- Enrollment
- 398
- Students per teacher
- 11.7:1
- Resource Index
- 55/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Columbia, LA
Union Central Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Union Central Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 48/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 220036000283
👥 S:T ratio 43
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 70
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Union Central Elementary School earns 48/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 71% of Louisiana schools.
- #4 of 4
- public schools in Columbia · Resource Index
- 48
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.3:1
- small classes for Louisiana
- 78.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Union Central Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 71% of Louisiana schools. Computed live against every Louisiana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Union Central Elementary School ranks #4 of 4 public schools in Columbia, LA.
School address
District: Caldwell Parish · Louisiana
NCES ID 220036000283 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+64 students YoY
Union Central Elementary School grew from 160 students in 2022-23 to 224 in 2023-24 (+40.0%).
Teacher FTE added 15.5 → 18.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+64 students YoY 220036000283 · Columbia, LA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
215 enr · 14.3:1 · 78.8% lunch · RII 48
Nearest enrollment peer: Caldwell Parish High School (398 students)
Union Central Elementary School grew from 160 students in 2022-23 to 224 in 2023-24 (+40.0%). Teacher FTE added 15.5 → 18.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Louisiana schools → · Find another →
Union Central Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Caldwell Paris
Caldwell Parish High School
398 students
- Caldwell Paris
Caldwell Parish Junior High School
294 students
- This school
Union Central Elementary School
215 students
- Grayson Elemen
Grayson Elementary School
212 students
- Columbia Eleme
Columbia Elementary School
191 students
What this shows Union Central Elementary School reports 215 students on the CCD universe file.
How Union Central Elementary School compares
Union Central Elementary School is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Louisiana and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Louisiana | Louisiana avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14.3:1 | ▼ 15% | 16.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 78.8% | ▲ 26% | 62.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 215 | top 87% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.3:1
Leaner classes than 54% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
215
Bigger than 21% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
78.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 26% above the Louisiana average of 62.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
14.3:1
students per teacher
- 15% below state mean
Top 29% in Louisiana - lower ratio than 71% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
12.1%
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
$17,637
per pupil, district-wide
- above Louisiana avg of $16,812
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 6 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 3.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 80.0%
African American 15.8%
Two or More 3.3%
Hispanic or Latino 0.9%
Largest group: White at 80.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 33.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 33.4, Union Central Elementary School is less mixed than the Louisiana school average of 43.9.
Programs
District finance for Caldwell Parish reports $17,637 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Union Central Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caldwell Parish High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Caldwell Parish Junior High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Grayson Elementary School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Columbia Elementary School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Union Central Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 294
- Students per teacher
- 11.8:1
- Resource Index
- 53/100
- Enrollment
- 212
- Students per teacher
- 13.3:1
- Resource Index
- 62/100
- Enrollment
- 191
- Students per teacher
- 11.9:1
- Resource Index
- 64/100
Similar elementary schools in Columbia
1 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 (~215 students)
Frequently asked questions about Union Central Elementary School
How many students attend Union Central Elementary School?
Union Central Elementary School has 215 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Columbia, LA. CCD year-over-year: 160 (2022-23) → 224 (2023-24), up 64.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Union Central Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Union Central Elementary School is 14.3:1, which is 15% lower than the Louisiana average of 16.8:1 and 9% 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 Union Central Elementary School?
78.8% of students at Union Central Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Louisiana average of 62.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Union Central Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Union Central Elementary School is White at 80.0% of enrollment, in Columbia, LA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Union Central Elementary School?
Union Central Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 48/100 (typical 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 Union Central Elementary School rank among public schools in Columbia?
By Resource Investment Index, Union Central Elementary School ranks #4 of 4 public schools in Columbia, LA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking.
What other schools are in Caldwell Parish?
Besides Union Central Elementary School, Caldwell Parish also operates Caldwell Parish High School (398 students), Caldwell Parish Junior High School (294 students), and Grayson Elementary School (212 students). See the Caldwell Parish district page for the complete list.