- Enrollment
- 1,483
- Students per teacher
- 17:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Gulfport, MS
Harrison Central Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Harrison Central Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 59/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 280177000287
👥 S:T ratio 36
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 71
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Harrison Central Elementary earns 59/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 88% of Mississippi schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Mississippi schools.
- #1 of 6
- elementary schools in Gulfport · Resource Index
- 59
- Resource Index · Higher
- 16:1
- large classes for Mississippi
- 78.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Harrison Central Elementary has class sizes larger than 88% of Mississippi schools. Computed live against every Mississippi school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Harrison Central Elementary ranks #1 of 6 elementary schools in Gulfport, MS.
School address
District: Harrison Co School Dist · Mississippi
NCES ID 280177000287 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+29 students YoY
Harrison Central Elementary grew from 472 students in 2022-23 to 501 in 2023-24 (+6.1%).
Teacher FTE added 29.6 → 30.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+29 students YoY 280177000287 · Gulfport, MS Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
465 enr · 16:1 · 78.0% lunch · RII 59
Nearest enrollment peer: Harrison Central High School (1,483 students)
Harrison Central Elementary grew from 472 students in 2022-23 to 501 in 2023-24 (+6.1%). Teacher FTE added 29.6 → 30.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Mississippi schools → · Find another →
Harrison Central Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Harrison Centr
Harrison Central High School
1,483 students
- Diberville Sen
Diberville Senior High Sch
1,478 students
- West Harrison
West Harrison High School
1,216 students
- Creekbend Elem
Creekbend Elementary and Middle
996 students
- North Gulfport
North Gulfport Elementary and Middl
921 students
- This school 465
Harrison Central Elementary
465 students
What this shows Harrison Central Elementary reports 465 students on the CCD universe file.
How Harrison Central Elementary compares
Harrison Central Elementary is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Mississippi and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Mississippi | Mississippi avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 16:1 | ▲ 20% | 13.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 78.0% | ▼ 3% | 80.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 465 | top 42% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16:1
Leaner classes than 38% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
465
Bigger than 57% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
78.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 3% below the Mississippi average of 80.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
16:1
students per teacher
- 20% above state mean
Top 88% in Mississippi - lower ratio than 12% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
11.8%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$11,305
per pupil, district-wide
- below Mississippi avg of $13,683
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 33 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 7.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 40.4%
White 38.7%
Hispanic or Latino 10.1%
Two or More 8.2%
Asian 1.9%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.6%
Largest group: African American at 40.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 67.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 67.0, Harrison Central Elementary is more mixed than the Mississippi school average of 41.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Harrison Co School Dist reports $11,305 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Harrison Central Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harrison Central High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Diberville Senior High Sch | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| West Harrison High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Creekbend Elementary and Middle | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| North Gulfport Elementary and Middl | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Harrison Central Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,478
- Students per teacher
- 19.7:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
- Enrollment
- 1,216
- Students per teacher
- 19.3:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 996
- Students per teacher
- 18.1:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 921
- Students per teacher
- 12.4:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
Similar elementary schools in Gulfport
4 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
North Gulfport Elementary and Middl
Standard public school
921 students 12.4:1 students per teacher
Bayou View Elementary School
Standard public school
638 students 14.2:1 students per teacher
Bel Aire Elementary School
Standard public school
598 students 14.9:1 students per teacher
Crossroads Elementary School
Standard public school
547 students 14.8:1 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 (~465 students)
Frequently asked questions about Harrison Central Elementary
How many students attend Harrison Central Elementary?
Harrison Central Elementary has 465 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Gulfport, MS. CCD year-over-year: 472 (2022-23) → 501 (2023-24), up 29.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Harrison Central Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Harrison Central Elementary is 16:1, which is 20% higher than the Mississippi average of 13.3:1 and 2% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Harrison Central Elementary?
78.0% of students at Harrison Central Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Mississippi average of 80.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Harrison Central Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Harrison Central Elementary is African American at 40.4% of enrollment, in Gulfport, MS. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 67.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Harrison Central Elementary?
Harrison Central Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 59/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Harrison Central Elementary rank among elementary schools in Gulfport?
By Resource Investment Index, Harrison Central Elementary ranks #1 of 6 elementary schools in Gulfport, MS. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Gulfport on the city page.
What other schools are in Harrison Co School Dist?
Besides Harrison Central Elementary, Harrison Co School Dist also operates Harrison Central High School (1,483 students), Diberville Senior High Sch (1,478 students), and West Harrison High School (1,216 students). See the Harrison Co School Dist district page for the complete list.