Enrollment
420
Pennsylvania · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Hershey, PA
Hershey Early Childhood Ctr
Federal NCES profile for Hershey Early Childhood Ctr, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 47/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 420759000667
👥 S:T ratio 53
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 16
📋 Attendance 47
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Hershey Early Childhood Ctr earns 47/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 76% of Pennsylvania schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Pennsylvania schools.
- #2 of 4
- elementary schools in Hershey · Resource Index
- 47
- Resource Index · Typical
- 11.7:1
- small classes for Pennsylvania
- 16.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Hershey Early Childhood Ctr has class sizes smaller than 76% of Pennsylvania schools. Computed live against every Pennsylvania school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Hershey Early Childhood Ctr ranks #2 of 4 elementary schools in Hershey, PA.
School address
District: Derry Township Sd · Pennsylvania
NCES ID 420759000667 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
36.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
11.7:1
vs 13.6:1 Pennsylvania avg
-14% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
16.3%
vs 58.1% Pennsylvania avg
-72% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Hershey Early Childhood Ctr compares with Pennsylvania and U.S. medians
What stands out at Hershey Early Childhood Ctr
Hershey Early Childhood Ctr is a lower-poverty, mid-sized elementary school in Hershey, Pennsylvania, enrolling 420 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 11.7:1 puts it in the smaller third of Pennsylvania schools by student-teacher ratio.
Comparatively few students face economic hardship here, 16.3% free-meal eligibility runs 72% below the Pennsylvania average.
With 420 students, its enrollment sits close to the Pennsylvania median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 2,889 scored Pennsylvania schools.
Among 358 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Pennsylvania schools statewide, it ranks #256, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (61%) and Asian (13%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 59/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 420 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Attendance runs somewhat below the norm, with 21.2% of students chronically absent per the 2021-22 civil-rights collection.
Among Hershey's elementary schools, it stands alongside Hershey Intrmd El Sch (479 students): Hershey Early Childhood Ctr is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (11.7:1 vs 12.9:1).
Derry Township Sd also operates Hershey Hs (1,050 students) and Hershey Ms (742 students) alongside Hershey Early Childhood Ctr.
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 Hershey Early Childhood Ctr compares
Hershey Early Childhood Ctr on the metrics families compare, against Pennsylvania and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 11.7:1 | ▼ 14% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 16.3% | ▼ 72% | 58.1% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 420 | top 57% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.7:1
Leaner classes than 78% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
420
Bigger than 50% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
16.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 72% below the Pennsylvania average of 58.1%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
11.7:1
students per teacher
- 14% below state mean
Top 24% in Pennsylvania - lower ratio than 76% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
21.2%
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
$18,583
per pupil, district-wide
- above Pennsylvania avg of $17,970
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 420 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
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
White 61.0%
Asian 12.6%
Hispanic or Latino 10.2%
Two or More 9.5%
African American 6.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: White at 61.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 58.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 58.8, Hershey Early Childhood Ctr is more mixed than the Pennsylvania school average of 37.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Derry Township Sd, which includes Hershey Early Childhood Ctr.
$18,583
Per student
+3%
vs Pennsylvania
Avg $17,970
+12%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 73.9%
State 18.8%
Federal 7.3%
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 Hershey Early Childhood Ctr Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hershey Hs | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Hershey Ms | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Hershey Intrmd El Sch | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Hershey Primary El Sch | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Hershey Early Childhood Ctr's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,050
- Students per teacher
- 13:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 742
- Students per teacher
- 11.4:1
- Resource Index
- 53/100
- Enrollment
- 479
- Students per teacher
- 12.9:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 427
- Students per teacher
- 13.3:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
Similar elementary schools in Hershey
3 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
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 (~420 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~11.7:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Hershey Early Childhood Ctr's federal record.
- Compare Hershey Early Childhood Ctr against another school. Compare schools
- Derry Township 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 Hershey Early Childhood Ctr
How many students attend Hershey Early Childhood Ctr?
Hershey Early Childhood Ctr has 420 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Hershey, PA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Hershey Early Childhood Ctr?
The student-teacher ratio at Hershey Early Childhood Ctr is 11.7:1, which is 14% lower than the Pennsylvania average of 13.6:1 and 25% 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 Hershey Early Childhood Ctr?
16.3% of students at Hershey Early Childhood Ctr are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Pennsylvania average of 58.1%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Hershey Early Childhood Ctr?
The largest demographic group at Hershey Early Childhood Ctr is White at 61.0% of enrollment, in Hershey, PA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 58.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Hershey Early Childhood Ctr?
Hershey Early Childhood Ctr has a Resource Investment Index of 47/100 (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 Hershey Early Childhood Ctr rank among elementary schools in Hershey?
By Resource Investment Index, Hershey Early Childhood Ctr ranks #2 of 4 elementary schools in Hershey, 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 Hershey on the city page.
Is Hershey Early Childhood Ctr a good school?
Hershey Early Childhood Ctr earns 47/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 76% of Pennsylvania schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Pennsylvania schools. 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 Derry Township Sd?
Besides Hershey Early Childhood Ctr, Derry Township Sd also operates Hershey Hs (1,050 students), Hershey Ms (742 students), and Hershey Intrmd El Sch (479 students). See the Derry Township 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.