Lancaster Central School

544 Students

Elementary School Pre-K - 5th

School Overview

Lancaster Central School, located in Bluffton, Indiana, serves as a focal point for the local rural community, operating under the Northern Wells Community Schools corporation. The school is known for fostering a supportive, small-town educational environment that emphasizes foundational learning, character development, and strong partnerships between educators, students, and families. By maintaining a manageable student-to-teacher ratio, the school strives to provide personalized attention, ensuring that each student receives the necessary support to meet academic standards while feeling connected to the school community.

Beyond core academics, Lancaster Central integrates various extracurricular and community-focused initiatives to create a well-rounded educational experience. The school reflects the values of its surrounding agricultural and residential area, prioritizing safety, inclusivity, and a collaborative spirit. As part of a larger district, the school benefits from shared resources and curriculum alignment, which helps bridge the gap between primary education and the secondary programs offered within the Northern Wells system.

544

Total Students

35.5

Full-Time Teachers

15.3

Student/Teacher Ratio

39.9%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Lancaster Central School
Demographic	Student Count
White	491
Hispanic	24
Black	7
Asian	3
Two or More	17
American Indian	1
Pacific Islander	1

White
491 (90.3 %)
Hispanic
24 (4.4 %)
Two or More
17 (3.1 %)
Black
7 (1.3 %)
Asian
3 (0.6 %)
American Indian
1 (0.2 %)
Pacific Islander
1 (0.2 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Northern Wells Community Schools
Phone:	(260)565-3135
Grade Range:	Pre-K - 5th
Total Students:	544
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	35.5
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	15.3
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes participating without using any Provision or the CEO
Qualified Free Lunch:	179
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	38

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Pre-Kindergarten 21

Kindergarten 79

Grade 1 80

Grade 2 96

Grade 3 88

Grade 4 88

Grade 5 92