- Enrollment
- 1,998
- Students per teacher
- 20:1
- Resource Index
- 18/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Rapid City, SD
South Canyon Elementary - 15
Federal NCES profile for South Canyon Elementary - 15, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 47/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 465982000527
👥 S:T ratio 42
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 69
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
South Canyon Elementary - 15 earns 47/100 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.
- #1 of 10
- elementary schools in Rapid City · Resource Index
- 47
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.4:1
- students per teacher
- 22.2%
- free-lunch eligible
South Canyon Elementary - 15 has class sizes near the South Dakota median. Computed live against every South Dakota school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, South Canyon Elementary - 15 ranks #1 of 10 elementary schools in Rapid City, SD.
School address
District: Rapid City Area School District 51-4 · South Dakota
NCES ID 465982000527 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-7 students YoY
South Canyon Elementary - 15 held near 259 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-7 headcount).
Teacher FTE held 19.0 → 19.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-7 students YoY 465982000527 · Rapid City, SD Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
274 enr · 14.4:1 · 22.2% lunch · RII 47
Nearest enrollment peer: Central High School - 41 (1,998 students)
South Canyon Elementary - 15 held near 259 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-7 headcount). Teacher FTE held 19.0 → 19.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Dakota schools → · Find another →
South Canyon Elementary - 15 in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Central High S
Central High School - 41
1,998 students
- Stevens High S
Stevens High School - 42
1,771 students
- South Middle S 618
South Middle School - 36
618 students
- Southwest Midd 614
Southwest Middle School - 38
614 students
- East Middle Sc 613
East Middle School - 30
613 students
- This school 274
South Canyon Elementary - 15
274 students
What this shows South Canyon Elementary - 15 reports 274 students on the CCD universe file.
How South Canyon Elementary - 15 compares
South Canyon Elementary - 15 held steady on CCD headcount: 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 | 14.4:1 | ▲ 6% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 22.2% | ▼ 23% | 28.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 274 | top 25% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.4:1
Leaner classes than 53% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
274
Bigger than 29% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
22.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 23% 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
14.4:1
students per teacher
- 6% above state mean
Top 63% in South Dakota - lower ratio than 37% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
12.4%
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
$10,377
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
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
12
in-school suspensions + 10 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 4.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 8.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 66.1%
Hispanic or Latino 13.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 10.2%
Two or More 10.2%
African American 0.4%
Largest group: White at 66.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 52.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 52.5, South Canyon Elementary - 15 is more mixed than the South Dakota school average of 27.6.
Programs
District finance for Rapid City Area School District 51-4 reports $10,377 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How South Canyon Elementary - 15 Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central High School - 41 | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Stevens High School - 42 | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| South Middle School - 36 | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Southwest Middle School - 38 | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| East Middle School - 30 | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to South Canyon Elementary - 15's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,771
- Students per teacher
- 19.9:1
- Resource Index
- 18/100
- Enrollment
- 618
- Students per teacher
- 14.7:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 614
- Students per teacher
- 18.1:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 613
- Students per teacher
- 15:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
Similar elementary schools in Rapid City
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Valley View Elementary - 13
Standard public school
605 students 18.9:1 students per teacher
Meadowbrook Elementary - 10
Standard public school
478 students 15.9:1 students per teacher
Corral Drive Elementary - 21
Standard public school
439 students 20:1 students per teacher
Grandview Elementary - 06
Standard public school
431 students 16.6:1 students per teacher
Pinedale Elementary - 11
Standard public school
377 students 17.1:1 students per teacher
Knollwood Heights Elementary - 08
Standard public school
368 students 13.6:1 students per teacher
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 (~274 students)
Frequently asked questions about South Canyon Elementary - 15
How many students attend South Canyon Elementary - 15?
South Canyon Elementary - 15 has 274 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Rapid City, SD. CCD year-over-year: 266 (2022-23) → 259 (2023-24), nearly flat (-7).
What is the student-teacher ratio at South Canyon Elementary - 15?
The student-teacher ratio at South Canyon Elementary - 15 is 14.4:1, which is 6% higher than the South Dakota average of 13.6:1 and 8% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at South Canyon Elementary - 15?
22.2% of students at South Canyon Elementary - 15 are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Dakota average of 28.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of South Canyon Elementary - 15?
The largest demographic group at South Canyon Elementary - 15 is White at 66.1% of enrollment, in Rapid City, SD. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 52.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for South Canyon Elementary - 15?
South Canyon Elementary - 15 has a Resource Investment Index of 47/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does South Canyon Elementary - 15 rank among elementary schools in Rapid City?
By Resource Investment Index, South Canyon Elementary - 15 ranks #1 of 10 elementary schools in Rapid City, 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 Rapid City on the city page.
What other schools are in Rapid City Area School District 51-4?
Besides South Canyon Elementary - 15, Rapid City Area School District 51-4 also operates Central High School - 41 (1,998 students), Stevens High School - 42 (1,771 students), and South Middle School - 36 (618 students). See the Rapid City Area School District 51-4 district page for the complete list.