Enrollment
464
South Dakota · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Aberdeen, SD
Simmons Middle School - 03
Federal NCES profile for Simmons Middle School - 03, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 40/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 460207000011
👥 S:T ratio 44
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 38
📋 Attendance 48
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Simmons Middle School - 03 earns 40/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the South Dakota median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most South Dakota schools.
- #10 of 12
- public schools in Aberdeen · Resource Index
- 40
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.1:1
- students per teacher
- 29.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Simmons Middle School - 03 has class sizes near the South Dakota median. Computed live against every South Dakota school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Simmons Middle School - 03 ranks #10 of 12 public schools in Aberdeen, SD.
School address
District: Aberdeen School District 06-1 · South Dakota
NCES ID 460207000011 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
33.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
14.1:1
vs 13.6:1 South Dakota avg
+4% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
29.0%
vs 28.8% South Dakota avg
+1% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Simmons Middle School - 03 compares with South Dakota and U.S. medians
What stands out at Simmons Middle School - 03
Simmons Middle School - 03 is a large middle school in Aberdeen, South Dakota, enrolling 464 students.
At 14.1:1, 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 29.0% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 464 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 61 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #28.
Its student body is led by White (62%) and Hispanic or Latino (11%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 58/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 309 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Attendance runs somewhat below the norm, with 20.9% of students chronically absent per the 2021-22 civil-rights collection.
The surrounding Aberdeen School District 06-1 spends $9,917 per pupil, 26% below the South Dakota average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Discipline events run high: 116 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 464 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Among Aberdeen's middle schools, it stands alongside Holgate Middle School - 02 (497 students): Simmons Middle School - 03 is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (14.1:1 vs 15.1:1).
Aberdeen School District 06-1 also operates Central High School - 01 (1,384 students) and Holgate Middle School - 02 (497 students) alongside Simmons Middle School - 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 Simmons Middle School - 03 compares
Simmons Middle School - 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 | 14.1:1 | ▲ 4% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 29.0% | ▲ 1% | 28.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 464 | top 11% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.1:1
Leaner classes than 56% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
464
Bigger than 57% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
29.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 1% 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
14.1:1
students per teacher
- 4% above state mean
Top 59% in South Dakota - lower ratio than 41% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
20.9%
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
$9,917
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
Counselors1.5 FTE
Per 309 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
80
in-school suspensions + 36 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 17.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 25.0 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 62.1%
Hispanic or Latino 11.0%
Two or More 9.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 8.8%
Asian 5.4%
African American 2.8%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.4%
Largest group: White at 62.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 58.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 58.2, Simmons Middle School - 03 is more mixed than the South Dakota school average of 27.6.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Aberdeen School District 06-1, which includes Simmons Middle School - 03.
$9,917
Per student
-26%
vs South Dakota
Avg $13,477
-40%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 47.7%
State 40.1%
Federal 12.2%
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 Simmons Middle School - 03 Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central High School - 01 | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Holgate Middle School - 02 | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Simmons Elementary - 10 | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| C C Lee Elementary - 05 | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| May Overby Elementary - 09 | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Simmons Middle School - 03's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,384
- Students per teacher
- 17.1:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
- Enrollment
- 497
- Students per teacher
- 15.1:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 386
- Students per teacher
- 13.8:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
- Enrollment
- 356
- Students per teacher
- 14.8:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 327
- Students per teacher
- 12.1:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
Similar middle schools in Aberdeen
1 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Similar middle 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 (~464 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Simmons Middle School - 03's federal record.
- Compare Simmons Middle School - 03 against another school. Compare schools
- Aberdeen School District 06-1'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 Simmons Middle School - 03
How many students attend Simmons Middle School - 03?
Simmons Middle School - 03 has 464 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Aberdeen, SD.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Simmons Middle School - 03?
The student-teacher ratio at Simmons Middle School - 03 is 14.1:1, which is 4% higher than the South Dakota average of 13.6:1 and 10% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Simmons Middle School - 03?
29.0% of students at Simmons Middle School - 03 are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Dakota average of 28.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Simmons Middle School - 03?
The largest demographic group at Simmons Middle School - 03 is White at 62.1% of enrollment, in Aberdeen, SD. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 58.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Simmons Middle School - 03?
Simmons Middle School - 03 has a Resource Investment Index of 40/100 (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 Simmons Middle School - 03 rank among public schools in Aberdeen?
By Resource Investment Index, Simmons Middle School - 03 ranks #10 of 12 public schools in Aberdeen, SD. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Aberdeen on the city page.
Is Simmons Middle School - 03 a good school?
Simmons Middle School - 03 earns 40/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the South Dakota median. It is also more 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 Aberdeen School District 06-1?
Besides Simmons Middle School - 03, Aberdeen School District 06-1 also operates Central High School - 01 (1,384 students), Holgate Middle School - 02 (497 students), and Simmons Elementary - 10 (386 students). See the Aberdeen School District 06-1 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.