Enrollment
89
South Dakota · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Belle Fourche, SD
North Park Elementary - 08
Federal NCES profile for North Park Elementary - 08, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 42/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 460561000289
👥 S:T ratio 56
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 41
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
North Park Elementary - 08 earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 70% of South Dakota schools.
- #2 of 3
- elementary schools in Belle Fourche · Resource Index
- 42
- Resource Index · Typical
- 11.1:1
- small classes for South Dakota
- 33.0%
- free-lunch eligible
North Park Elementary - 08 has class sizes smaller than 70% of South Dakota schools. Computed live against every South Dakota school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, North Park Elementary - 08 ranks #2 of 3 elementary schools in Belle Fourche, SD.
School address
District: Belle Fourche School District 09-1 · South Dakota
NCES ID 460561000289 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
8.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
11.1:1
vs 13.6:1 South Dakota avg
-18% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
33.0%
vs 28.8% South Dakota avg
+15% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How North Park Elementary - 08 compares with South Dakota and U.S. medians
What stands out at North Park Elementary - 08
North Park Elementary - 08 is a mid-sized elementary school in Belle Fourche, South Dakota, enrolling 89 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 11.1:1 puts it in the smaller third of South Dakota schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 33.0% of students eligible for free meals.
With 89 students, its enrollment sits close to the South Dakota median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 691 scored South Dakota schools.
Among 62 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need South Dakota schools statewide, it ranks #52, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is predominantly White (89% of enrollment) (diversity index 20/100).
Attendance runs somewhat below the norm, with 23.6% of students chronically absent per the 2021-22 civil-rights collection.
The surrounding Belle Fourche School District 09-1 spends $10,486 per pupil, 22% below the South Dakota average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Its district draws 20.0% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Belle Fourche's elementary schools, it stands alongside Belle Fourche Middle School - 07 (414 students): North Park Elementary - 08 is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (11.1:1 vs 12.2:1).
Belle Fourche School District 09-1 also operates Belle Fourche Middle School - 07 (414 students) and Belle Fourche High School - 01 (389 students) alongside North Park 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 North Park Elementary - 08 compares
North Park 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 | 11.1:1 | ▼ 18% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 33.0% | ▲ 15% | 28.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 89 | top 54% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.1:1
Leaner classes than 82% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
89
Bigger than 9% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
33.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 15% 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
11.1:1
students per teacher
- 18% below state mean
Top 30% in South Dakota - lower ratio than 70% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
23.6%
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
$10,486
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
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.
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 88.8%
Hispanic or Latino 7.9%
Two or More 3.4%
Largest group: White at 88.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 20.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 20.4, North Park Elementary - 08 is less mixed than the South Dakota school average of 27.6.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Belle Fourche School District 09-1, which includes North Park Elementary - 08.
$10,486
Per student
-22%
vs South Dakota
Avg $13,477
-37%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 38.6%
State 41.5%
Federal 20.0%
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 North Park Elementary - 08 Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belle Fourche Middle School - 07 | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Belle Fourche High School - 01 | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| South Park Elementary - 03 | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Belle Fourche Education Connection - 09 | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to North Park Elementary - 08's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 414
- Students per teacher
- 12.2:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 389
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 347
- Students per teacher
- 10.8:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 57
- Students per teacher
- 19:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
Similar elementary schools in Belle Fourche
2 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
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 (~89 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on North Park Elementary - 08's federal record.
- Compare North Park Elementary - 08 against another school. Compare schools
- Belle Fourche School District 09-1'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 North Park Elementary - 08
How many students attend North Park Elementary - 08?
North Park Elementary - 08 has 89 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Belle Fourche, SD.
What is the student-teacher ratio at North Park Elementary - 08?
The student-teacher ratio at North Park Elementary - 08 is 11.1:1, which is 18% lower than the South Dakota average of 13.6:1 and 29% 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 North Park Elementary - 08?
33.0% of students at North Park Elementary - 08 are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Dakota average of 28.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of North Park Elementary - 08?
The largest demographic group at North Park Elementary - 08 is White at 88.8% of enrollment, in Belle Fourche, SD.
What is the Resource Investment Index for North Park Elementary - 08?
North Park Elementary - 08 has a Resource Investment Index of 42/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does North Park Elementary - 08 rank among elementary schools in Belle Fourche?
By Resource Investment Index, North Park Elementary - 08 ranks #2 of 3 elementary schools in Belle Fourche, 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 Belle Fourche on the city page.
Is North Park Elementary - 08 a good school?
North Park Elementary - 08 earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 70% 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 Belle Fourche School District 09-1?
Besides North Park Elementary - 08, Belle Fourche School District 09-1 also operates Belle Fourche Middle School - 07 (414 students), Belle Fourche High School - 01 (389 students), and South Park Elementary - 03 (347 students). See the Belle Fourche School District 09-1 district page for the complete list.
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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.