- Enrollment
- 855
- Students per teacher
- 17.4:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Pierre, SD
Buchanan Elementary - 03
Federal NCES profile for Buchanan Elementary - 03, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 33/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 465526000494
👥 S:T ratio 36
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 14
📋 Attendance 53
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Buchanan Elementary - 03 earns 33/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 78% of South Dakota schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most South Dakota schools.
- #2 of 3
- elementary schools in Pierre · Resource Index
- 33
- Resource Index · Typical
- 16:1
- large classes for South Dakota
- 21.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Buchanan Elementary - 03 has class sizes larger than 78% of South Dakota schools. Computed live against every South Dakota school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Buchanan Elementary - 03 ranks #2 of 3 elementary schools in Pierre, SD.
School address
District: Pierre School District 32-2 · South Dakota
NCES ID 465526000494 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+4 students YoY
Buchanan Elementary - 03 held near 422 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+4 headcount).
Teacher FTE held 27.0 → 27.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+4 students YoY 465526000494 · Pierre, SD Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
432 enr · 16:1 · 21.5% lunch · RII 33
Nearest enrollment peer: T F Riggs High School - 01 (855 students)
Buchanan Elementary - 03 held near 422 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+4 headcount). Teacher FTE held 27.0 → 27.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Dakota schools → · Find another →
Buchanan Elementary - 03 in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- T F Riggs High
T F Riggs High School - 01
855 students
- Georgia Morse
Georgia Morse Middle School - 02
672 students
- This school
Buchanan Elementary - 03
432 students
- Kennedy Elemen
Kennedy Elementary - 08
413 students
- Jefferson Elem
Jefferson Elementary - 06
377 students
What this shows Buchanan Elementary - 03 reports 432 students on the CCD universe file.
How Buchanan Elementary - 03 compares
Buchanan Elementary - 03 held steady on CCD headcount: 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 | 16:1 | ▲ 18% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 21.5% | ▼ 25% | 28.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 432 | top 13% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16:1
Leaner classes than 38% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
432
Bigger than 52% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
21.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 25% below 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
16:1
students per teacher
- 18% above state mean
Top 78% in South Dakota - lower ratio than 22% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
18.8%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$10,579
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 432 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
7
in-school suspensions + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 62.5%
Two or More 14.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 13.9%
Hispanic or Latino 5.3%
Asian 2.5%
African American 0.9%
Largest group: White at 62.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 56.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 56.5, Buchanan Elementary - 03 is more mixed than the South Dakota school average of 27.6.
Programs
District finance for Pierre School District 32-2 reports $10,579 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Buchanan Elementary - 03 Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| T F Riggs High School - 01 | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Georgia Morse Middle School - 02 | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Kennedy Elementary - 08 | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Jefferson Elementary - 06 | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Buchanan Elementary - 03's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 672
- Students per teacher
- 16.4:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 413
- Students per teacher
- 15.9:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 377
- Students per teacher
- 13.5:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
Similar elementary schools in Pierre
2 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Nationwide elementary 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 (~432 students)
Frequently asked questions about Buchanan Elementary - 03
How many students attend Buchanan Elementary - 03?
Buchanan Elementary - 03 has 432 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Pierre, SD. CCD year-over-year: 418 (2022-23) → 422 (2023-24), nearly flat (+4).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Buchanan Elementary - 03?
The student-teacher ratio at Buchanan Elementary - 03 is 16:1, which is 18% higher than the South Dakota average of 13.6:1 and 2% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Buchanan Elementary - 03?
21.5% of students at Buchanan Elementary - 03 are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Dakota average of 28.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Buchanan Elementary - 03?
The largest demographic group at Buchanan Elementary - 03 is White at 62.5% of enrollment, in Pierre, SD. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 56.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Buchanan Elementary - 03?
Buchanan Elementary - 03 has a Resource Investment Index of 33/100 (typical 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 Buchanan Elementary - 03 rank among elementary schools in Pierre?
By Resource Investment Index, Buchanan Elementary - 03 ranks #2 of 3 elementary schools in Pierre, SD. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Pierre on the city page.
What other schools are in Pierre School District 32-2?
Besides Buchanan Elementary - 03, Pierre School District 32-2 also operates T F Riggs High School - 01 (855 students), Georgia Morse Middle School - 02 (672 students), and Kennedy Elementary - 08 (413 students). See the Pierre School District 32-2 district page for the complete list.