Enrollment
182
Vermont · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Bellows Falls, VT
Central Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Central Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 28/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 500693000263
👥 S:T ratio 19
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 64
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Central Elementary School earns 28/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 99% of Vermont schools.
- #3 of 3
- public schools in Bellows Falls · Resource Index
- 28
- Resource Index · Lower
- 20.2:1
- large classes for Vermont
- 43.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Central Elementary School has class sizes larger than 99% of Vermont schools. Computed live against every Vermont school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Central Elementary School ranks #3 of 3 public schools in Bellows Falls, VT.
School address
District: Rockingham School District · Vermont
NCES ID 500693000263 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
9.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
20.2:1
vs 11.9:1 Vermont avg
+70% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
43.8%
vs 27.6% Vermont avg
+59% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Central Elementary School compares with Vermont and U.S. medians
What stands out at Central Elementary School
Central Elementary School is a mid-sized combined-grade school in Bellows Falls, Vermont, enrolling 182 students.
Class loads run heavy: 20.2:1 is larger than about 99% of Vermont schools and 70% above the 11.9:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 43.8% of students eligible for free meals.
With 182 students, its enrollment sits close to the Vermont median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index trails 95% of the 288 Vermont schools with a score on record, one of the lower results on this measure.
Among 55 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Vermont schools statewide, it ranks #53, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is predominantly White (91% of enrollment) (diversity index 17/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 182 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 53.3% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Rockingham School District spends $13,143 per pupil, 31% below the Vermont average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Rockingham School District also operates Bellows Falls Middle School (245 students) and Saxton River Elementary School (79 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 Vermont and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Vermont | Vermont avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 20.2:1 | ▲ 70% | 11.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 43.8% | ▲ 59% | 27.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 182 | top 59% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
20.2:1
Leaner classes than 15% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
182
Bigger than 18% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
43.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 59% above the Vermont average of 27.6%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
20.2:1
students per teacher
- 70% above state mean
Top 99% in Vermont - lower ratio than 1% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
53.3%
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
$13,143
per pupil, district-wide
- below Vermont avg of $19,105
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 182 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 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 91.2%
Hispanic or Latino 4.9%
Two or More 2.7%
African American 1.1%
Largest group: White at 91.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 16.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 16.5, Central Elementary School is less mixed than the Vermont school average of 19.5.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Rockingham School District, which includes Central Elementary School.
$13,143
Per student
-31%
vs Vermont
Avg $19,105
-21%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 5.8%
State 94.2%
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bellows Falls Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Saxton River Elementary School | Smaller | 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
- 245
- Students per teacher
- 11.7:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 79
- Students per teacher
- 11.3:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Vermont, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~182 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~20.2:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Central Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Central Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Rockingham School District'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 182 students enrolled. It is a public school in Bellows Falls, VT.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Central Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Central Elementary School is 20.2:1, which is 70% higher than the Vermont average of 11.9:1 and 29% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Central Elementary School?
43.8% of students at Central Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Vermont average of 27.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Central Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Central Elementary School is White at 91.2% of enrollment, in Bellows Falls, VT.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Central Elementary School?
Central Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 28/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, 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 Bellows Falls?
By Resource Investment Index, Central Elementary School ranks #3 of 3 public schools in Bellows Falls, VT. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Bellows Falls on the city page.
Is Central Elementary School a good school?
Central Elementary School earns 28/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 99% of Vermont 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 Rockingham School District?
Besides Central Elementary School, Rockingham School District also operates Bellows Falls Middle School (245 students) and Saxton River Elementary School (79 students). See the Rockingham School District 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.