- Enrollment
- 272
- Students per teacher
- 12.4:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Custer, SD
Custer Elementary - 02
Federal NCES profile for Custer Elementary - 02, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 57/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 461695000154
👥 S:T ratio 59
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 73
📋 Attendance 67
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Custer Elementary - 02 earns 57/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 76% of South Dakota schools.
- #2 of 3
- public schools in Custer · Resource Index
- 57
- Resource Index · Higher
- 10.3:1
- small classes for South Dakota
- 16.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Custer Elementary - 02 has class sizes smaller than 76% of South Dakota schools. Computed live against every South Dakota school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Custer Elementary - 02 ranks #2 of 3 public schools in Custer, SD.
School address
District: Custer School District 16-1 · South Dakota
NCES ID 461695000154 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-11 students YoY
Custer Elementary - 02 held near 293 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-11 headcount).
Teacher FTE held 26.0 → 26.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-11 students YoY 461695000154 · Custer, SD Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
269 enr · 10.3:1 · 16.1% lunch · RII 57
Nearest enrollment peer: Custer High School - 01 (272 students)
Custer Elementary - 02 held near 293 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-11 headcount). Teacher FTE held 26.0 → 26.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Dakota schools → · Find another →
Custer Elementary - 02 in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Custer High Sc
Custer High School - 01
272 students
- This school
Custer Elementary - 02
269 students
- Hermosa Elemen
Hermosa Elementary - 04
181 students
- Custer Jr. Hig 101
Custer Jr. High - 05
101 students
What this shows Custer Elementary - 02 reports 269 students on the CCD universe file.
How Custer Elementary - 02 compares
Custer Elementary - 02 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 | 10.3:1 | ▼ 24% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 16.1% | ▼ 44% | 28.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 269 | top 27% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
10.3:1
Leaner classes than 87% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
269
Bigger than 28% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
16.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 44% 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
10.3:1
students per teacher
- 24% below state mean
Top 24% in South Dakota - lower ratio than 76% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
13.4%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$14,663
per pupil, district-wide
- above South Dakota avg of $13,985
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 135 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
3
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 84.0%
Hispanic or Latino 8.9%
Two or More 4.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 2.2%
Largest group: White at 84.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 28.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 28.4, Custer Elementary - 02 is about as mixed as the South Dakota school average of 27.6.
Programs
District finance for Custer School District 16-1 reports $14,663 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Custer Elementary - 02 Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Custer High School - 01 | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Hermosa Elementary - 04 | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Custer Jr. High - 05 | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Custer Elementary - 02's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 181
- Students per teacher
- 8.2:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
- Enrollment
- 101
- Students per teacher
- 14.4:1
- Resource Index
- 59/100
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 (~269 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~10.3:1)
Frequently asked questions about Custer Elementary - 02
How many students attend Custer Elementary - 02?
Custer Elementary - 02 has 269 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Custer, SD. CCD year-over-year: 304 (2022-23) → 293 (2023-24), nearly flat (-11).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Custer Elementary - 02?
The student-teacher ratio at Custer Elementary - 02 is 10.3:1, which is 24% lower than the South Dakota average of 13.6:1 and 34% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Custer Elementary - 02?
16.1% of students at Custer Elementary - 02 are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Dakota average of 28.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Custer Elementary - 02?
The largest demographic group at Custer Elementary - 02 is White at 84.0% of enrollment, in Custer, SD.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Custer Elementary - 02?
Custer Elementary - 02 has a Resource Investment Index of 57/100 (higher 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 Custer Elementary - 02 rank among public schools in Custer?
By Resource Investment Index, Custer Elementary - 02 ranks #2 of 3 public schools in Custer, SD. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking.
What other schools are in Custer School District 16-1?
Besides Custer Elementary - 02, Custer School District 16-1 also operates Custer High School - 01 (272 students), Hermosa Elementary - 04 (181 students), and Custer Jr. High - 05 (101 students). See the Custer School District 16-1 district page for the complete list.