- Enrollment
- 941
- Students per teacher
- 18.5:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Centralia, WA
Fords Prairie Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Fords Prairie Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 45/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 530114000208
👥 S:T ratio 39
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 11
📋 Attendance 61
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Fords Prairie Elementary earns 45/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Washington median.
- #5 of 5
- elementary schools in Centralia · Resource Index
- 45
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.3:1
- students per teacher
- 78.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Fords Prairie Elementary has class sizes near the Washington median. Computed live against every Washington school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Fords Prairie Elementary ranks #5 of 5 elementary schools in Centralia, WA.
School address
District: Centralia School District · Washington
NCES ID 530114000208 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-4 students YoY
Fords Prairie Elementary held near 444 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-4 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 29.2 → 30.7 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-4 students YoY 530114000208 · Centralia, WA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
443 enr · 15.3:1 · 78.3% lunch · RII 45
Nearest enrollment peer: Centralia High School (941 students)
Fords Prairie Elementary held near 444 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-4 headcount). Teacher FTE added 29.2 → 30.7 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Washington schools → · Find another →
Fords Prairie Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Centralia High
Centralia High School
941 students
- Centralia Midd
Centralia Middle School
479 students
- This school
Fords Prairie Elementary
443 students
- Jefferson Linc 357
Jefferson Lincoln Elementary
357 students
- Oakview Elemen 317
Oakview Elementary School
317 students
- Edison Element 313
Edison Elementary
313 students
What this shows Fords Prairie Elementary reports 443 students on the CCD universe file.
How Fords Prairie Elementary compares
Fords Prairie Elementary held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Washington and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Washington | Washington avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.3:1 | ▼ 13% | 17.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 78.3% | ▲ 74% | 45.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 443 | top 40% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.3:1
Leaner classes than 44% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
443
Bigger than 54% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
78.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 74% above the Washington average of 45.0%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
15.3:1
students per teacher
- 13% below state mean
Top 38% in Washington - lower ratio than 62% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
15.8%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$17,631
per pupil, district-wide
- below Washington avg of $20,912
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 443 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 20 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 4.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 53.7%
Hispanic or Latino 40.2%
Two or More 2.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.1%
African American 0.7%
Asian 0.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.7%
Largest group: White at 53.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 54.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 54.9, Fords Prairie Elementary is about as mixed as the Washington school average of 53.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Centralia School District reports $17,631 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Fords Prairie Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Centralia High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Centralia Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Jefferson Lincoln Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Oakview Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Edison Elementary | Smaller | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Fords Prairie Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 479
- Students per teacher
- 15.5:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 357
- Students per teacher
- 12.8:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
- Enrollment
- 317
- Students per teacher
- 13.8:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 313
- Students per teacher
- 16.5:1
- Resource Index
- 54/100
Similar elementary schools in Centralia
4 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Jefferson Lincoln Elementary
Standard public school
357 students 12.8:1 students per teacher
Oakview Elementary School
Standard public school
317 students 13.8:1 students per teacher
Edison Elementary
Standard public school
313 students 16.5:1 students per teacher
Washington Elementary School
Standard public school
294 students 12.8:1 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 (~443 students)
Frequently asked questions about Fords Prairie Elementary
How many students attend Fords Prairie Elementary?
Fords Prairie Elementary has 443 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Centralia, WA. CCD year-over-year: 448 (2022-23) → 444 (2023-24), nearly flat (-4).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Fords Prairie Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Fords Prairie Elementary is 15.3:1, which is 13% lower than the Washington average of 17.6:1 and 3% 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 Fords Prairie Elementary?
78.3% of students at Fords Prairie Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Washington average of 45.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Fords Prairie Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Fords Prairie Elementary is White at 53.7% of enrollment, in Centralia, WA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 54.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Fords Prairie Elementary?
Fords Prairie Elementary 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 Fords Prairie Elementary rank among elementary schools in Centralia?
By Resource Investment Index, Fords Prairie Elementary ranks #5 of 5 elementary schools in Centralia, WA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Centralia on the city page.
What other schools are in Centralia School District?
Besides Fords Prairie Elementary, Centralia School District also operates Centralia High School (941 students), Centralia Middle School (479 students), and Jefferson Lincoln Elementary (357 students). See the Centralia School District district page for the complete list.