- Enrollment
- 269
- Students per teacher
- 10.3:1
- Resource Index
- 57/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Custer, SD
Custer High School - 01
Federal NCES profile for Custer High School - 01, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 44/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 461695000155
👥 S:T ratio 50
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 46
📋 Attendance 49
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Custer High School - 01 earns 44/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the South Dakota median.
- #3 of 3
- public schools in Custer · Resource Index
- 44
- Resource Index · Typical
- 12.4:1
- students per teacher
- 12.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Custer High School - 01 has class sizes near the South Dakota median. Computed live against every South Dakota school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Custer High School - 01 ranks #3 of 3 public schools in Custer, SD.
School address
District: Custer School District 16-1 · South Dakota
NCES ID 461695000155 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-22 students YoY
Custer High School - 01 shrank from 284 students in 2022-23 to 262 in 2023-24 (-7.7%).
Teacher FTE lost 22.2 → 20.3 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-22 students YoY 461695000155 · Custer, SD High · SMALL · TRAD
272 enr · 12.4:1 · 12.0% lunch · RII 44
Nearest enrollment peer: Custer Elementary - 02 (269 students)
Custer High School - 01 shrank from 284 students in 2022-23 to 262 in 2023-24 (-7.7%). Teacher FTE lost 22.2 → 20.3 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Dakota schools → · Find another →
Custer High School - 01 in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- This school
Custer High School - 01
272 students
- Custer Element
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 High School - 01 reports 272 students on the CCD universe file.
How Custer High School - 01 compares
Custer High School - 01 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 | 12.4:1 | ▼ 9% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 12.0% | ▼ 58% | 28.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 272 | top 26% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.4:1
Leaner classes than 72% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
272
Bigger than 28% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
12.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 58% 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
12.4:1
students per teacher
- 9% below state mean
Top 41% in South Dakota - lower ratio than 59% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
20.6%
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
$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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 272 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
13
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 4.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 4.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 84.6%
Hispanic or Latino 7.4%
Two or More 5.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.8%
African American 0.4%
Largest group: White at 84.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 27.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 27.5, Custer High School - 01 is about as mixed as the South Dakota school average of 27.6.
Programs
AP courses offered 3
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 High School - 01 Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Custer Elementary - 02 | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Hermosa Elementary - 04 | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Custer Jr. High - 05 | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Custer High School - 01'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 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 (~272 students)
Frequently asked questions about Custer High School - 01
How many students attend Custer High School - 01?
Custer High School - 01 has 272 students enrolled. It is a high school in Custer, SD. CCD year-over-year: 284 (2022-23) → 262 (2023-24), down 22.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Custer High School - 01?
The student-teacher ratio at Custer High School - 01 is 12.4:1, which is 9% lower than the South Dakota average of 13.6:1 and 21% 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 High School - 01?
12.0% of students at Custer High School - 01 are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Dakota average of 28.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Custer High School - 01?
The largest demographic group at Custer High School - 01 is White at 84.6% of enrollment, in Custer, SD.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Custer High School - 01?
Custer High School - 01 has a Resource Investment Index of 44/100 (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 Custer High School - 01 rank among public schools in Custer?
By Resource Investment Index, Custer High School - 01 ranks #3 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 High School - 01, Custer School District 16-1 also operates Custer Elementary - 02 (269 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.