- Enrollment
- 1,044
- Students per teacher
- 15.1:1
- Resource Index
- 53/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Mars, PA
Mars Area Primary Ctr
Federal NCES profile for Mars Area Primary Ctr, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 43/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 421479001158
👥 S:T ratio 19
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 82
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Mars Area Primary Ctr earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 98% of Pennsylvania schools.
- #2 of 3
- elementary schools in Mars · Resource Index
- 43
- Resource Index · Typical
- 20.2:1
- large classes for Pennsylvania
- 10.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Mars Area Primary Ctr has class sizes larger than 98% of Pennsylvania schools. Computed live against every Pennsylvania school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Mars Area Primary Ctr ranks #2 of 3 elementary schools in Mars, PA.
School address
District: Mars Area Sd · Pennsylvania
NCES ID 421479001158 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-36 students YoY
Mars Area Primary Ctr shrank from 532 students in 2022-23 to 496 in 2023-24 (-6.8%).
Teacher FTE lost 25.1 → 23.3 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-36 students YoY 421479001158 · Mars, PA Elementary · MID · TRAD
506 enr · 20.2:1 · 10.2% lunch · RII 43
Nearest enrollment peer: Mars Area Shs (1,044 students)
Mars Area Primary Ctr shrank from 532 students in 2022-23 to 496 in 2023-24 (-6.8%). Teacher FTE lost 25.1 → 23.3 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Pennsylvania schools → · Find another →
Mars Area Primary Ctr in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Mars Area Shs
Mars Area Shs
1,044 students
- Mars Area El S
Mars Area El Sch
880 students
- Mars Area Cent
Mars Area Centennial Sch
627 students
- Mars Area Ms
Mars Area Ms
563 students
- This school
Mars Area Primary Ctr
506 students
What this shows Mars Area Primary Ctr reports 506 students on the CCD universe file.
How Mars Area Primary Ctr compares
Mars Area Primary Ctr 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 | 20.2:1 | ▲ 49% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 10.2% | ▼ 82% | 58.1% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 506 | top 43% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
20.2:1
Leaner classes than 15% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
506
Bigger than 62% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
10.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 82% 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
20.2:1
students per teacher
- 49% above state mean
Top 98% in Pennsylvania - lower ratio than 2% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
7.3%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
Funding equity
$12,726
per pupil, district-wide
- below Pennsylvania avg of $18,725
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.5 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
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.
Student demographics
White 89.9%
Asian 4.5%
Two or More 3.2%
Hispanic or Latino 1.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.6%
African American 0.2%
Largest group: White at 89.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 18.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 18.8, Mars Area Primary Ctr is less mixed than the Pennsylvania school average of 37.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Mars Area Sd reports $12,726 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Mars Area Primary Ctr Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mars Area Shs | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Mars Area El Sch | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Mars Area Centennial Sch | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Mars Area Ms | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Mars Area Primary Ctr's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 880
- Students per teacher
- 17.3:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 627
- Students per teacher
- 19.6:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 563
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
Similar elementary schools in Mars
2 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
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 (~506 students)
Frequently asked questions about Mars Area Primary Ctr
How many students attend Mars Area Primary Ctr?
Mars Area Primary Ctr has 506 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Mars, PA. CCD year-over-year: 532 (2022-23) → 496 (2023-24), down 36.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Mars Area Primary Ctr?
The student-teacher ratio at Mars Area Primary Ctr is 20.2:1, which is 49% higher than the Pennsylvania average of 13.6:1 and 29% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Mars Area Primary Ctr?
10.2% of students at Mars Area Primary Ctr are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Pennsylvania average of 58.1%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Mars Area Primary Ctr?
The largest demographic group at Mars Area Primary Ctr is White at 89.9% of enrollment, in Mars, PA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Mars Area Primary Ctr?
Mars Area Primary Ctr has a Resource Investment Index of 43/100 (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 Mars Area Primary Ctr rank among elementary schools in Mars?
By Resource Investment Index, Mars Area Primary Ctr ranks #2 of 3 elementary schools in Mars, 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 Mars on the city page.
What other schools are in Mars Area Sd?
Besides Mars Area Primary Ctr, Mars Area Sd also operates Mars Area Shs (1,044 students), Mars Area El Sch (880 students), and Mars Area Centennial Sch (627 students). See the Mars Area Sd district page for the complete list.