Central Elementary School

Q: Is Central Elementary School a good school?

Central Elementary School ranks 85 th of 390 Mississippi elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Central Elementary School is a public elementary school located in Lucedale, Mississippi, serving grades PK-6 with a total enrollment of 714 students. The school is part of the George County School District, which is ranked 31 out of 130 school districts in Mississippi and is rated 4 stars out of 5 by SchoolDigger.

Central Elementary School consistently outperforms the George County School District and the state of Mississippi in standardized test scores across various grade levels and subject areas. In the 2023-2024 school year, Central Elementary School had the highest percentage of students proficient or better in MAAP/English Language Arts and MAAP/Mathematics compared to the district and state averages. The school's 5th-grade science proficiency rate was also significantly higher than the district and state averages. However, the school has a notably higher percentage of white students (89.36%) compared to the more diverse student populations of the surrounding Leakesville Elementary School, Mc Lain Elementary School, and other nearby schools.

Despite the school's strong academic performance, Central Elementary School has an exceptionally high percentage of students (over 99%) receiving free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high level of economic disadvantage among the student population. This finding highlights the school's ability to overcome socioeconomic barriers and provide a quality education to its students. While the school's student-teacher ratio is lower than the surrounding schools, there are still areas for potential improvement, such as the lower proficiency rates in English Language Arts for 5th and 6th-grade students.

Detail:

Public PK, KG-6

14159 Hwy 26 West
Lucedale, MS 39452

(601) 947-2429

District: George County School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
85^th of 390 Mississippi Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $7,907

Students who attend Central Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	George County Middle School
High:	George County High School

Student/teacher ratio: 17.8

Number of students: 714

Racial breakdown:

White:

89.4%

African American:

3.5%

Hispanic:

3.5%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 100%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Central Elementary School ranks better than 78.2% of elementary schools in Mississippi. It also ranks 2^nd among 4 ranked elementary schools in the George County School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 75.52. (See more...)

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Central Elementary School has the largest elementary school student body size in the George County School District. Racial makeup is: White (89.4%), African American (3.5%), Hispanic (3.5%). (See more...)

Compare Details 100% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the lowest percentage in the George County School District. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Central Elementary School is 17.8, which is the highest among 5 elementary schools in the George County School District! (See more...)

Compare Central Elementary School employs 39.9 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Central Elementary School is $7,907, which is the lowest among 5 elementary schools in the George County School District!

Schooldigger Rankings:

Central Elementary School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

George County School District:

SchoolDigger ranks George County School District 31^st of 130 Mississippi school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

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Rank History for Central Elementary School

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MS State Percentile
2008	53.63	188^th	394	52.3%
2009	44.48	234^th	392	40.3%
2010	47.10	231^st	403	42.7%
2011	51.38	206^th	418	50.7%
2012	49.43	211^th	414	49.0%
2013	51.95	204^th	408	50.0%
2014	51.10	199^th	394	49.5%
2015	50.65	178^th	402	55.7%
2016	55.75	173^rd	394	56.1%
2017	49.46	197^th	406	51.5%
2018	65.01	136^th	404	66.3%
2019	66.66	126^th	397	68.3%
2021	82.51	58^th	381	84.8%
2022	74.33	91^st	382	76.2%
2023	65.17	124^th	377	67.1%
2024	75.52	85^th	390	78.2%

See the entire list of Mississippi Elementary School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Mississippi Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Data source: Mississippi Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)

100%

Reviews:

by a parent
Wednesday, March 14, 2018

Staff and Administrators are amazing. 2017/2018 school year has been a complete 180 from previous years. Students are excited to go to school and eager to learn! Close Quote

Enrollment information for Central Elementary School

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
1990	601	55	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	656
1991	617	65	2	0	0	n/a	n/a	684
1992	625	78	1	0	1	n/a	n/a	705
1993	643	70	0	1	0	n/a	n/a	714
1994	635	72	0	2	0	n/a	n/a	709
1995	426	59	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	485
1996	426	59	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	485
1997	432	57	0	2	0	n/a	n/a	491
1998	423	54	0	6	0	n/a	n/a	483
1999	419	48	0	4	0	n/a	n/a	471
2000	355	26	0	5	0	n/a	n/a	386
2001	358	35	0	1	0	n/a	n/a	394
2002	374	34	0	3	1	n/a	n/a	412
2003	374	34	0	3	1	n/a	n/a	412
2004	399	30	0	4	1	n/a	n/a	434
2005	412	25	0	7	0	n/a	n/a	444
2006	394	19	0	6	1	n/a	n/a	420
2007	437	29	0	4	1	n/a	n/a	471
2008	441	28	0	4	1	n/a	n/a	474
2009	495	25	0	7	1	0	0	528
2010	504	18	0	5	1	0	2	530
2011	497	19	0	4	1	0	2	523
2012	475	18	0	7	1	0	3	504
2013	492	10	0	3	0	0	3	508
2014	477	13	0	6	0	0	3	499
2015	474	26	0	9	0	0	0	509
2016	522	27	0	8	0	0	3	560
2017	533	32	0	9	0	0	8	582
2018	554	26	0	14	0	0	17	611
2019	609	31	1	16	0	0	20	677
2020	635	31	1	18	0	0	19	704
2021	549	27	4	13	4	0	28	625
2022	624	24	4	20	3	0	25	700
2023	638	25	4	25	2	0	20	714

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Central Elementary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1990	656	29.9	21.9	n/a
1991	684	33.3	20.5	n/a
1992	705	33.1	21.2	37
1993	714	32.5	22.0	38.7
1994	709	33.5	21.2	40.1
1995	485	24.4	19.9	39.2
1996	485	24.4	19.9	39.2
1997	491	24.3	20.2	43.4
1998	483	23.1	20.9	43.1
1999	471	24.8	19.0	56.7
2000	386	20.8	18.6	53.6
2001	394	21.3	18.5	57.1
2002	412	23.3	17.7	56.8
2003	412	23.3	17.7	56.8
2004	434	21.6	20.1	61.1
2005	444	23.3	19.1	55.9
2006	420	24.5	17.1	85.5
2007	471	23.7	19.9	67.7
2008	474	24.8	19.1	66
2009	528	25.6	20.6	65.2
2010	530	29.3	18.0	75.7
2011	523	30.5	17.1	76.5
2012	504	31.1	16.2	78.4
2013	508	31.3	16.2	77
2014	499	30.2	16.5	77
2015	509	30.0	16.9	72.5
2016	560	29.0	19.3	74.3
2017	582	31.3	18.5	71
2018	611	26.0	23.4	67.3
2019	677	30.9	21.8	67.1
2020	704	30.7	22.8	67.3
2021	625	33.5	18.6	99.5
2022	700	32.3	21.6	99.6
2023	714	39.9	17.8	100

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Central Elementary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1990	656	29.9	21.9	n/a
1991	684	33.3	20.5	n/a
1992	705	33.1	21.2	37
1993	714	32.5	22.0	38.7
1994	709	33.5	21.2	40.1
1995	485	24.4	19.9	39.2
1996	485	24.4	19.9	39.2
1997	491	24.3	20.2	43.4
1998	483	23.1	20.9	43.1
1999	471	24.8	19.0	56.7
2000	386	20.8	18.6	53.6
2001	394	21.3	18.5	57.1
2002	412	23.3	17.7	56.8
2003	412	23.3	17.7	56.8
2004	434	21.6	20.1	61.1
2005	444	23.3	19.1	55.9
2006	420	24.5	17.1	85.5
2007	471	23.7	19.9	67.7
2008	474	24.8	19.1	66
2009	528	25.6	20.6	65.2
2010	530	29.3	18.0	75.7
2011	523	30.5	17.1	76.5
2012	504	31.1	16.2	78.4
2013	508	31.3	16.2	77
2014	499	30.2	16.5	77
2015	509	30.0	16.9	72.5
2016	560	29.0	19.3	74.3
2017	582	31.3	18.5	71
2018	611	26.0	23.4	67.3
2019	677	30.9	21.8	67.1
2020	704	30.7	22.8	67.3
2021	625	33.5	18.6	99.5
2022	700	32.3	21.6	99.6
2023	714	39.9	17.8	100

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Central Elementary School

Year	Total Expenditures Per Pupil
2017	$6,356
2018	$6,135
2019	$6,327
2020	$7,762
2021	$7,232
2022	$7,907

Data source: Mississippi Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Central Elementary School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 126^th of 397 Elementary schools	Ranks 124^th of 377 Elementary schools	1.2%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Central Elementary School)	52.1	44.4	7.7%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (George County School District)	44.1	52	7.9%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Mississippi)	48.3	51.6	3.3%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Central Elementary School)	52.1	70.8	18.7%
3rd Grade Mathematics (George County School District)	38	57.7	19.7%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Mississippi)	51.4	54.8	3.4%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Central Elementary School)	55.7	59.4	3.7%
4th Grade English Language Arts (George County School District)	50.9	52	1.1%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Mississippi)	48.5	53.4	4.9%
4th Grade Mathematics (Central Elementary School)	36.7	77	40.3%
4th Grade Mathematics (George County School District)	33.2	55	21.8%
4th Grade Mathematics (Mississippi)	48.8	56.7	7.9%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Central Elementary School)	49.4	52.6	3.2%
5th Grade English Language Arts (George County School District)	45.5	56.5	11%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Mississippi)	43	51.9	8.9%
5th Grade Mathematics (Central Elementary School)	34.4	44.2	9.8%
5th Grade Mathematics (George County School District)	24	44.9	20.9%
5th Grade Mathematics (Mississippi)	38.9	44.3	5.4%
5th Grade Science (Central Elementary School)	68.7	72.6	3.9%
5th Grade Science (George County School District)	62.5	76.9	14.4%
5th Grade Science (Mississippi)	55.9	64.3	8.4%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Central Elementary School)	45.4	44.5	0.9%
6th Grade English Language Arts (George County School District)	43.7	46	2.3%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Mississippi)	33.6	40.3	6.7%
6th Grade Mathematics (Central Elementary School)	73.3	41.1	32.2%
6th Grade Mathematics (George County School District)	51.6	45.7	5.9%
6th Grade Mathematics (Mississippi)	47.6	45.5	2.1%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	677	714	5.5%
African American	31	25	19.4%
American Indian	0	2
Asian	1	4	300%
Hispanic	16	25	56.3%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	609	638	4.8%
Two or More Races	20	20
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	67.1%	100%	32.9%

Schools Near Central Elementary School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				MAAP English Language Arts (2024)				MAAP Mathematics (2024)				MAAP Science (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2022)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MAAP English Language Arts 3rd Grade	MAAP English Language Arts 4th Grade	MAAP English Language Arts 5th Grade	MAAP English Language Arts 6th Grade	MAAP Mathematics 3rd Grade	MAAP Mathematics 4th Grade	MAAP Mathematics 5th Grade	MAAP Mathematics 6th Grade	MAAP Science 5th Grade	Total
Central Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	14159 Hwy 26 West	Lucedale	39452	George County	George County School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 947-2429	714	40	17.8	100.0%	638 (89.4%)	25 (3.5%)	25 (3.5%)	4 (0.6%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (2.8%)	75.5	85^th of 390 public elementary schools	78.2%		65.2	124^th of 377 public elementary schools	67.1%	39	68.5	58.0	51.2	52.4	84.9	61.0	61.6	66.3	83.9	$7,907
Lc Hatcher Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-2	689 Church St	Lucedale	39452	George County	George County School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 947-3110	249	18	13.6	100.0%	186 (74.7%)	43 (17.3%)	3 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (6.8%)								(n/a)										$13,161
Benndale Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	5204 Hwy 26 West	Lucedale	39452	George County	George County School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 766-6341	158	14	11.2	100.0%	116 (73.4%)	34 (21.5%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (3.8%)	54	183^rd of 390 public elementary schools	53.1%		62.7	136^th of 377 public elementary schools	63.9%	47	65.4	52.9	50.0	42.9	61.5	41.1	10.0	47.6	70.0	$13,454
Agricola Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	6165 Hwy 613 S	Lucedale	39452	George County	George County School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 947-8447	609	37	16.6	100.0%	563 (92.4%)	8 (1.3%)	12 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (4.3%)	62.5	146^th of 390 public elementary schools	62.6%		51.3	177^th of 377 public elementary schools	53.1%	31	73.2	62.5	46.8	67.3	53.5	50.0	32.5	69.0	75.4	$8,661
Rocky Creek Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	2183 Rocky Creek Road	Lucedale	39452	George County	George County School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 947-3886	400	28	14.1	100.0%	367 (91.8%)	1 (0.3%)	16 (4.0%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (3.5%)	77.4	75^th of 390 public elementary schools	80.8%		72.6	89^th of 377 public elementary schools	76.4%	14	59.6	72.6	62.3	59.2	48.9	74.5	69.8	55.1	92.4	$11,140
East Central Upper Elementary	Public	3-5	5404 Hurley-Wade Rd.	Moss Point	39562	Jackson County	Jackson County School District	No	No	No	Yes	(228) 283-3220	529	36	14.8	99.4%	493 (93.2%)	11 (2.1%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (4.0%)	76.3	80^th of 390 public elementary schools	79.5%		81.6	53^rd of 377 public elementary schools	85.9%	27	78.9	66.3	54.9		71.5	64.6	63.7		75.3	$10,082
East Central Lower Elementary	Public	PK, KG-2	5621 Hwy 614	Moss Point	39562	Jackson County	Jackson County School District	No	No	No	Yes	(228) 283-3300	576	37	15.5	99.5%	522 (90.6%)	12 (2.1%)	5 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	37 (6.4%)								(n/a)										$10,382
Mc Lain Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	114 Shows Street/198 Bypass	Mc Lain	39456	Greene County	Greene County School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 753-2257	181	16	11.5	100.0%	123 (68.0%)	50 (27.6%)	2 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (3.3%)								(n/a)										$16,794
Leakesville Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	175 Annex Road	Leakesville	39451	Greene County	Greene County School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 394-2493	408	32	12.9	100.0%	323 (79.2%)	72 (17.6%)	3 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (2.2%)	48.4	211^th of 390 public elementary schools	45.9%		60.5	143^rd of 377 public elementary schools	62.1%	68	57.7	49.4			42.3	56.2				$10,655

Frequently Asked Questions about Central Elementary School

What schools do graduates of Central Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Central Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : George County Middle School
High : George County High School

What district is Central Elementary School in?

George County School District

What is the racial makeup of Central Elementary School?

Students at Central Elementary School are 89% White, 4% African American, 4% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races.

How many students attend Central Elementary School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 714 students attended Central Elementary School.

Is Central Elementary School a good school?

Central Elementary School ranks 85^th of 390 Mississippi elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Mississippi Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.