Enrollment
368
South Dakota · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Rapid City, SD
Knollwood Heights Elementary - 08
Federal NCES profile for Knollwood Heights Elementary - 08, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 32/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 465982000539
👥 S:T ratio 46
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 51
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Knollwood Heights Elementary - 08 earns 32/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the South Dakota median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most South Dakota schools.
- #8 of 10
- elementary schools in Rapid City · Resource Index
- 32
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.6:1
- students per teacher
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Knollwood Heights Elementary - 08 has class sizes near the South Dakota median. Computed live against every South Dakota school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Knollwood Heights Elementary - 08 ranks #8 of 10 elementary schools in Rapid City, SD.
School address
District: Rapid City Area School District 51-4 · South Dakota
NCES ID 465982000539 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
27.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13.6:1
vs 13.6:1 South Dakota avg
+0% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
100.0%
vs 28.8% South Dakota avg
+247% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Knollwood Heights Elementary - 08 compares with South Dakota and U.S. medians
What stands out at Knollwood Heights Elementary - 08
Knollwood Heights Elementary - 08 is a high-poverty, mid-sized elementary school in Rapid City, South Dakota, enrolling 368 students.
At 13.6:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the South Dakota median, within a few percentage points of the 13.6:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Economic need is high: 100.0% of students qualify for free meals, 247% above the South Dakota average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
Enrollment of 368 puts it in the larger third of South Dakota schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 691 scored South Dakota schools.
Against 16 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #10.
Its student body is led by American Indian / Alaska Native (49%) and White (21%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 67/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 245 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 42.4% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 18.9% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Rapid City's elementary schools, it stands alongside Valley View Elementary - 13 (605 students): Knollwood Heights Elementary - 08 is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (13.6:1 vs 18.9:1).
Rapid City Area School District 51-4 also operates Central High School - 41 (1,998 students) and Stevens High School - 42 (1,771 students) alongside Knollwood Heights Elementary - 08.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Knollwood Heights Elementary - 08 compares
Knollwood Heights Elementary - 08 on the metrics families compare, against South Dakota and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs South Dakota | South Dakota avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.6:1 | ▼ 0% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 247% | 28.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 368 | top 18% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.6:1
Leaner classes than 61% 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 (what these measure)
Economic need
100.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 247% above the South Dakota average of 28.8%
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
13.6:1
students per teacher
- 0% above state mean
Top 53% in South Dakota - lower ratio than 47% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
42.4%
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
$11,191
per pupil, district-wide
- below South Dakota avg of $13,477
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.5 FTE
Per 245 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
37
in-school suspensions + 29 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 10.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 17.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
American Indian / Alaska Native 49.2%
White 21.2%
Two or More 16.6%
Hispanic or Latino 11.7%
African American 1.1%
Asian 0.3%
Largest group: American Indian / Alaska Native at 49.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 67.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 67.2, Knollwood Heights Elementary - 08 is more mixed than the South Dakota school average of 27.6.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Rapid City Area School District 51-4, which includes Knollwood Heights Elementary - 08.
$11,191
Per student
-17%
vs South Dakota
Avg $13,477
-33%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 54.3%
State 26.7%
Federal 18.9%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Knollwood Heights Elementary - 08 Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central High School - 41 | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Stevens High School - 42 | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| South Middle School - 36 | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Southwest Middle School - 38 | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| East Middle School - 30 | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Knollwood Heights Elementary - 08's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,998
- Students per teacher
- 20:1
- Resource Index
- 18/100
- Enrollment
- 1,771
- Students per teacher
- 19.9:1
- Resource Index
- 18/100
- Enrollment
- 618
- Students per teacher
- 14.7:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 614
- Students per teacher
- 18.1:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 613
- Students per teacher
- 15:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
Similar elementary schools in Rapid City
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Valley View Elementary - 13
Standard public school
605 students 18.9:1 students per teacher
Meadowbrook Elementary - 10
Standard public school
478 students 15.9:1 students per teacher
Corral Drive Elementary - 21
Standard public school
439 students 20:1 students per teacher
Grandview Elementary - 06
Standard public school
431 students 16.6:1 students per teacher
Pinedale Elementary - 11
Standard public school
377 students 17.1:1 students per teacher
Woodrow Wilson Elementary - 17
Standard public school
328 students 16.4:1 students per teacher
Similar elementary schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of South Dakota, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~368 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Knollwood Heights Elementary - 08's federal record.
- Compare Knollwood Heights Elementary - 08 against another school. Compare schools
- Rapid City Area School District 51-4's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Knollwood Heights Elementary - 08
How many students attend Knollwood Heights Elementary - 08?
Knollwood Heights Elementary - 08 has 368 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Rapid City, SD.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Knollwood Heights Elementary - 08?
The student-teacher ratio at Knollwood Heights Elementary - 08 is 13.6:1, which is 0% higher than the South Dakota average of 13.6:1 and 13% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Knollwood Heights Elementary - 08?
100.0% of students at Knollwood Heights Elementary - 08 are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Dakota average of 28.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Knollwood Heights Elementary - 08?
The largest demographic group at Knollwood Heights Elementary - 08 is American Indian / Alaska Native at 49.2% of enrollment, in Rapid City, SD. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 67.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Knollwood Heights Elementary - 08?
Knollwood Heights Elementary - 08 has a Resource Investment Index of 32/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Knollwood Heights Elementary - 08 rank among elementary schools in Rapid City?
By Resource Investment Index, Knollwood Heights Elementary - 08 ranks #8 of 10 elementary schools in Rapid City, SD. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Rapid City on the city page.
Is Knollwood Heights Elementary - 08 a good school?
Knollwood Heights Elementary - 08 earns 32/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the South Dakota median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most South Dakota schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Rapid City Area School District 51-4?
Besides Knollwood Heights Elementary - 08, Rapid City Area School District 51-4 also operates Central High School - 41 (1,998 students), Stevens High School - 42 (1,771 students), and South Middle School - 36 (618 students). See the Rapid City Area School District 51-4 district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Compare schools
Side-by-side comparison tool
Schools in South Dakota
All public schools in South Dakota
Rapid City Area School District 51-4
All schools in this district
Schools in Rapid City
All schools in this city
School districts
Ranked by enrollment & spending
Rankings
Best schools by state & type
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.