- Enrollment
- 378
- Students per teacher
- 15.1:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Houlton, ME
Houlton Southside School
Federal NCES profile for Houlton Southside School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 57/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 231116000035
👥 S:T ratio 39
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 62
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Houlton Southside School earns 57/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 96% of Maine schools.
- #1 of 4
- public schools in Houlton · Resource Index
- 57
- Resource Index · Higher
- 15.3:1
- large classes for Maine
- 57.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Houlton Southside School has class sizes larger than 96% of Maine schools. Computed live against every Maine school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Houlton Southside School ranks #1 of 4 public schools in Houlton, ME.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-24 students YoY
Houlton Southside School shrank from 317 students in 2022-23 to 293 in 2023-24 (-7.6%).
Teacher FTE lost 24.4 → 22.4 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-24 students YoY 231116000035 · Houlton, ME Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
368 enr · 15.3:1 · 57.1% lunch · RII 57
Nearest enrollment peer: Houlton High School (378 students)
Houlton Southside School shrank from 317 students in 2022-23 to 293 in 2023-24 (-7.6%). Teacher FTE lost 24.4 → 22.4 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Maine schools → · Find another →
Houlton Southside School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Houlton High S
Houlton High School
378 students
- This school
Houlton Southside School
368 students
- Houlton Elemen
Houlton Elementary School
282 students
- Houlton Junior
Houlton Junior High School
186 students
What this shows Houlton Southside School reports 368 students on the CCD universe file.
How Houlton Southside School compares
Houlton Southside 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 | 15.3:1 | ▲ 38% | 11.1:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 57.1% | ▲ 68% | 34.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 368 | top 28% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.3:1
Leaner classes than 44% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
368
Bigger than 42% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
57.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 68% above the Maine average of 34.0%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
15.3:1
students per teacher
- 38% above state mean
Top 96% in Maine - lower ratio than 4% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
15.2%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$14,912
per pupil, district-wide
- below Maine avg of $20,907
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
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 83.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 10.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 2.2%
Two or More 2.2%
African American 0.8%
Asian 0.8%
Hispanic or Latino 0.3%
Largest group: White at 83.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 29.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 29.5, Houlton Southside School is more mixed than the Maine school average of 20.6.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Rsu 29/Msad 29 reports $14,912 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Houlton Southside School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houlton High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Houlton Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Houlton Junior High School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Houlton Southside School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 282
- Students per teacher
- 13.4:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
- Enrollment
- 186
- Students per teacher
- 8.9:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
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 (~368 students)
Frequently asked questions about Houlton Southside School
How many students attend Houlton Southside School?
Houlton Southside School has 368 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Houlton, ME. CCD year-over-year: 317 (2022-23) → 293 (2023-24), down 24.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Houlton Southside School?
The student-teacher ratio at Houlton Southside School is 15.3:1, which is 38% higher than the Maine average of 11.1:1 and 3% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Houlton Southside School?
57.1% of students at Houlton Southside School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Maine average of 34.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Houlton Southside School?
The largest demographic group at Houlton Southside School is White at 83.2% of enrollment, in Houlton, ME.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Houlton Southside School?
Houlton Southside School has a Resource Investment Index of 57/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Houlton Southside School rank among public schools in Houlton?
By Resource Investment Index, Houlton Southside School ranks #1 of 4 public schools in Houlton, ME. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking.
What other schools are in Rsu 29/Msad 29?
Besides Houlton Southside School, Rsu 29/Msad 29 also operates Houlton High School (378 students), Houlton Elementary School (282 students), and Houlton Junior High School (186 students). See the Rsu 29/Msad 29 district page for the complete list.