- Enrollment
- 658
- Students per teacher
- 11.5:1
- Resource Index
- 67/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Des Plaines, IL
South Elem School
Federal NCES profile for South Elem School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 60/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 171212001469
👥 S:T ratio 58
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 75
📋 Attendance 38
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
South Elem School earns 60/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 86% of Illinois schools.
- #3 of 11
- elementary schools in Des Plaines · Resource Index
- 60
- Resource Index · Higher
- 10.5:1
- small classes for Illinois
- 253
- students enrolled
South Elem School has class sizes smaller than 86% of Illinois schools. Computed live against every Illinois school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, South Elem School ranks #3 of 11 elementary schools in Des Plaines, IL.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-12 students YoY
South Elem School held near 233 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-12 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 24.0 → 23.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-12 students YoY 171212001469 · Des Plaines, IL Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
253 enr · 10.5:1 · RII 60
Nearest enrollment peer: Forest Elem School (658 students)
South Elem School held near 233 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-12 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 24.0 → 23.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Illinois schools → · Find another →
South Elem School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Forest Elem Sc
Forest Elem School
658 students
- Chippewa Middl
Chippewa Middle School
652 students
- North Elementa
North Elementary School
599 students
- Algonquin Midd
Algonquin Middle School
597 students
- Iroquois Commu
Iroquois Community School
411 students
- This school 253
South Elem School
253 students
What this shows South Elem School reports 253 students on the CCD universe file.
How South Elem School compares
South Elem School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Illinois and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Illinois | Illinois avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 10.5:1 | ▼ 25% | 14:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Enrollment | 253 | top 73% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
10.5:1
Leaner classes than 86% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
253
Bigger than 26% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Staffing depth
10.5:1
students per teacher
- 25% below state mean
Top 14% in Illinois - lower ratio than 86% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
24.9%
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
$25,359
per pupil, district-wide
- above Illinois avg of $18,196
Well above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting substantially higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 127 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
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.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 59.1%
White 27.4%
Asian 9.1%
Two or More 3.2%
African American 1.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 59.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 56.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 56.6, South Elem School is more mixed than the Illinois school average of 38.9.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Ccsd 62 reports $25,359 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How South Elem School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Elem School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| Chippewa Middle School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| North Elementary School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Algonquin Middle School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| Iroquois Community School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to South Elem School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 652
- Students per teacher
- 11.4:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 599
- Students per teacher
- 15:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 597
- Students per teacher
- 10.1:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 411
- Students per teacher
- 12.5:1
- Resource Index
- 61/100
Similar elementary schools in Des Plaines
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
North Elementary School
Standard public school
599 students 15:1 students per teacher
Apollo Elem School
Standard public school
536 students 12.2:1 students per teacher
Iroquois Community School
Standard public school
411 students 12.5:1 students per teacher
Brentwood Elem School
Standard public school
375 students 11.4:1 students per teacher
Devonshire School
Standard public school
370 students 15.4:1 students per teacher
Central Elem School
Standard public school
322 students 12.4:1 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 (~253 students)
Frequently asked questions about South Elem School
How many students attend South Elem School?
South Elem School has 253 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Des Plaines, IL. CCD year-over-year: 245 (2022-23) → 233 (2023-24), nearly flat (-12).
What is the student-teacher ratio at South Elem School?
The student-teacher ratio at South Elem School is 10.5:1, which is 25% lower than the Illinois average of 14:1 and 33% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of South Elem School?
The largest demographic group at South Elem School is Hispanic or Latino at 59.1% of enrollment, in Des Plaines, IL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 56.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for South Elem School?
South Elem School has a Resource Investment Index of 60/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does South Elem School rank among elementary schools in Des Plaines?
By Resource Investment Index, South Elem School ranks #3 of 11 elementary schools in Des Plaines, IL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Des Plaines on the city page.
What other schools are in Ccsd 62?
Besides South Elem School, Ccsd 62 also operates Forest Elem School (658 students), Chippewa Middle School (652 students), and North Elementary School (599 students). See the Ccsd 62 district page for the complete list.