- Enrollment
- 928
- Students per teacher
- 12.4:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · South Portland, ME
Dora L Small Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Dora L Small Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 54/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 231233000575
👥 S:T ratio 68
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 61
📋 Attendance 57
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Dora L Small Elementary School earns 54/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 89% of Maine schools.
- #2 of 5
- elementary schools in South Portland · Resource Index
- 54
- Resource Index · Higher
- 8:1
- small classes for Maine
- 16.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Dora L Small Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 89% of Maine schools. Computed live against every Maine school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Dora L Small Elementary School ranks #2 of 5 elementary schools in South Portland, ME.
School address
District: South Portland Public Schools · Maine
NCES ID 231233000575 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-56 students YoY
Dora L Small Elementary School shrank from 260 students in 2022-23 to 204 in 2023-24 (-21.5%).
Teacher FTE lost 24.8 → 20.4 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-56 students YoY 231233000575 · South Portland, ME Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
193 enr · 8:1 · 16.2% lunch · RII 54
Nearest enrollment peer: South Portland High School (928 students)
Dora L Small Elementary School shrank from 260 students in 2022-23 to 204 in 2023-24 (-21.5%). Teacher FTE lost 24.8 → 20.4 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Maine schools → · Find another →
Dora L Small Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- South Portland
South Portland High School
928 students
- Daniel F. Maho
Daniel F. Mahoney Middle School
424 students
- Memorial Middl
Memorial Middle School
388 students
- Waldo T Skilli 302
Waldo T Skillin Elementary School
302 students
- Frank I Brown 213
Frank I Brown Elementary School
213 students
- This school 193
Dora L Small Elementary School
193 students
What this shows Dora L Small Elementary School reports 193 students on the CCD universe file.
How Dora L Small Elementary School compares
Dora L Small Elementary School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Maine and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Maine | Maine avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 8:1 | ▼ 28% | 11.1:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 16.2% | ▼ 52% | 34.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 193 | top 61% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
8:1
Leaner classes than 95% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
193
Bigger than 19% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
16.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 52% below the Maine average of 34.0%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
8:1
students per teacher
- 28% below state mean
Top 11% in Maine - lower ratio than 89% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
17.1%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$18,364
per pupil, district-wide
- below Maine avg of $20,907
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 193 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
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.
Student demographics
White 82.4%
Two or More 7.8%
African American 5.7%
Hispanic or Latino 2.6%
Asian 1.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%
Largest group: White at 82.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 31.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 31.1, Dora L Small Elementary School is more mixed than the Maine school average of 20.6.
Programs
District finance for South Portland Public Schools reports $18,364 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Dora L Small Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Portland High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Daniel F. Mahoney Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Memorial Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Waldo T Skillin Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Frank I Brown Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Dora L Small Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 424
- Students per teacher
- 11.8:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 388
- Students per teacher
- 9.9:1
- Resource Index
- 59/100
- Enrollment
- 302
- Students per teacher
- 10.4:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 213
- Students per teacher
- 8.5:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
Similar elementary schools in South Portland
4 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Daniel F. Mahoney Middle School
Standard public school
424 students 11.8:1 students per teacher
Waldo T Skillin Elementary School
Standard public school
302 students 10.4:1 students per teacher
Frank I Brown Elementary School
Standard public school
213 students 8.5:1 students per teacher
Dyer Elementary School
Standard public school
194 students 9.7:1 students per teacher
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 (~193 students)
Frequently asked questions about Dora L Small Elementary School
How many students attend Dora L Small Elementary School?
Dora L Small Elementary School has 193 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in South Portland, ME. CCD year-over-year: 260 (2022-23) → 204 (2023-24), down 56.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Dora L Small Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Dora L Small Elementary School is 8:1, which is 28% lower than the Maine average of 11.1:1 and 49% 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 Dora L Small Elementary School?
16.2% of students at Dora L Small Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Maine average of 34.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Dora L Small Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Dora L Small Elementary School is White at 82.4% of enrollment, in South Portland, ME.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Dora L Small Elementary School?
Dora L Small Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 54/100 (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 Dora L Small Elementary School rank among elementary schools in South Portland?
By Resource Investment Index, Dora L Small Elementary School ranks #2 of 5 elementary schools in South Portland, ME. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in South Portland on the city page.
What other schools are in South Portland Public Schools?
Besides Dora L Small Elementary School, South Portland Public Schools also operates South Portland High School (928 students), Daniel F. Mahoney Middle School (424 students), and Memorial Middle School (388 students). See the South Portland Public Schools district page for the complete list.