Enrollment
296
South Dakota · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Watertown, SD
Mckinley Elementary - 06
Federal NCES profile for Mckinley Elementary - 06, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 67/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 467662000713
👥 S:T ratio 34
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 93
📋 Attendance 71
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Mckinley Elementary - 06 earns 67/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 80% of South Dakota schools.
- #1 of 3
- schools in Watertown · Resource Index
- 67
- Resource Index · Higher
- 16.4:1
- large classes for South Dakota
- 42.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Mckinley Elementary - 06 has class sizes larger than 80% of South Dakota schools. Computed live against every South Dakota school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Mckinley Elementary - 06 ranks #1 of 3 schools in Watertown, SD.
School address
District: Watertown School District 14-4 · South Dakota
NCES ID 467662000713 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
18.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
16.4:1
vs 13.6:1 South Dakota avg
+21% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
42.3%
vs 28.8% South Dakota avg
+47% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Mckinley Elementary - 06 compares with South Dakota and U.S. medians
What stands out at Mckinley Elementary - 06
Mckinley Elementary - 06 is a mid-sized combined-grade school in Watertown, South Dakota, enrolling 296 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 16.4:1 puts it in the larger third of South Dakota schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 42.3% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 296 puts it in the larger third of South Dakota schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index outscores 97% of the 691 South Dakota schools with a score on record, a top-tier result on this measure.
Among 28 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need South Dakota schools statewide, it ranks #1, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (77%) and Hispanic or Latino (11%) (diversity index 38/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 37 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
11.8% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
The surrounding Watertown School District 14-4 spends $9,475 per pupil, 30% below the South Dakota average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Its district draws 16.7% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Watertown's public schools, it stands alongside Roosevelt Elementary - 08 (228 students): Mckinley Elementary - 06 is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (16.4:1 vs 12.7:1).
Watertown School District 14-4 also operates Watertown High School - 01 (1,222 students) and Watertown Middle School - 02 (575 students) alongside Mckinley Elementary - 06.
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 Mckinley Elementary - 06 compares
Mckinley Elementary - 06 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 | 16.4:1 | ▲ 21% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 42.3% | ▲ 47% | 28.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 296 | top 23% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.4:1
Leaner classes than 35% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
296
Bigger than 32% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
42.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 47% above the South Dakota average of 28.8%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
16.4:1
students per teacher
- 21% above state mean
Top 80% in South Dakota - lower ratio than 20% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
11.8%
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
$9,475
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
Counselors8.0 FTE
Per 37 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
2
in-school suspensions + 4 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.0 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 77.4%
Hispanic or Latino 10.8%
Two or More 6.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 3.4%
Asian 1.7%
African American 0.7%
Largest group: White at 77.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 38.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 38.4, Mckinley Elementary - 06 is more mixed than the South Dakota school average of 27.6.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Watertown School District 14-4, which includes Mckinley Elementary - 06.
$9,475
Per student
-30%
vs South Dakota
Avg $13,477
-43%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 49.1%
State 34.2%
Federal 16.7%
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 Mckinley Elementary - 06 Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Watertown High School - 01 | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Watertown Middle School - 02 | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Watertown Intermediate School - 13 | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Lincoln Elementary - 05 | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Jefferson Elementary - 09 | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Mckinley Elementary - 06's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,222
- Students per teacher
- 16.7:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 575
- Students per teacher
- 16:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 532
- Students per teacher
- 13:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 361
- Students per teacher
- 17.2:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 333
- Students per teacher
- 16.6:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
Similar other schools in Watertown
2 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Similar other 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 (~296 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~16.4:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Mckinley Elementary - 06's federal record.
- Compare Mckinley Elementary - 06 against another school. Compare schools
- Watertown School District 14-4'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 Mckinley Elementary - 06
How many students attend Mckinley Elementary - 06?
Mckinley Elementary - 06 has 296 students enrolled. It is a public school in Watertown, SD.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Mckinley Elementary - 06?
The student-teacher ratio at Mckinley Elementary - 06 is 16.4:1, which is 21% higher than the South Dakota average of 13.6:1 and 4% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Mckinley Elementary - 06?
42.3% of students at Mckinley Elementary - 06 are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Dakota average of 28.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Mckinley Elementary - 06?
The largest demographic group at Mckinley Elementary - 06 is White at 77.4% of enrollment, in Watertown, SD.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Mckinley Elementary - 06?
Mckinley Elementary - 06 has a Resource Investment Index of 67/100 (higher 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 Mckinley Elementary - 06 rank among schools in Watertown?
By Resource Investment Index, Mckinley Elementary - 06 ranks #1 of 3 schools in Watertown, SD. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Watertown on the city page.
Is Mckinley Elementary - 06 a good school?
Mckinley Elementary - 06 earns 67/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 80% of 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 Watertown School District 14-4?
Besides Mckinley Elementary - 06, Watertown School District 14-4 also operates Watertown High School - 01 (1,222 students), Watertown Middle School - 02 (575 students), and Watertown Intermediate School - 13 (532 students). See the Watertown School District 14-4 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.