Enrollment
31
South Dakota · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Parkston, SD
Old Elm Spring Colony Elementary - 03
Federal NCES profile for Old Elm Spring Colony Elementary - 03, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 57/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 465430000489
👥 S:T ratio 38
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 75
📋 Attendance 84
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Old Elm Spring Colony Elementary - 03 earns 57/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 73% of South Dakota schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most South Dakota schools.
- #2 of 3
- schools in Parkston · Resource Index
- 57
- Resource Index · Higher
- 15.5:1
- large classes for South Dakota
- 90.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Old Elm Spring Colony Elementary - 03 has class sizes larger than 73% of South Dakota schools. Computed live against every South Dakota school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Old Elm Spring Colony Elementary - 03 ranks #2 of 3 schools in Parkston, SD.
School address
District: Parkston School District 33-3 · South Dakota
NCES ID 465430000489 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
2.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.5:1
vs 13.6:1 South Dakota avg
+14% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
90.6%
vs 28.8% South Dakota avg
+215% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Old Elm Spring Colony Elementary - 03 compares with South Dakota and U.S. medians
What stands out at Old Elm Spring Colony Elementary - 03
Old Elm Spring Colony Elementary - 03 is a high-poverty, mid-sized combined-grade school in Parkston, South Dakota, enrolling 31 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 15.5:1 puts it in the larger third of South Dakota schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need is high: 90.6% of students qualify for free meals, 215% above the South Dakota average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
Enrollment of 31 puts it in the smaller third of South Dakota schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 691 scored South Dakota schools.
Its student body is predominantly White (100% of enrollment), among the less diverse in the state (diversity index 0/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 124 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Attendance holds up well here: only 6.5% of students were chronically absent, below the typical post-pandemic national figure.
Its district draws 17.1% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Parkston's public schools, it stands alongside Parkston Elementary - 02 (272 students): Old Elm Spring Colony Elementary - 03 is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (15.5:1 vs 13.6:1).
Parkston School District 33-3 also operates Parkston Elementary - 02 (272 students) and Parkston High School - 01 (112 students) alongside Old Elm Spring Colony 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 Old Elm Spring Colony Elementary - 03 compares
Old Elm Spring Colony 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 | 15.5:1 | ▲ 14% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 90.6% | ▲ 215% | 28.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 31 | top 81% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.5:1
Leaner classes than 42% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
31
Bigger than 4% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
90.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 215% 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
15.5:1
students per teacher
- 14% above state mean
Top 73% in South Dakota - lower ratio than 27% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
6.5%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
Funding equity
$11,231
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
Counselors0.3 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 100.0%
Largest group: White at 100.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 0.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 0.0, Old Elm Spring Colony Elementary - 03 is less mixed than the South Dakota school average of 27.6.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Parkston School District 33-3, which includes Old Elm Spring Colony Elementary - 03.
$11,231
Per student
-17%
vs South Dakota
Avg $13,477
-32%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 47.8%
State 35.1%
Federal 17.1%
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 Old Elm Spring Colony Elementary - 03 Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parkston Elementary - 02 | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Parkston High School - 01 | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Parkston Middle School - 05 | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Our Home | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| New Elm Spring Colony Elementary - 08 | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Old Elm Spring Colony Elementary - 03's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 272
- Students per teacher
- 13.6:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 112
- Students per teacher
- 9.3:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 98
- Students per teacher
- 16.3:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
- Enrollment
- 27
- Students per teacher
- 9:1
- Resource Index
- 62/100
- Enrollment
- 21
- Students per teacher
- 10.5:1
- Resource Index
- 57/100
Similar other schools in Parkston
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 (~31 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15.5:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Old Elm Spring Colony Elementary - 03's federal record.
- Compare Old Elm Spring Colony Elementary - 03 against another school. Compare schools
- Parkston School District 33-3'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 Old Elm Spring Colony Elementary - 03
How many students attend Old Elm Spring Colony Elementary - 03?
Old Elm Spring Colony Elementary - 03 has 31 students enrolled. It is a public school in Parkston, SD.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Old Elm Spring Colony Elementary - 03?
The student-teacher ratio at Old Elm Spring Colony Elementary - 03 is 15.5:1, which is 14% higher than the South Dakota average of 13.6:1 and 1% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Old Elm Spring Colony Elementary - 03?
90.6% of students at Old Elm Spring Colony Elementary - 03 are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Dakota average of 28.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Old Elm Spring Colony Elementary - 03?
The largest demographic group at Old Elm Spring Colony Elementary - 03 is White at 100.0% of enrollment, in Parkston, SD.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Old Elm Spring Colony Elementary - 03?
Old Elm Spring Colony Elementary - 03 has a Resource Investment Index of 57/100 (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 Old Elm Spring Colony Elementary - 03 rank among schools in Parkston?
By Resource Investment Index, Old Elm Spring Colony Elementary - 03 ranks #2 of 3 schools in Parkston, SD. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Parkston on the city page.
Is Old Elm Spring Colony Elementary - 03 a good school?
Old Elm Spring Colony Elementary - 03 earns 57/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 73% of South Dakota schools. It is also less 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 Parkston School District 33-3?
Besides Old Elm Spring Colony Elementary - 03, Parkston School District 33-3 also operates Parkston Elementary - 02 (272 students), Parkston High School - 01 (112 students), and Parkston Middle School - 05 (98 students). See the Parkston School District 33-3 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.