- Enrollment
- 355
- Students per teacher
- 12.7:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Dell Rapids, SD
Dell Rapids Middle School - 03
Federal NCES profile for Dell Rapids Middle School - 03, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 56/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 461812000837
👥 S:T ratio 44
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 80
📋 Attendance 69
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Dell Rapids Middle School - 03 earns 56/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the South Dakota median.
- #1 of 3
- public schools in Dell Rapids · Resource Index
- 56
- Resource Index · Higher
- 14:1
- students per teacher
- 9.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Dell Rapids Middle School - 03 has class sizes near the South Dakota median. Computed live against every South Dakota school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Dell Rapids Middle School - 03 ranks #1 of 3 public schools in Dell Rapids, SD.
School address
District: Dell Rapids School District 49-3 · South Dakota
NCES ID 461812000837 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-19 students YoY
Dell Rapids Middle School - 03 shrank from 299 students in 2022-23 to 280 in 2023-24 (-6.4%).
Teacher FTE lost 21.5 → 20.3 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-19 students YoY 461812000837 · Dell Rapids, SD Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
295 enr · 14:1 · 9.7% lunch · RII 56
Nearest enrollment peer: Dell Rapids Elementary - 02 (355 students)
Dell Rapids Middle School - 03 shrank from 299 students in 2022-23 to 280 in 2023-24 (-6.4%). Teacher FTE lost 21.5 → 20.3 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Dakota schools → · Find another →
Dell Rapids Middle School - 03 in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Dell Rapids El
Dell Rapids Elementary - 02
355 students
- Dell Rapids Hi
Dell Rapids High School - 01
315 students
- This school
Dell Rapids Middle School - 03
295 students
What this shows Dell Rapids Middle School - 03 reports 295 students on the CCD universe file.
How Dell Rapids Middle School - 03 compares
Dell Rapids Middle School - 03 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 | 14:1 | ▲ 3% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 9.7% | ▼ 66% | 28.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 295 | top 23% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14:1
Leaner classes than 57% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
295
Bigger than 32% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
9.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 66% 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
14:1
students per teacher
- 3% above state mean
Top 58% in South Dakota - lower ratio than 42% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
12.5%
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
$10,960
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
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 98 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
14
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 4.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 4.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 92.5%
Two or More 3.4%
Hispanic or Latino 2.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.0%
African American 0.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: White at 92.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 14.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 14.3, Dell Rapids Middle School - 03 is less mixed than the South Dakota school average of 27.6.
Programs
District finance for Dell Rapids School District 49-3 reports $10,960 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Dell Rapids Middle School - 03 Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dell Rapids Elementary - 02 | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Dell Rapids High School - 01 | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Dell Rapids Middle School - 03's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 315
- Students per teacher
- 16.6:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
Similar elementary schools in Dell Rapids
1 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 (~295 students)
Frequently asked questions about Dell Rapids Middle School - 03
How many students attend Dell Rapids Middle School - 03?
Dell Rapids Middle School - 03 has 295 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Dell Rapids, SD. CCD year-over-year: 299 (2022-23) → 280 (2023-24), down 19.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Dell Rapids Middle School - 03?
The student-teacher ratio at Dell Rapids Middle School - 03 is 14:1, which is 3% higher than the South Dakota average of 13.6:1 and 11% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Dell Rapids Middle School - 03?
9.7% of students at Dell Rapids Middle School - 03 are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Dakota average of 28.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Dell Rapids Middle School - 03?
The largest demographic group at Dell Rapids Middle School - 03 is White at 92.5% of enrollment, in Dell Rapids, SD.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Dell Rapids Middle School - 03?
Dell Rapids Middle School - 03 has a Resource Investment Index of 56/100 (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 Dell Rapids Middle School - 03 rank among public schools in Dell Rapids?
By Resource Investment Index, Dell Rapids Middle School - 03 ranks #1 of 3 public schools in Dell Rapids, 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 Dell Rapids School District 49-3?
Besides Dell Rapids Middle School - 03, Dell Rapids School District 49-3 also operates Dell Rapids Elementary - 02 (355 students) and Dell Rapids High School - 01 (315 students). See the Dell Rapids School District 49-3 district page for the complete list.