- Enrollment
- 414
- Students per teacher
- 12.2:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Belle Fourche, SD
Belle Fourche Education Connection - 09
Federal NCES profile for Belle Fourche Education Connection - 09, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 29/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 460561001277
👥 S:T ratio 24
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 54
📋 Attendance 8
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Belle Fourche Education Connection - 09 earns 29/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 93% of South Dakota schools.
- #5 of 5
- public schools in Belle Fourche · Resource Index
- 29
- Resource Index · Lower
- 19:1
- large classes for South Dakota
- 31.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Belle Fourche Education Connection - 09 has class sizes larger than 93% of South Dakota schools. Computed live against every South Dakota school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Belle Fourche Education Connection - 09 ranks #5 of 5 public schools in Belle Fourche, SD.
School address
District: Belle Fourche School District 09-1 · South Dakota
NCES ID 460561001277 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-22 students YoY
Belle Fourche Education Connection - 09 shrank from 57 students in 2022-23 to 35 in 2023-24 (-38.6%).
Teacher FTE lost 3.0 → 2.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-22 students YoY 460561001277 · Belle Fourche, SD High · SMALL · TRAD
57 enr · 19:1 · 31.6% lunch · RII 29
Nearest enrollment peer: Belle Fourche Middle School - 07 (414 students)
Belle Fourche Education Connection - 09 shrank from 57 students in 2022-23 to 35 in 2023-24 (-38.6%). Teacher FTE lost 3.0 → 2.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Dakota schools → · Find another →
Belle Fourche Education Connection - 09 in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Belle Fourche
Belle Fourche Middle School - 07
414 students
- Belle Fourche
Belle Fourche High School - 01
389 students
- South Park Ele
South Park Elementary - 03
347 students
- North Park Ele 89
North Park Elementary - 08
89 students
- This school 57
Belle Fourche Education Connection - 09
57 students
What this shows Belle Fourche Education Connection - 09 reports 57 students on the CCD universe file.
How Belle Fourche Education Connection - 09 compares
Belle Fourche Education Connection - 09 is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs South Dakota and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs South Dakota | South Dakota avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 19:1 | ▲ 40% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 31.6% | ▲ 10% | 28.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 57 | top 67% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19:1
Leaner classes than 20% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
57
Bigger than 6% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
31.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 10% above the South Dakota average of 28.8%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
19:1
students per teacher
- 40% above state mean
Top 93% in South Dakota - lower ratio than 7% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
36.8%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$10,737
per pupil, district-wide
- below South Dakota avg of $13,985
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.3 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Programs
AP program Not offered
District finance for Belle Fourche School District 09-1 reports $10,737 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Belle Fourche Education Connection - 09 Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belle Fourche Middle School - 07 | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Belle Fourche High School - 01 | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| South Park Elementary - 03 | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| North Park Elementary - 08 | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Belle Fourche Education Connection - 09's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 389
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 347
- Students per teacher
- 10.8:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 89
- Students per teacher
- 11.1:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
Similar high schools in Belle Fourche
1 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Nationwide high schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~57 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~19:1)
Frequently asked questions about Belle Fourche Education Connection - 09
How many students attend Belle Fourche Education Connection - 09?
Belle Fourche Education Connection - 09 has 57 students enrolled. It is a high school in Belle Fourche, SD. CCD year-over-year: 57 (2022-23) → 35 (2023-24), down 22.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Belle Fourche Education Connection - 09?
The student-teacher ratio at Belle Fourche Education Connection - 09 is 19:1, which is 40% higher than the South Dakota average of 13.6:1 and 21% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Belle Fourche Education Connection - 09?
31.6% of students at Belle Fourche Education Connection - 09 are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Dakota average of 28.8%.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Belle Fourche Education Connection - 09?
Belle Fourche Education Connection - 09 has a Resource Investment Index of 29/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Belle Fourche Education Connection - 09 rank among public schools in Belle Fourche?
By Resource Investment Index, Belle Fourche Education Connection - 09 ranks #5 of 5 public schools in Belle Fourche, SD. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Belle Fourche on the city page.
What other schools are in Belle Fourche School District 09-1?
Besides Belle Fourche Education Connection - 09, Belle Fourche School District 09-1 also operates Belle Fourche Middle School - 07 (414 students), Belle Fourche High School - 01 (389 students), and South Park Elementary - 03 (347 students). See the Belle Fourche School District 09-1 district page for the complete list.