Enrollment
234
Michigan · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Petoskey, MI
Central Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Central Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 27/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 262793007688
👥 S:T ratio 38
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 14
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Central Elementary School earns 27/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Michigan median.
- #4 of 8
- public schools in Petoskey · Resource Index
- 27
- Resource Index · Lower
- 15.6:1
- students per teacher
- 28.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Central Elementary School has class sizes near the Michigan median. Computed live against every Michigan school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Central Elementary School ranks #4 of 8 public schools in Petoskey, MI.
School address
District: Public Schools of Petoskey · Michigan
NCES ID 262793007688 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
15.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.6:1
vs 17.5:1 Michigan avg
-11% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
28.9%
vs 54.3% Michigan avg
-47% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Central Elementary School compares with Michigan and U.S. medians
What stands out at Central Elementary School
Central Elementary School is a mid-sized elementary school in Petoskey, Michigan, enrolling 234 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 15.6:1 puts it in the smaller third of Michigan schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 28.9% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 234 puts it in the smaller third of Michigan schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 3,375 scored Michigan schools.
Among 212 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Michigan schools statewide, it ranks #153, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is predominantly White (86% of enrollment) (diversity index 24/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 34.2% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Public Schools of Petoskey also operates Petoskey High School (862 students) and Petoskey Middle School (561 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 Michigan and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Michigan | Michigan avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.6:1 | ▼ 11% | 17.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 28.9% | ▼ 47% | 54.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 234 | top 71% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.6:1
Leaner classes than 41% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
234
Bigger than 23% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
28.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 47% below the Michigan average of 54.3%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
15.6:1
students per teacher
- 11% below state mean
Top 38% in Michigan - lower ratio than 62% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
34.2%
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
$13,510
per pupil, district-wide
- above Michigan avg of $13,507
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
2
in-school suspensions + 2 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.7 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 86.3%
Two or More 10.3%
Hispanic or Latino 2.6%
Asian 0.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Largest group: White at 86.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 24.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 24.4, Central Elementary School is less mixed than the Michigan school average of 36.2.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Public Schools of Petoskey, which includes Central Elementary School.
$13,510
Per student
+0%
vs Michigan
Avg $13,507
-19%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 68.5%
State 24.7%
Federal 6.8%
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petoskey High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Petoskey Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Sheridan School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Ottawa Elementary School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Lincoln School | Similar size | Higher 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
- 862
- Students per teacher
- 18.3:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
- Enrollment
- 561
- Students per teacher
- 16:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 252
- Students per teacher
- 14.8:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
- Enrollment
- 250
- Students per teacher
- 13.2:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 237
- Students per teacher
- 16.9:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
Similar elementary schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Michigan, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~234 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Central Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Central Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Public Schools of Petoskey'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 234 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Petoskey, MI.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Central Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Central Elementary School is 15.6:1, which is 11% lower than the Michigan average of 17.5:1 and 1% 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?
28.9% 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 86.3% of enrollment, in Petoskey, MI.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Central Elementary School?
Central Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 27/100 (lower 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 public schools in Petoskey?
By Resource Investment Index, Central Elementary School ranks #4 of 8 public schools in Petoskey, MI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Petoskey on the city page.
Is Central Elementary School a good school?
Central Elementary School earns 27/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Michigan median. 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 Public Schools of Petoskey?
Besides Central Elementary School, Public Schools of Petoskey also operates Petoskey High School (862 students), Petoskey Middle School (561 students), and Sheridan School (252 students). See the Public Schools of Petoskey 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.