Central Elementary

Summary:

Central Elementary is a public elementary school in Amherst, Virginia, serving 318 students in grades PK-5. The school is part of the Amherst County Public Schools district, which is ranked 95 out of 130 school districts in the state and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

While Central Elementary has a higher percentage of White students (59.75%) compared to nearby schools like Madison Heights Elementary, Elon Elementary, and Amherst Elementary, its academic performance, as measured by SOL test scores, is generally lower than the state and district averages across various subjects and grade levels. For example, the school's 3rd-grade math proficiency rate was 78.38%, compared to the state average of 70.11% and the district average of 62.72%. However, the school's 3rd-grade reading performance (70.27%) was closer to the state and district averages. Central Elementary has consistently ranked in the bottom 30% of Virginia elementary schools over the past decade, indicating room for improvement.

Central Elementary faces several challenges, including a high percentage of students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds (78.3% receive free or reduced-price lunch) and declining per-student funding, which has decreased from $9,010 in 2018-2019 to $8,399 in 2020-2021. However, the school has seen a significant improvement in its student-teacher ratio, decreasing from 19.7 in 2020-2021 to 10.2 in 2022-2023. Additionally, some nearby schools, such as Temperance Elementary and Amherst Elementary, perform better on standardized tests and have higher school rankings, suggesting opportunities for Central Elementary to learn from their practices and strategies.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

 575 Union Hill Rd
       Amherst, VA  24521


(434) 946-9700

District: Amherst County Public Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
880th of 1,114 Virginia Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $8,399 Help


Students who attend Central Elementary usually attend:

Middle:    Amherst Middle
High:    Amherst County High

Student/teacher ratio:  11.9 Help
Number of students:  323

Racial breakdown:

White:
55.1%
African American:
19.5%
Two or more races:
15.2%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  81.1% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Central Elementary ranks worse than 79% of elementary schools in Virginia. It also ranks 5th among 6 ranked elementary schools in the Amherst County Public Schools District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 26.69. (See more...)
Help
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
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Compare Details Student population at Central Elementary is diverse. Racial makeup is: White (55.1%), African American (19.5%), two or more races (15.2%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 81.1% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the highest percentage in the Amherst County Public Schools District. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Central Elementary is 11.9, which is the lowest among 6 elementary schools in the Amherst County Public Schools District! (See more...)
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Compare Central Elementary employs 27 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Central Elementary is $8,399, which is the 3rd highest among 6 elementary schools in the Amherst County Public Schools District.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Central Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Central Elementary 880th of 1114 Virginia public elementary schools. (See Central Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
White students:


Amherst County Public Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Amherst County Public Schools 95th of 130 Virginia school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Central Elementary

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Rank History for all students at Central Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2005 14.59 1004th 1062 5.5%
2006 6.85 1056th 1071 1.4%
2007 16.28 1019th 1083 5.9%
2008 16.88 1029th 1081 4.8%
2009 25.42 959th 1082 11.4%
2010 23.32 1002nd 1113 10.0%
2011 29.15 952nd 1117 14.8%
2012 31.57 919th 1117 17.7%
2013 32.76 846th 1120 24.5%
2014 38.05 769th 1110 30.7%
2015 18.18 994th 1100 9.6%
2016 28.85 894th 1096 18.4%
2017 26.70 928th 1099 15.6%
2018 30.96 863rd 1097 21.3%
2019 39.61 767th 1105 30.6%
2021 29.26 817th 1103 25.9%
2022 19.71 931st 1109 16.1%
2023 34.22 798th 1114 28.4%
2024 26.69 880th 1114 21.0%
See the entire list of Virginia Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Central Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 30.69 788th 1036 23.9%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Central Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 37.43 762nd 1100 30.7%
2024 47.52 637th 1098 42.0%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Central Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 44.17 661st 1093 39.5%
2024 42.03 708th 1101 35.7%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for White students at Central Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 26.95 814th 984 17.3%
2024 16.93 888th 979 9.3%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Elementary Schools for White Students!

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

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Central Elementary Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 





Data source: Virginia Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 4)
0%

100%

0%

0%

0%

  

Reviews:
No reviews have been submitted!


Enrollment information for Central Elementary

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1989 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 315 315
1990 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 287 287
1991 0 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 295 295
1992 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 301 301
1993 186 121 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 307
1994 186 125 0 1 2 n/a n/a 0 314
1995 221 136 2 0 3 n/a n/a 0 362
1996 221 136 2 0 3 n/a n/a 0 362
1997 214 129 0 3 3 n/a n/a 0 349
1998 212 123 1 3 3 n/a n/a 0 342
1999 213 116 0 2 1 n/a n/a 0 332
2000 237 118 0 1 0 n/a n/a -4 352
2001 228 111 0 1 1 n/a n/a 0 341
2002 220 96 0 1 0 n/a n/a 0 317
2003 220 96 0 1 0 n/a n/a 0 317
2004 280 127 4 7 4 n/a n/a 0 422
2005 190 97 1 2 0 n/a n/a 0 290
2006 195 89 5 4 0 n/a n/a 0 293
2007 225 97 1 1 3 n/a n/a 2 329
2008 213 107 1 4 0 n/a n/a 7 332
2009 224 115 1 6 1 n/a n/a 8 355
2010 216 107 1 5 1 n/a n/a 5 335
2011 198 90 0 3 3 0 6 0 300
2012 188 82 0 10 5 0 5 0 290
2013 207 65 0 8 5 0 4 0 289
2014 210 58 1 5 6 0 12 0 292
2015 237 56 0 5 5 3 14 0 320
2016 215 64 0 7 9 2 19 0 316
2017 212 62 0 15 7 0 25 0 321
2018 250 62 0 15 3 0 22 0 352
2019 228 61 1 12 3 0 30 0 335
2020 248 67 0 18 4 0 38 0 375
2021 222 60 0 19 6 0 48 0 355
2022 207 55 2 23 5 0 40 0 332
2023 190 54 2 21 6 0 45 0 318
2024 178 63 3 20 10 0 49 0 323

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

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1989 315 21.6 14.5 n/a
1990 287 20.1 14.2 n/a
1991 295 19.2 15.3 n/a
1992 301 19.6 15.3 n/a
1993 307 22.0 14.0 n/a
1994 314 15.6 n/a 45.9
1995 362 n/a 0.0 45.6
1996 362 n/a 0.0 45.6
1997 349 n/a 0.0 43.8
1998 342 n/a 0.0 47.7
1999 332 28.0 11.9 61.7
2000 352 n/a 0.0 54.5
2001 341 27.4 12.4 58.9
2002 317 38.0 8.3 63.1
2003 317 38.0 8.3 63.1
2004 422 38.0 11.1 40.5
2005 290 36.0 8.1 61
2006 293 35.0 8.4 63.1
2007 329 42.0 7.8 59
2008 332 22.0 15.1 60
2009 355 22.0 16.1 58.5
2010 335 24.0 13.9 59.1
2011 300 24.0 12.5 61.7
2012 290 26.9 10.7 61
2013 289 22.1 13.0 65.1
2014 292 20.1 14.5 70.2
2015 320 18.0 17.7 70.9
2016 316 20.0 15.8 71.2
2017 321 21.3 15.0 71.7
2018 352 23.3 15.0 72.2
2019 335 23.8 14.0 74.3
2020 375 25.3 14.7 91.7
2021 355 18.0 19.7 n/a
2022 332 24.5 13.5 99.1
2023 318 31.0 10.2 78.3
2024 323 27.0 11.9 81.1

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

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1989 315 21.6 14.5 n/a
1990 287 20.1 14.2 n/a
1991 295 19.2 15.3 n/a
1992 301 19.6 15.3 n/a
1993 307 22.0 14.0 n/a
1994 314 15.6 n/a 45.9
1995 362 n/a 0.0 45.6
1996 362 n/a 0.0 45.6
1997 349 n/a 0.0 43.8
1998 342 n/a 0.0 47.7
1999 332 28.0 11.9 61.7
2000 352 n/a 0.0 54.5
2001 341 27.4 12.4 58.9
2002 317 38.0 8.3 63.1
2003 317 38.0 8.3 63.1
2004 422 38.0 11.1 40.5
2005 290 36.0 8.1 61
2006 293 35.0 8.4 63.1
2007 329 42.0 7.8 59
2008 332 22.0 15.1 60
2009 355 22.0 16.1 58.5
2010 335 24.0 13.9 59.1
2011 300 24.0 12.5 61.7
2012 290 26.9 10.7 61
2013 289 22.1 13.0 65.1
2014 292 20.1 14.5 70.2
2015 320 18.0 17.7 70.9
2016 316 20.0 15.8 71.2
2017 321 21.3 15.0 71.7
2018 352 23.3 15.0 72.2
2019 335 23.8 14.0 74.3
2020 375 25.3 14.7 91.7
2021 355 18.0 19.7 n/a
2022 332 24.5 13.5 99.1
2023 318 31.0 10.2 78.3
2024 323 27.0 11.9 81.1

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

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $1,095 (12.2%) $7,915 (87.8%) $9,010
2020 $977 (11.5%) $7,482 (88.5%) $8,459
2021 $1,107 (13.2%) $7,293 (86.8%) $8,399

Data source: Virginia Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Central Elementary

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 767th of 1105 Elementary schoolsRanks 798th of 1114 Elementary schools
 2.2%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade Mathematics (Central Elementary)7963.8
 15.2%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Amherst County Public Schools)8161.7
 19.3%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Virginia)8269.1
 12.9%
3rd Grade English Reading (Central Elementary)6959.6
 9.4%
   3rd Grade English Reading (Amherst County Public Schools)7462
 12%
   3rd Grade English Reading (Virginia)7166.1
 4.9%
4th Grade Mathematics (Central Elementary)7056.8
 13.2%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Amherst County Public Schools)8261.2
 20.8%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Virginia)8369.7
 13.3%
4th Grade English Reading (Central Elementary)6663.6
 2.4%
   4th Grade English Reading (Amherst County Public Schools)7669.2
 6.8%
   4th Grade English Reading (Virginia)7572.7
 2.3%
5th Grade Mathematics (Central Elementary)8459.2
 24.8%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Amherst County Public Schools)8361.1
 21.9%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Virginia)8167
 14%
5th Grade Science (Central Elementary)7269.4
 2.6%
   5th Grade Science (Amherst County Public Schools)7653.8
 22.2%
   5th Grade Science (Virginia)7966
 13%
5th Grade English Reading (Central Elementary)8467.4
 16.7%
   5th Grade English Reading (Amherst County Public Schools)7866.3
 11.7%
   5th Grade English Reading (Virginia)7871.4
 6.6%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students335318
 5.1%
African American6154
 11.5%
American Indian36
 100%
Asian12
 100%
Hispanic1221
 75%
Pacific Islander00
White228190
 16.7%
Two or More Races3045
 50%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients74.3%78.3%
 4%


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Frequently Asked Questions about Central Elementary

Students who attend Central Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Amherst Middle
High : Amherst County High

In the 2023-24 school year, 323 students attended Central Elementary.

Central Elementary ranks in the bottom 21.0% of Virginia elementary schools.

Students at Central Elementary are 55% White, 20% African American, 15% Two or more races, 6% Hispanic, 3% American Indian.


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





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