- Enrollment
- 2,089
- Students per teacher
- 20.7:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Valparaiso, IN
Central Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Central Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 53/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 181197001882
👥 S:T ratio 42
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 47
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Central Elementary School earns 53/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Indiana median. It is also one of the smallest schools in Indiana.
- #9 of 15
- elementary schools in Valparaiso · Resource Index
- 53
- Resource Index · Higher
- 14.6:1
- students per teacher
- 47.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Central Elementary School has class sizes near the Indiana median. Computed live against every Indiana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Central Elementary School ranks #9 of 15 elementary schools in Valparaiso, IN.
School address
District: Valparaiso Community Schools · Indiana
NCES ID 181197001882 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-4 students YoY
Central Elementary School held near 130 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-4 headcount).
Teacher FTE held 9.9 → 9.6 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-4 students YoY 181197001882 · Valparaiso, IN Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
131 enr · 14.6:1 · 47.0% lunch · RII 53
Nearest enrollment peer: Valparaiso High School (2,089 students)
Central Elementary School held near 130 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-4 headcount). Teacher FTE held 9.9 → 9.6 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
- Valparaiso Hig
Valparaiso High School
2,089 students
- Benjamin Frank 823
Benjamin Franklin Middle School
823 students
- Thomas Jeffers 632
Thomas Jefferson Middle School
632 students
- Cooks Corners 487
Cooks Corners Elementary School
487 students
- Heavilin Eleme 479
Heavilin Elementary School
479 students
- This school 131
Central Elementary School
131 students
What this shows Central Elementary School reports 131 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 | 14.6:1 | ▼ 8% | 15.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 47.0% | ▼ 5% | 49.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 131 | top 96% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.6:1
Leaner classes than 51% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
131
Bigger than 13% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
47.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 5% below the Indiana average of 49.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
14.6:1
students per teacher
- 8% below state mean
Top 41% in Indiana - lower ratio than 59% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
21.4%
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
$11,533
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
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
3
in-school suspensions + 9 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 9.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 63.4%
Hispanic or Latino 25.2%
African American 4.6%
Two or More 3.8%
Asian 2.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.8%
Largest group: White at 63.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 53.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 53.0, Central Elementary School is more mixed than the Indiana school average of 39.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Valparaiso Community Schools reports $11,533 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valparaiso High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Benjamin Franklin Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Thomas Jefferson Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Cooks Corners Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Heavilin Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar 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
- 823
- Students per teacher
- 16.5:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 632
- Students per teacher
- 14.4:1
- Resource Index
- 58/100
- Enrollment
- 487
- Students per teacher
- 23.2:1
- Resource Index
- 54/100
- Enrollment
- 479
- Students per teacher
- 16:1
- Resource Index
- 62/100
Similar elementary schools in Valparaiso
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Cooks Corners Elementary School
Standard public school
487 students 23.2:1 students per teacher
Heavilin Elementary School
Standard public school
479 students 16:1 students per teacher
Flint Lake Elementary School
Standard public school
476 students 15.9:1 students per teacher
Memorial Elementary School
Standard public school
434 students 19.7:1 students per teacher
Union Center Elementary School
Standard public school
386 students 17.5:1 students per teacher
Jackson Elementary School
Standard public school
348 students 16.6:1 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 (~131 students)
Frequently asked questions about Central Elementary School
How many students attend Central Elementary School?
Central Elementary School has 131 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Valparaiso, IN. CCD year-over-year: 134 (2022-23) → 130 (2023-24), nearly flat (-4).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Central Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Central Elementary School is 14.6:1, which is 8% lower than the Indiana average of 15.9:1 and 7% 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?
47.0% 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 63.4% of enrollment, in Valparaiso, IN. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 53.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Central Elementary School?
Central Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 53/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, 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 Valparaiso?
By Resource Investment Index, Central Elementary School ranks #9 of 15 elementary schools in Valparaiso, 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 Valparaiso on the city page.
What other schools are in Valparaiso Community Schools?
Besides Central Elementary School, Valparaiso Community Schools also operates Valparaiso High School (2,089 students), Benjamin Franklin Middle School (823 students), and Thomas Jefferson Middle School (632 students). See the Valparaiso Community Schools district page for the complete list.