CENTRAL ELEM.

CENTRAL ELEM. is a reasonably sized primary school in PIERCE CITY, Missouri, operated by PIERCE CITY R-VI. The school caters to 341 students in grades pre-K through 5.

Across the 3 schools in PIERCE CITY R-VI (704 students total), CENTRAL ELEM. accounts for its share of the district's footprint.

Demographically, CENTRAL ELEM. records that nearly all students (91%) are White. Other groups include 5% Hispanic. That mix tracks the wider county fairly closely.

On the resource side, Staff filings list 28 full-time-equivalent teachers, which works out to roughly 12.2:1 students per teacher. That tracks the state average closely. Around 42% of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, a number frequently used as a low-income enrollment indicator. Set against Lawrence County (around 55%), the school's rate is somewhat below typical.

In the surrounding community, community-level numbers for Lawrence County indicate median household earnings sit near $61,215, roughly 17% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 11% of residents live below the federal poverty line. CENTRAL ELEM. is one of 24 public schools in Lawrence County (combined enrollment of about 7,271 students).

The closest other public school is PIERCE CITY MIDDLE, roughly 0.1 miles away. Counting just inside five miles, 6 other public schools cluster around CENTRAL ELEM..

Geographically, the school is in a small-town area.

Looking at the recent track record. Over the past 7-year window, the student count increased 24%: 275 students in 2018 compared to 341 in 2025. Asian enrollment moved from 7% to 1% across the same window.

On this page, members of the CENTRAL ELEM. community share and discuss pickup logistics, teacher feedback, and after-school programs. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.