- Enrollment
- 1,222
- Students per teacher
- 16.7:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Watertown, SD
Mellette Elementary - 07
Federal NCES profile for Mellette Elementary - 07, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 51/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 467662000714
👥 S:T ratio 33
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 33
📋 Attendance 67
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Mellette Elementary - 07 earns 51/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 82% of South Dakota schools.
- #1 of 4
- elementary schools in Watertown · Resource Index
- 51
- Resource Index · Higher
- 16.7:1
- large classes for South Dakota
- 25.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Mellette Elementary - 07 has class sizes larger than 82% of South Dakota schools. Computed live against every South Dakota school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Mellette Elementary - 07 ranks #1 of 4 elementary schools in Watertown, SD.
School address
District: Watertown School District 14-4 · South Dakota
NCES ID 467662000714 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+23 students YoY
Mellette Elementary - 07 grew from 212 students in 2022-23 to 235 in 2023-24 (+10.8%).
Teacher FTE added 16.6 → 19.1 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+23 students YoY 467662000714 · Watertown, SD Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
267 enr · 16.7:1 · 25.9% lunch · RII 51
Nearest enrollment peer: Watertown High School - 01 (1,222 students)
Mellette Elementary - 07 grew from 212 students in 2022-23 to 235 in 2023-24 (+10.8%). Teacher FTE added 16.6 → 19.1 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Dakota schools → · Find another →
Mellette Elementary - 07 in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Watertown High
Watertown High School - 01
1,222 students
- Watertown Midd
Watertown Middle School - 02
575 students
- Watertown Inte
Watertown Intermediate School - 13
532 students
- Lincoln Elemen 361
Lincoln Elementary - 05
361 students
- Jefferson Elem 333
Jefferson Elementary - 09
333 students
- This school 267
Mellette Elementary - 07
267 students
What this shows Mellette Elementary - 07 reports 267 students on the CCD universe file.
How Mellette Elementary - 07 compares
Mellette Elementary - 07 is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs South Dakota and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs South Dakota | South Dakota avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 16.7:1 | ▲ 23% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 25.9% | ▼ 10% | 28.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 267 | top 27% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.7:1
Leaner classes than 33% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
267
Bigger than 28% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
25.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 10% below 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
16.7:1
students per teacher
- 23% above state mean
Top 82% in South Dakota - lower ratio than 18% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
13.1%
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
$10,402
per pupil, district-wide
- below South Dakota avg of $13,985
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.8 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
2
in-school suspensions + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 71.9%
Two or More 13.1%
Hispanic or Latino 7.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 6.4%
African American 1.1%
Largest group: White at 71.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 45.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 45.6, Mellette Elementary - 07 is more mixed than the South Dakota school average of 27.6.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Watertown School District 14-4 reports $10,402 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Mellette Elementary - 07 Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Watertown High School - 01 | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Watertown Middle School - 02 | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Watertown Intermediate School - 13 | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Lincoln Elementary - 05 | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Jefferson Elementary - 09 | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Mellette Elementary - 07's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- 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 elementary schools in Watertown
3 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
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 (~267 students)
Frequently asked questions about Mellette Elementary - 07
How many students attend Mellette Elementary - 07?
Mellette Elementary - 07 has 267 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Watertown, SD. CCD year-over-year: 212 (2022-23) → 235 (2023-24), up 23.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Mellette Elementary - 07?
The student-teacher ratio at Mellette Elementary - 07 is 16.7:1, which is 23% higher than the South Dakota average of 13.6:1 and 6% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Mellette Elementary - 07?
25.9% of students at Mellette Elementary - 07 are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Dakota average of 28.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Mellette Elementary - 07?
The largest demographic group at Mellette Elementary - 07 is White at 71.9% of enrollment, in Watertown, SD.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Mellette Elementary - 07?
Mellette Elementary - 07 has a Resource Investment Index of 51/100 (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 Mellette Elementary - 07 rank among elementary schools in Watertown?
By Resource Investment Index, Mellette Elementary - 07 ranks #1 of 4 elementary 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 elementary schools in Watertown on the city page.
What other schools are in Watertown School District 14-4?
Besides Mellette Elementary - 07, 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.