Enrollment
438
South Dakota · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Mitchell, SD
L. B. Williams Elementary - 03
Federal NCES profile for L. B. Williams Elementary - 03, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 37/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 464839000520
👥 S:T ratio 47
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 12
📋 Attendance 58
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
L. B. Williams Elementary - 03 earns 37/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the South Dakota median.
- #5 of 6
- elementary schools in Mitchell · Resource Index
- 37
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.3:1
- students per teacher
- 30.7%
- free-lunch eligible
L. B. Williams Elementary - 03 has class sizes near the South Dakota median. Computed live against every South Dakota school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, L. B. Williams Elementary - 03 ranks #5 of 6 elementary schools in Mitchell, SD.
School address
District: Mitchell School District 17-2 · South Dakota
NCES ID 464839000520 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
33.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13.3:1
vs 13.6:1 South Dakota avg
-2% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
30.7%
vs 28.8% South Dakota avg
+7% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How L. B. Williams Elementary - 03 compares with South Dakota and U.S. medians
What stands out at L. B. Williams Elementary - 03
L. B. Williams Elementary - 03 is a large elementary school in Mitchell, South Dakota, enrolling 438 students.
At 13.3:1, 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 runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 30.7% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 438 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 64 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #40.
Its student body is led by White (76%) and Hispanic or Latino (14%) (diversity index 40/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 438 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
16.7% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
The surrounding Mitchell School District 17-2 spends $10,109 per pupil, 25% below the South Dakota average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Mitchell's elementary schools, it stands alongside Gertie Belle Rogers Elementary - 04 (379 students): L. B. Williams Elementary - 03 is larger than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (13.3:1 vs 13.5:1).
Mitchell School District 17-2 also operates Mitchell High School - 01 (879 students) and Mitchell Middle School - 02 (578 students) alongside L. B. Williams Elementary - 03.
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 L. B. Williams Elementary - 03 compares
L. B. Williams Elementary - 03 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 | 13.3:1 | ▼ 2% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 30.7% | ▲ 7% | 28.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 438 | top 13% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.3:1
Leaner classes than 64% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
438
Bigger than 53% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
30.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 7% above 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
13.3:1
students per teacher
- 2% below state mean
Top 49% in South Dakota - lower ratio than 51% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
16.7%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$10,109
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 438 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
5
in-school suspensions + 5 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.3 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
White 76.3%
Hispanic or Latino 13.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 5.3%
Two or More 3.4%
Asian 1.6%
Largest group: White at 76.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 39.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 39.5, L. B. Williams Elementary - 03 is more mixed than the South Dakota school average of 27.6.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Mitchell School District 17-2, which includes L. B. Williams Elementary - 03.
$10,109
Per student
-25%
vs South Dakota
Avg $13,477
-39%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 46.0%
State 39.1%
Federal 14.8%
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 L. B. Williams Elementary - 03 Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mitchell High School - 01 | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Mitchell Middle School - 02 | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Gertie Belle Rogers Elementary - 04 | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Longfellow Elementary - 05 | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Rosedale Colony Elementary - 11 | Smaller | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to L. B. Williams Elementary - 03's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 879
- Students per teacher
- 18.3:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 578
- Students per teacher
- 14.8:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 379
- Students per teacher
- 13.5:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 290
- Students per teacher
- 9.7:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 21
- Students per teacher
- 21:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
Similar elementary schools in Mitchell
5 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Gertie Belle Rogers Elementary - 04
Standard public school
379 students 13.5:1 students per teacher
Longfellow Elementary - 05
Standard public school
290 students 9.7:1 students per teacher
Rosedale Colony Elementary - 11
Standard public school
21 students 21:1 students per teacher
Abbott House Elementary - 06
Standard public school
13 students 6.5:1 students per teacher
Millbrook Colony Elementary - 04
Standard public school
6 students 6:1 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 (~438 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~13.3:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on L. B. Williams Elementary - 03's federal record.
- Compare L. B. Williams Elementary - 03 against another school. Compare schools
- Mitchell School District 17-2'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 L. B. Williams Elementary - 03
How many students attend L. B. Williams Elementary - 03?
L. B. Williams Elementary - 03 has 438 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Mitchell, SD.
What is the student-teacher ratio at L. B. Williams Elementary - 03?
The student-teacher ratio at L. B. Williams Elementary - 03 is 13.3:1, which is 2% lower than the South Dakota average of 13.6:1 and 15% 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 L. B. Williams Elementary - 03?
30.7% of students at L. B. Williams Elementary - 03 are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Dakota average of 28.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of L. B. Williams Elementary - 03?
The largest demographic group at L. B. Williams Elementary - 03 is White at 76.3% of enrollment, in Mitchell, SD.
What is the Resource Investment Index for L. B. Williams Elementary - 03?
L. B. Williams Elementary - 03 has a Resource Investment Index of 37/100 (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 L. B. Williams Elementary - 03 rank among elementary schools in Mitchell?
By Resource Investment Index, L. B. Williams Elementary - 03 ranks #5 of 6 elementary schools in Mitchell, 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 Mitchell on the city page.
Is L. B. Williams Elementary - 03 a good school?
L. B. Williams Elementary - 03 earns 37/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the South Dakota median. 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 Mitchell School District 17-2?
Besides L. B. Williams Elementary - 03, Mitchell School District 17-2 also operates Mitchell High School - 01 (879 students), Mitchell Middle School - 02 (578 students), and Gertie Belle Rogers Elementary - 04 (379 students). See the Mitchell School District 17-2 district page for the complete list.
Related tools
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.