Enrollment
1,241
Pennsylvania · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Reading, PA
Muhlenberg El Ctr
Federal NCES profile for Muhlenberg El 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 421620004919
👥 S:T ratio 28
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 75
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Muhlenberg El Ctr earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 95% of Pennsylvania schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Pennsylvania schools.
- #6 of 12
- elementary schools in Reading · Resource Index
- 43
- Resource Index · Typical
- 18:1
- large classes for Pennsylvania
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Muhlenberg El Ctr has class sizes larger than 95% of Pennsylvania schools. Computed live against every Pennsylvania school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Muhlenberg El Ctr ranks #6 of 12 elementary schools in Reading, PA.
School address
District: Muhlenberg Sd · Pennsylvania
NCES ID 421620004919 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
69.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
18:1
vs 13.6:1 Pennsylvania avg
+32% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
100.0%
vs 58.1% Pennsylvania avg
+72% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Muhlenberg El Ctr compares with Pennsylvania and U.S. medians
What stands out at Muhlenberg El Ctr
Muhlenberg El Ctr is a high-poverty, large elementary school in Reading, Pennsylvania, enrolling 1,241 students.
Class loads run heavy: 18:1 is larger than about 95% of Pennsylvania schools and 32% above the 13.6:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
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 94% of state schools at 1,241 students.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 2,889 scored Pennsylvania schools.
Against 132 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #28.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (40%) and White (29%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 70/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 621 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
10.0% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
The surrounding Muhlenberg Sd spends $13,599 per pupil, 24% below the Pennsylvania average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Reading's elementary schools, it stands alongside Central Ms (1,785 students): Muhlenberg El Ctr is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (18:1 vs 15:1).
Muhlenberg Sd also operates Muhlenberg Hs (1,166 students) and Muhlenberg Jr Ms (1,016 students) alongside Muhlenberg El 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 Muhlenberg El Ctr compares
Muhlenberg El 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 | 18:1 | ▲ 32% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 72% | 58.1% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,241 | top 6% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18:1
Leaner classes than 24% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,241
Bigger than 94% 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
18:1
students per teacher
- 32% above state mean
Top 95% in Pennsylvania - lower ratio than 5% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
10.0%
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
$13,599
per pupil, district-wide
- below Pennsylvania avg of $17,970
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 621 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
3
in-school suspensions + 25 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.3 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
Hispanic or Latino 39.5%
White 29.4%
Two or More 23.4%
African American 7.0%
Asian 0.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 39.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 69.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 69.8, Muhlenberg El Ctr is more mixed than the Pennsylvania school average of 37.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Muhlenberg Sd, which includes Muhlenberg El Ctr.
$13,599
Per student
-24%
vs Pennsylvania
Avg $17,970
-18%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 60.5%
State 27.6%
Federal 11.8%
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 Muhlenberg El Ctr Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Muhlenberg Hs | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Muhlenberg Jr Ms | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| C E Cole Intermediate Sch | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Muhlenberg El Ctr's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,166
- Students per teacher
- 19.1:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 1,016
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 986
- Students per teacher
- 17.6:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
Similar elementary schools in Reading
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Central Ms
Standard public school
1,785 students 15:1 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 (~1,241 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~18:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Muhlenberg El Ctr's federal record.
- Compare Muhlenberg El Ctr against another school. Compare schools
- Muhlenberg 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 Muhlenberg El Ctr
How many students attend Muhlenberg El Ctr?
Muhlenberg El Ctr has 1,241 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Reading, PA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Muhlenberg El Ctr?
The student-teacher ratio at Muhlenberg El Ctr is 18:1, which is 32% higher than the Pennsylvania average of 13.6:1 and 15% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Muhlenberg El Ctr?
100.0% of students at Muhlenberg El Ctr are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Pennsylvania average of 58.1%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Muhlenberg El Ctr?
The largest demographic group at Muhlenberg El Ctr is Hispanic or Latino at 39.5% of enrollment, in Reading, PA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 69.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Muhlenberg El Ctr?
Muhlenberg El Ctr has a Resource Investment Index of 43/100 (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 Muhlenberg El Ctr rank among elementary schools in Reading?
By Resource Investment Index, Muhlenberg El Ctr ranks #6 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 Muhlenberg El Ctr a good school?
Muhlenberg El Ctr earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 95% 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 Muhlenberg Sd?
Besides Muhlenberg El Ctr, Muhlenberg Sd also operates Muhlenberg Hs (1,166 students), Muhlenberg Jr Ms (1,016 students), and C E Cole Intermediate Sch (986 students). See the Muhlenberg 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.