- Enrollment
- 2,029
- Students per teacher
- 13.8:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Gonzales, LA
Central Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Central Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 45/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 220009000462
👥 S:T ratio 54
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 55
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Central Middle School earns 45/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 89% of Louisiana schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Louisiana schools.
- #3 of 8
- public schools in Gonzales · Resource Index
- 45
- Resource Index · Typical
- 11.6:1
- small classes for Louisiana
- 43.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Central Middle School has class sizes smaller than 89% of Louisiana schools. Computed live against every Louisiana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Central Middle School ranks #3 of 8 public schools in Gonzales, LA.
School address
District: Ascension Parish · Louisiana
NCES ID 220009000462 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-39 students YoY
Central Middle School shrank from 747 students in 2022-23 to 708 in 2023-24 (-5.2%).
Teacher FTE added 44.2 → 52.9 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-39 students YoY 220009000462 · Gonzales, LA Middle · MID · TRAD
512 enr · 11.6:1 · 43.0% lunch · RII 45
Nearest enrollment peer: Dutchtown High School (2,029 students)
Central Middle School shrank from 747 students in 2022-23 to 708 in 2023-24 (-5.2%). Teacher FTE added 44.2 → 52.9 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Louisiana schools → · Find another →
Central Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Dutchtown High
Dutchtown High School
2,029 students
- East Ascension
East Ascension High School
1,894 students
- St. Amant High
St. Amant High School
1,847 students
- Lake Elementar
Lake Elementary School
1,096 students
- Prairieville P
Prairieville Primary School
865 students
- This school 512
Central Middle School
512 students
What this shows Central Middle School reports 512 students on the CCD universe file.
How Central Middle School compares
Central Middle School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Louisiana and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Louisiana | Louisiana avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 11.6:1 | ▼ 31% | 16.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 43.0% | ▼ 31% | 62.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 512 | top 38% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.6:1
Leaner classes than 79% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
512
Bigger than 63% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
43.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 31% below the Louisiana average of 62.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
11.6:1
students per teacher
- 31% below state mean
Top 11% in Louisiana - lower ratio than 89% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
18.2%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$14,108
per pupil, district-wide
- below Louisiana avg of $16,812
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 512 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
41
in-school suspensions + 62 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 8.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 20.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 3 expulsions.
Student demographics
White 44.5%
African American 27.1%
Hispanic or Latino 21.9%
Two or More 6.1%
Asian 0.4%
Largest group: White at 44.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 67.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 67.7, Central Middle School is more mixed than the Louisiana school average of 43.9.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Ascension Parish reports $14,108 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Central Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dutchtown High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| East Ascension High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| St. Amant High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lake Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Prairieville Primary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Central Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,894
- Students per teacher
- 14.3:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 1,847
- Students per teacher
- 13.4:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 1,096
- Students per teacher
- 19.6:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 865
- Students per teacher
- 19.2:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
Similar middle schools in Gonzales
1 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Nationwide middle 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 (~512 students)
Frequently asked questions about Central Middle School
How many students attend Central Middle School?
Central Middle School has 512 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Gonzales, LA. CCD year-over-year: 747 (2022-23) → 708 (2023-24), down 39.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Central Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Central Middle School is 11.6:1, which is 31% lower than the Louisiana average of 16.8:1 and 26% 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 Middle School?
43.0% of students at Central Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Louisiana average of 62.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Central Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Central Middle School is White at 44.5% of enrollment, in Gonzales, LA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 67.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Central Middle School?
Central Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 45/100 (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 Middle School rank among public schools in Gonzales?
By Resource Investment Index, Central Middle School ranks #3 of 8 public schools in Gonzales, LA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Gonzales on the city page.
What other schools are in Ascension Parish?
Besides Central Middle School, Ascension Parish also operates Dutchtown High School (2,029 students), East Ascension High School (1,894 students), and St. Amant High School (1,847 students). See the Ascension Parish district page for the complete list.