Enrollment
274
South Dakota · 2024-25 NCES data
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 →
Teachers (FTE)
19.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
14.4:1
vs 13.6:1 South Dakota avg
+6% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
22.2%
vs 28.8% South Dakota avg
-23% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How South Canyon Elementary - 15 compares with South Dakota and U.S. medians
What stands out at South Canyon Elementary - 15
South Canyon Elementary - 15 is a mid-sized elementary school in Rapid City, South Dakota, enrolling 274 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 14.4:1 puts it in the larger third of South Dakota schools by student-teacher ratio.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 22.2% lands close to the South Dakota typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
Enrollment of 274 puts it in the larger third of South Dakota schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 691 scored South Dakota schools.
Against 90 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #33.
Its student body is led by White (66%) and Hispanic or Latino (13%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 53/100).
12.4% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
Its district draws 18.9% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Rapid City's elementary schools, it stands alongside Valley View Elementary - 13 (605 students): South Canyon Elementary - 15 is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (14.4:1 vs 18.9:1).
Rapid City Area School District 51-4 also operates Central High School - 41 (1,998 students) and Stevens High School - 42 (1,771 students) alongside South Canyon Elementary - 15.
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 South Canyon Elementary - 15 compares
South Canyon Elementary - 15 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 | 14.4:1 | ▲ 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 (what these measure)
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
$11,191
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
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.
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 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
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Rapid City Area School District 51-4, which includes South Canyon Elementary - 15.
$11,191
Per student
-17%
vs South Dakota
Avg $13,477
-33%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 54.3%
State 26.7%
Federal 18.9%
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 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
- 1,998
- Students per teacher
- 20:1
- Resource Index
- 18/100
- 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
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 (~274 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on South Canyon Elementary - 15's federal record.
- Compare South Canyon Elementary - 15 against another school. Compare schools
- Rapid City Area School District 51-4'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 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.
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, attendance rates. 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.
Is South Canyon Elementary - 15 a good school?
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. 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 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.
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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.