- Enrollment
- 4,879
- Students per teacher
- 20.4:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Reading, PA
Central Ms
Federal NCES profile for Central Ms, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 35/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 422004006958
👥 S:T ratio 40
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 29
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Central Ms earns 35/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 76% of Pennsylvania schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Pennsylvania.
- #10 of 12
- elementary schools in Reading · Resource Index
- 35
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15:1
- large classes for Pennsylvania
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Central Ms has class sizes larger than 76% of Pennsylvania schools. Computed live against every Pennsylvania school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Central Ms ranks #10 of 12 elementary schools in Reading, PA.
School address
District: Reading Sd · Pennsylvania
NCES ID 422004006958 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-157 students YoY
Central Ms shrank from 1,865 students in 2022-23 to 1,708 in 2023-24 (-8.4%).
Teacher FTE lost 119.8 → 111.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-157 students YoY 422004006958 · Reading, PA Elementary · MID · TRAD
1,785 enr · 15:1 · 100.0% lunch · RII 35
Nearest enrollment peer: Reading Shs (4,879 students)
Central Ms shrank from 1,865 students in 2022-23 to 1,708 in 2023-24 (-8.4%). Teacher FTE lost 119.8 → 111.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Pennsylvania schools → · Find another →
Central Ms in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Reading Shs
Reading Shs
4,879 students
- This school 1,785
Central Ms
1,785 students
- Northeast Ms 868
Northeast Ms
868 students
- Northwest Ms 821
Northwest Ms
821 students
- Amanda E Stout 758
Amanda E Stout El Sch
758 students
- Riverside El S 694
Riverside El Sch
694 students
What this shows Central Ms reports 1,785 students on the CCD universe file.
How Central Ms compares
Central Ms is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Pennsylvania and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15:1 | ▲ 10% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 72% | 58.1% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,785 | top 2% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15:1
Leaner classes than 47% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
1,785
Bigger than 97% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
100.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 72% above the Pennsylvania average of 58.1%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
15:1
students per teacher
- 10% above state mean
Top 76% in Pennsylvania - lower ratio than 24% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
46.9%
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
$14,509
per pupil, district-wide
- below Pennsylvania avg of $18,725
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors5.0 FTE
Per 357 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 469 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 26.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 25 expulsions.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 87.8%
African American 5.7%
White 5.2%
Two or More 1.0%
Asian 0.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 87.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 22.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 22.3, Central Ms is less mixed than the Pennsylvania school average of 37.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Reading Sd reports $14,509 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Central Ms Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading Shs | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Northeast Ms | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Northwest Ms | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Amanda E Stout El Sch | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Riverside El Sch | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Central Ms's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 868
- Students per teacher
- 14:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 821
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 758
- Students per teacher
- 14.9:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 694
- Students per teacher
- 16.1:1
- Resource Index
- 16/100
Similar elementary schools in Reading
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Muhlenberg El Ctr
Standard public school
1,241 students 18:1 students per teacher
C E Cole Intermediate Sch
Standard public school
986 students 17.6:1 students per teacher
Northeast Ms
Standard public school
868 students 14:1 students per teacher
Northwest Ms
Standard public school
821 students 15.8:1 students per teacher
Southern Ms
Standard public school
661 students 12:1 students per teacher
Southwest Ms
Standard public school
574 students 13.3:1 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 (~1,785 students)
Frequently asked questions about Central Ms
How many students attend Central Ms?
Central Ms has 1,785 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Reading, PA. CCD year-over-year: 1,865 (2022-23) → 1,708 (2023-24), down 157.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Central Ms?
The student-teacher ratio at Central Ms is 15:1, which is 10% higher than the Pennsylvania average of 13.6:1 and 4% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Central Ms?
100.0% of students at Central Ms are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Pennsylvania average of 58.1%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Central Ms?
The largest demographic group at Central Ms is Hispanic or Latino at 87.8% of enrollment, in Reading, PA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Central Ms?
Central Ms has a Resource Investment Index of 35/100 (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 Ms rank among elementary schools in Reading?
By Resource Investment Index, Central Ms ranks #10 of 12 elementary schools in Reading, PA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Reading on the city page.
What other schools are in Reading Sd?
Besides Central Ms, Reading Sd also operates Reading Shs (4,879 students), Northeast Ms (868 students), and Northwest Ms (821 students). See the Reading Sd district page for the complete list.