1 is larger than about 89% of Indiana schools and 23% above the 15.9:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 66.2% of students eligible for free meals.
With 409 students, its enrollment sits close to the Indiana median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,862 scored Indiana schools.
Among 388 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Indiana schools statewide, it ranks #311, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (46%) and Hispanic or Latino (30%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 67/100).
Attendance runs somewhat below the norm, with 21.5% of students chronically absent per the 2021-22 civil-rights collection.
Among Portage's elementary schools, it stands alongside Rowena Kyle Elementary School (437 students): Central Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (19.5:1 vs 20.8:1).
Portage Township Schools also operates Portage High School (2,163 students) and Willowcreek Middle School (920 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 Indiana and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Indiana | Indiana avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 19.5:1 | ▲ 23% | 15.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 66.2% | ▲ 34% | 49.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 409 | top 58% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19.5:1
Leaner classes than 18% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
409
Bigger than 49% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
66.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 34% above the Indiana average of 49.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
19.5:1
students per teacher
- 23% above state mean
Top 89% in Indiana - lower ratio than 11% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
21.5%
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
$11,452
per pupil, district-wide
- below Indiana avg of $12,079
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
6
in-school suspensions + 32 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 9.3 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
White 45.7%
Hispanic or Latino 29.6%
African American 15.6%
Two or More 8.3%
Asian 0.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 45.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 67.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 67.2, Central Elementary School is more mixed than the Indiana school average of 39.0.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Portage Township Schools, which includes Central Elementary School.
$11,452
Per student
-5%
vs Indiana
Avg $12,079
-31%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 22.8%
State 65.1%
Federal 12.2%
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portage High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Willowcreek Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| William Fegely Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Rowena Kyle Elementary School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Wallace Aylesworth Elementary | Similar size | Similar 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
- 2,163
- Students per teacher
- 18.3:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 920
- Students per teacher
- 15.1:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 566
- Students per teacher
- 14.2:1
- Resource Index
- 18/100
- Enrollment
- 437
- Students per teacher
- 20.8:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 401
- Students per teacher
- 21.1:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Similar elementary schools in Portage
5 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Rowena Kyle Elementary School
Standard public school
437 students 20.8:1 students per teacher
Wallace Aylesworth Elementary
Standard public school
401 students 21.1:1 students per teacher
Ethel R Jones Elementary School
Standard public school
363 students 21.4:1 students per teacher
Crisman Elementary School
Standard public school
343 students 17.1:1 students per teacher
George L Myers Elementary School
Standard public school
332 students 19.5:1 students per teacher
Similar elementary schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Indiana, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~409 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Central Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Central Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Portage Township 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 School
How many students attend Central Elementary School?
Central Elementary School has 409 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Portage, IN.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Central Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Central Elementary School is 19.5:1, which is 23% higher than the Indiana average of 15.9:1 and 24% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Central Elementary School?
66.2% 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 45.7% of enrollment, in Portage, IN. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 67.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Central Elementary School?
Central Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 33/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Central Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Portage?
By Resource Investment Index, Central Elementary School ranks #3 of 6 elementary schools in Portage, 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 Portage on the city page.
Is Central Elementary School a good school?
Central Elementary School earns 33/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 89% of Indiana schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Indiana 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 Portage Township Schools?
Besides Central Elementary School, Portage Township Schools also operates Portage High School (2,163 students), Willowcreek Middle School (920 students), and William Fegely Middle School (566 students). See the Portage Township Schools 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.