Enrollment
1,785
Pennsylvania · 2024-25 NCES data
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 →
Teachers (FTE)
119.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15:1
vs 13.6:1 Pennsylvania avg
+10% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
100.0%
vs 58.1% Pennsylvania avg
+72% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Central Ms compares with Pennsylvania and U.S. medians
What stands out at Central Ms
Central Ms is a high-poverty, large elementary school in Reading, Pennsylvania, enrolling 1,785 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 15:1 puts it in the larger third of Pennsylvania schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 100.0% of students eligible for free meals.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Pennsylvania, bigger than 98% of state schools at 1,785 students.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 2,889 scored Pennsylvania schools.
Against 51 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #23.
Its student body is predominantly Hispanic or Latino (88% of enrollment) (diversity index 22/100).
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 357 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 46.9% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Reading Sd spends $13,219 per pupil, 26% below the Pennsylvania average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Discipline events run high: 470 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 1,785 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 25 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Reading's elementary schools, it stands alongside Muhlenberg El Ctr (1,241 students): Central Ms is larger than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (15:1 vs 18:1).
Reading Sd also operates Reading Shs (4,879 students) and Northeast Ms (868 students) alongside Central Ms.
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 Ms compares
Central Ms on the metrics families compare, against 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 (what these measure)
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
$13,219
per pupil, district-wide
- below Pennsylvania avg of $17,970
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that 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.
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
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
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Reading Sd, which includes Central Ms.
$13,219
Per student
-26%
vs Pennsylvania
Avg $17,970
-20%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 15.9%
State 70.2%
Federal 13.9%
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 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
- 4,879
- Students per teacher
- 20.4:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- 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
Similar elementary schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Pennsylvania, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~1,785 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Central Ms's federal record.
- Compare Central Ms against another school. Compare schools
- Reading Sd'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 Ms
How many students attend Central Ms?
Central Ms has 1,785 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Reading, PA.
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, counselor availability, attendance rates. 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.
Is Central Ms a good school?
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. 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 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.
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.