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Central Elementary

Summary:

Central Elementary is a public elementary school in Ferndale, Washington, serving 311 students in grades PK-5. The school is part of the Ferndale School District, which is ranked 150 out of 247 districts in the state and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

While Central Elementary has a higher percentage of White students (61.09%) compared to the state average (52.63%), its performance on standardized tests, such as SBAC and WCAS, is generally lower than the Ferndale School District and the state averages across all grades and subjects. The school's performance is particularly low for White, Special Education, and Low Socioeconomic Status student subgroups, ranking in the bottom 20% of Washington elementary schools. Central Elementary's statewide ranking has fluctuated over the years, ranging from 133 out of 1,053 schools in 2015-2016 (rated 4 stars) to 742 out of 1,169 schools in 2022-2023 (rated 2 stars), indicating a concerning decline in performance.

Compared to other schools in the area, Central Elementary's performance is lower than the Custer Elementary and Skyline Elementary School within the Ferndale School District, as well as Birchwood Elementary and Cordata Elementary in the neighboring Bellingham School District. The high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 49.82% to 63.99%, suggests that Central Elementary serves a population with significant socioeconomic challenges, which may contribute to the academic performance gaps.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

 5610 Second Avenue
       Ferndale, WA  98248-0068

(360) 383-9600

District: Ferndale School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
776th of 1,168 Washington Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $20,314 Help


Students who attend Central Elementary usually attend:

Middle:    Vista Middle School
High:    Ferndale High School

Student/teacher ratio:  13.4 Help
Number of students:  321

Racial breakdown:

White:
60.4%
Hispanic:
22.7%
Two or more races:
9.3%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  66% Help


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Performance Trends
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Compare Details Central Elementary ranks worse than 66.4% of elementary schools in Washington. It also ranks 4th among 5 ranked elementary schools in the Ferndale School District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 33.56. (See more...)
Student Body
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (60.4%), Hispanic (22.7%), two or more races (9.3%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 66% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Central Elementary is 13.4, which is the 4th best among 5 elementary schools in the Ferndale School District. (See more...)
Help
Compare Central Elementary employs 23.8 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Central Elementary is $20,314, which is the 2nd highest among 5 elementary schools in the Ferndale School District.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Central Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Central Elementary 776th of 1168 Washington 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:


Ferndale School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Ferndale School District 150th of 247 Washington school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for Central Elementary.

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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 WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 28.17 787th 1026 23.3%
2005 26.67 812th 1031 21.2%
2006 41.06 666th 1051 36.6%
2007 28.28 828th 1069 22.5%
2008 40.59 671st 1067 37.1%
2009 33.23 777th 1072 27.5%
2010 35.75 751st 1088 31.0%
2011 33.83 791st 1092 27.6%
2012 31.46 833rd 1097 24.1%
2013 26.63 880th 1106 20.4%
2015 56.28 447th 1067 58.1%
2016 85.77 133rd 1053 87.4%
2017 61.30 415th 1056 60.7%
2018 71.34 299th 1054 71.6%
2019 48.30 604th 1130 46.5%
2021 60.06 416th 1107 62.4%
2022 30.87 812th 1169 30.5%
2023 35.78 742nd 1169 36.5%
2024 33.56 776th 1168 33.6%
See the entire list of Washington Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Special Education students at Central Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 28.55 421st 566 25.6%
See the entire list of Best Washington Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Central Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 69.76 174th 835 79.2%
2019 38.98 639th 979 34.7%
2021 49.59 385th 854 54.9%
2022 19.29 911th 1019 10.6%
2023 28.45 793rd 1013 21.7%
2024 26.37 815th 1024 20.4%
See the entire list of Best Washington 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 WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 48.11 590th 1068 44.8%
2021 50.76 455th 1008 54.9%
2022 33.64 743rd 1100 32.5%
2023 36.80 684th 1094 37.5%
2024 35.20 709th 1093 35.1%
See the entire list of Best Washington Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Central Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 63.62 351st 999 64.9%
2019 52.28 516th 1075 52.0%
2021 66.35 312th 1025 69.6%
2022 27.46 829th 1113 25.5%
2023 34.88 705th 1099 35.9%
2024 36.43 698th 1099 36.5%
See the entire list of Best Washington Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Central Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 58.93 197th 540 63.5%
2019 54.94 289th 697 58.5%
See the entire list of Best Washington Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Central Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 71.56 233rd 833 72.0%
2019 47.33 574th 1027 44.1%
2021 53.18 422nd 943 55.2%
2022 29.49 785th 1031 23.9%
2023 28.50 780th 1011 22.8%
2024 25.14 806th 1009 20.1%
See the entire list of Best Washington Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Washington Office of Superindentent of Public Instruction, 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: 
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Data source: Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 4)
0%

100%

0%

0%

0%

  

Reviews:
by a parent
Monday, April 3, 2017

Open Quote Generally a good school for average performing students. Can't speak to special programs. Wish there was a second language option but nothing is offered. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Central Elementary

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 171 1 0 24 61 n/a n/a 0 257
1989 198 2 0 29 67 n/a n/a 0 296
1990 216 1 0 36 72 n/a n/a 0 325
1991 226 1 1 20 75 n/a n/a 0 323
1992 234 1 2 22 80 n/a n/a 0 339
1993 218 4 4 33 76 n/a n/a 0 335
1994 198 4 10 40 81 n/a n/a 0 333
1995 208 2 3 49 27 n/a n/a 0 289
1996 208 2 3 49 27 n/a n/a 0 289
1997 236 3 5 59 14 n/a n/a 0 317
1998 237 7 8 57 11 n/a n/a 0 320
1999 228 10 10 60 10 n/a n/a 0 318
2000 226 10 8 58 14 n/a n/a 0 316
2001 220 4 9 63 15 n/a n/a 0 311
2002 209 5 12 70 16 n/a n/a 0 312
2003 209 5 12 70 16 n/a n/a 0 312
2004 204 6 6 79 6 n/a n/a 0 301
2005 203 4 10 81 10 n/a n/a 0 308
2006 198 5 5 93 14 n/a n/a 0 315
2007 204 6 7 87 17 n/a n/a 0 321
2008 220 5 7 86 12 n/a n/a 0 330
2009 255 3 6 89 7 n/a n/a 3 363
2010 236 2 2 81 16 n/a n/a 4 341
2011 209 0 4 103 7 0 20 0 343
2012 180 0 4 106 3 1 22 0 316
2013 176 1 6 123 2 1 25 0 334
2014 179 7 16 73 9 2 24 0 310
2015 210 5 14 66 7 3 31 0 336
2016 213 2 8 68 3 2 32 0 328
2017 210 1 11 72 1 3 30 0 328
2018 213 2 10 79 1 3 35 0 343
2019 240 7 14 89 3 1 35 1 390
2020 236 4 14 103 10 1 26 1 395
2021 176 1 14 62 4 1 25 0 283
2022 188 6 18 63 3 1 27 0 306
2023 190 6 15 64 4 0 32 0 311
2024 194 5 16 73 3 0 30 0 321

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
1988 257 14.0 18.3 0
1989 296 16.0 18.5 n/a
1990 325 16.7 19.4 0
1991 323 16.6 19.4 n/a
1992 339 17.4 19.4 n/a
1993 335 17.7 18.9 n/a
1994 333 16.6 20.1 n/a
1995 289 15.4 18.8 n/a
1996 289 15.4 18.8 n/a
1997 317 16.9 18.8 n/a
1998 320 17.6 18.2 n/a
1999 318 17.7 18.0 n/a
2000 316 17.5 18.1 n/a
2001 311 18.7 16.6 n/a
2002 312 19.7 15.8 65.1
2003 312 19.7 15.8 65.1
2004 301 21.0 14.3 68.4
2005 308 20.6 15.0 76.9
2006 315 19.3 16.3 79.7
2007 321 19.3 16.6 68.8
2008 330 21.5 15.3 71.2
2009 363 21.5 16.9 69.4
2010 341 20.9 16.2 73.9
2011 343 20.8 16.4 79
2012 316 19.8 15.8 77.5
2013 334 19.4 17.1 78.1
2014 310 n/a n/a 55.5
2015 336 22.0 15.2 59.2
2016 328 21.0 15.6 54.9
2017 328 18.5 17.6 52.7
2018 343 17.0 20.1 52.2
2019 390 17.0 22.8 51.5
2020 395 20.2 19.4 48.1
2021 283 18.0 15.6 49.8
2022 306 25.0 12.2 56.5
2023 311 23.9 12.9 64
2024 321 23.8 13.4 66

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
1988 257 14.0 18.3 0
1989 296 16.0 18.5 n/a
1990 325 16.7 19.4 0
1991 323 16.6 19.4 n/a
1992 339 17.4 19.4 n/a
1993 335 17.7 18.9 n/a
1994 333 16.6 20.1 n/a
1995 289 15.4 18.8 n/a
1996 289 15.4 18.8 n/a
1997 317 16.9 18.8 n/a
1998 320 17.6 18.2 n/a
1999 318 17.7 18.0 n/a
2000 316 17.5 18.1 n/a
2001 311 18.7 16.6 n/a
2002 312 19.7 15.8 65.1
2003 312 19.7 15.8 65.1
2004 301 21.0 14.3 68.4
2005 308 20.6 15.0 76.9
2006 315 19.3 16.3 79.7
2007 321 19.3 16.6 68.8
2008 330 21.5 15.3 71.2
2009 363 21.5 16.9 69.4
2010 341 20.9 16.2 73.9
2011 343 20.8 16.4 79
2012 316 19.8 15.8 77.5
2013 334 19.4 17.1 78.1
2014 310 n/a n/a 55.5
2015 336 22.0 15.2 59.2
2016 328 21.0 15.6 54.9
2017 328 18.5 17.6 52.7
2018 343 17.0 20.1 52.2
2019 390 17.0 22.8 51.5
2020 395 20.2 19.4 48.1
2021 283 18.0 15.6 49.8
2022 306 25.0 12.2 56.5
2023 311 23.9 12.9 64
2024 321 23.8 13.4 66

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.

Kindergarten Immunization Rates

Central Elementary

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Compare
YearCompletely ImmunizedReligious ExemptionMedical ExemptionConditionalPersonal ExemptionPolioDiphtheriaHepatitis BVaricellaMMRPertussisMeaslesMumpsRubellaTetanus
201683.3%0.0%1.9%0.0%87.0%88.9%98.1%88.9%88.9%88.9%
201788.5%0.0%0.0%5.8%5.8%96.2%96.2%92.3%90.4%96.2%96.2%
201883.0%0.0%0.0%2.1%8.5%85.1%87.2%91.5%85.1%85.1%87.2%
201987.7%0.0%1.8%3.5%7.0%89.5%89.5%87.7%89.5%89.5%89.5%
202088.1%4.5%0.0%4.5%3.0%95.5%94.0%95.5%91.0%94.0%95.5%95.5%95.5%94.0%
202194.7%2.6%2.6%0.0%2.6%94.7%94.7%94.7%94.7%94.7%97.4%97.4%97.4%94.7%
202286.0%10.5%0.0%3.5%1.8%87.7%87.7%89.5%89.5%87.7%89.5%89.5%89.5%87.7%
202379.2%12.5%0.0%4.2%6.3%83.3%81.3%83.3%83.3%81.3%83.3%83.3%83.3%81.3%
202473.1%13.5%0.0%1.9%3.9%75.0%73.1%80.8%76.9%73.1%78.9%78.9%78.9%73.1%

Data source: Washington State Department of Health

Immunization Rates (Entire school)

Central Elementary

Help
Compare
YearCompletely ImmunizedReligious ExemptionMedical ExemptionPersonal ExemptionPolioDiphtheriaHepatitis BVaricellaMMRPertussis
201991.0%0.9%1.8%5.4%94.0%94.3%94.0%93.4%94.3%94.3%

Data source: Washington State Department of Health
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 $541 (3.8%) $13,576 (96.2%) $14,117
2020 $311 (3.7%) $8,070 (96.3%) $8,381
2021 $648 (4.0%) $15,440 (96.0%) $16,088
2022 $2,376 (11.7%) $17,938 (88.3%) $20,314

Data source: Washington 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 604th of 1130 Elementary schoolsRanks 742nd of 1169 Elementary schools
 10%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 % proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Central Elementary)53.726.5
 27.2%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Ferndale School District)54.939.5
 15.4%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Washington)56.348.9
 7.4%
3rd Grade Math (Central Elementary)40.439.6
 0.8%
   3rd Grade Math (Ferndale School District)56.146.2
 9.9%
   3rd Grade Math (Washington)5951.6
 7.4%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Central Elementary)58.737.7
 21%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Ferndale School District)50.436.3
 14.1%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Washington)57.750.1
 7.6%
4th Grade Math (Central Elementary)42.651.9
 9.2%
   4th Grade Math (Ferndale School District)47.841.8
 6.1%
   4th Grade Math (Washington)54.949.4
 5.5%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Central Elementary)66.246.2
 20%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Ferndale School District)57.438.5
 19%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Washington)61.353.8
 7.6%
5th Grade Math (Central Elementary)51.638.5
 13.2%
   5th Grade Math (Ferndale School District)45.532.5
 13%
   5th Grade Math (Washington)49.142
 7.1%
5th Grade Science (Central Elementary)65.148.1
 17%
   5th Grade Science (Ferndale School District)50.842.4
 8.4%
   5th Grade Science (Washington)54.152.3
 1.8%
All Grades English Language Arts (Central Elementary)59.937
 22.9%
   All Grades English Language Arts (Ferndale School District)5846.7
 11.3%
   All Grades English Language Arts (Washington)6152.9
 8.1%
All Grades Math (Central Elementary)45.143.5
 1.6%
   All Grades Math (Ferndale School District)4334.8
 8.2%
   All Grades Math (Washington)50.141
 9%
All Grades Science (Central Elementary)65.148.1
 17%
   All Grades Science (Ferndale School District)51.946.5
 5.5%
   All Grades Science (Washington)52.748.8
 4%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
Total Students390311
 20.3%
African American76
 14.3%
American Indian34
 33.3%
Asian1415
 7.1%
Hispanic8964
 28.1%
Pacific Islander10
 100%
White240190
 20.8%
Two or More Races3532
 8.6%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients51.5%64%
 12.4%

Schools Near Central Elementary








Frequently Asked Questions about Central Elementary

Students at Central Elementary are 60% White, 23% Hispanic, 9% Two or more races, 5% Asian, 2% African American.

In the 2023-24 school year, 321 students attended Central Elementary.

Students who attend Central Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Vista Middle School
High : Ferndale High School

Central Elementary ranks 776th of 1168 Washington elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 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, the Washington State Department of Health and the Washington Office of Superindentent of Public Instruction.

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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