- Enrollment
- 804
- Students per teacher
- 19.6:1
- Resource Index
- 18/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Hastings, MI
Central Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Central Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 32/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 261797005469
👥 S:T ratio 47
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 52
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Central Elementary School earns 32/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 82% of Michigan schools.
- #1 of 4
- elementary schools in Hastings · Resource Index
- 32
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.3:1
- small classes for Michigan
- 59.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Central Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 82% of Michigan schools. Computed live against every Michigan school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Central Elementary School ranks #1 of 4 elementary schools in Hastings, MI.
School address
District: Hastings Area School District · Michigan
NCES ID 261797005469 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-20 students YoY
Central Elementary School shrank from 284 students in 2022-23 to 264 in 2023-24 (-7.0%).
Teacher FTE held 18.5 → 18.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-20 students YoY 261797005469 · Hastings, MI Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
239 enr · 13.3:1 · 59.2% lunch · RII 32
Nearest enrollment peer: Hastings High School (804 students)
Central Elementary School shrank from 284 students in 2022-23 to 264 in 2023-24 (-7.0%). Teacher FTE held 18.5 → 18.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Michigan schools → · Find another →
Central Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Hastings High
Hastings High School
804 students
- Hastings Middl
Hastings Middle School
584 students
- Northeastern E 306
Northeastern Elementary School
306 students
- Star Elementar 287
Star Elementary School
287 students
- Southeastern E 261
Southeastern Elementary School
261 students
- This school 239
Central Elementary School
239 students
What this shows Central Elementary School reports 239 students on the CCD universe file.
How Central Elementary School compares
Central Elementary School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Michigan and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Michigan | Michigan avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.3:1 | ▼ 24% | 17.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 59.2% | ▲ 9% | 54.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 239 | top 70% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.3:1
Leaner classes than 64% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
239
Bigger than 24% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
59.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 9% above the Michigan average of 54.3%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
13.3:1
students per teacher
- 24% below state mean
Top 18% in Michigan - lower ratio than 82% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
42.7%
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
$13,253
per pupil, district-wide
- below Michigan avg of $15,012
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 239 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: 3.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 87.9%
Two or More 6.3%
Hispanic or Latino 5.4%
African American 0.4%
Largest group: White at 87.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 22.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 22.0, Central Elementary School is less mixed than the Michigan school average of 36.2.
Programs
District finance for Hastings Area School District reports $13,253 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hastings High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Hastings Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Northeastern Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Star Elementary School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Southeastern Elementary School | Similar size | Similar 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
- 584
- Students per teacher
- 19.5:1
- Resource Index
- 13/100
- Enrollment
- 306
- Students per teacher
- 17:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 287
- Students per teacher
- 15.9:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 261
- Students per teacher
- 14.5:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
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 (~239 students)
Frequently asked questions about Central Elementary School
How many students attend Central Elementary School?
Central Elementary School has 239 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Hastings, MI. CCD year-over-year: 284 (2022-23) → 264 (2023-24), down 20.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Central Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Central Elementary School is 13.3:1, which is 24% lower than the Michigan average of 17.5:1 and 15% 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?
59.2% of students at Central Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Michigan average of 54.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Central Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Central Elementary School is White at 87.9% of enrollment, in Hastings, MI.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Central Elementary School?
Central Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 32/100 (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 Hastings?
By Resource Investment Index, Central Elementary School ranks #1 of 4 elementary schools in Hastings, MI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Hastings on the city page.
What other schools are in Hastings Area School District?
Besides Central Elementary School, Hastings Area School District also operates Hastings High School (804 students), Hastings Middle School (584 students), and Northeastern Elementary School (306 students). See the Hastings Area School District district page for the complete list.