Enrollment
335
Michigan · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Watervliet, MI
South Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for South Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 16/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 263546007157
👥 S:T ratio 33
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
South Elementary School earns 16/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Michigan median.
- #4 of 4
- public schools in Watervliet · Resource Index
- 16
- Resource Index · Lower
- 16.8:1
- students per teacher
- 67.1%
- free-lunch eligible
South Elementary School has class sizes near the Michigan median. Computed live against every Michigan school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, South Elementary School ranks #4 of 4 public schools in Watervliet, MI.
School address
District: Watervliet School District · Michigan
NCES ID 263546007157 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
20.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
16.8:1
vs 17.5:1 Michigan avg
-4% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
67.1%
vs 54.3% Michigan avg
+24% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How South Elementary School compares with Michigan and U.S. medians
What stands out at South Elementary School
South Elementary School is a higher-need, mid-sized combined-grade school in Watervliet, Michigan, enrolling 335 students.
At 16.8:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the Michigan median, within a few percentage points of the 17.5:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 67.1% of students eligible for free meals.
With 335 students, its enrollment sits close to the Michigan median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index trails 92% of the 3,375 Michigan schools with a score on record, one of the lower results on this measure.
Among 560 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Michigan schools statewide, it ranks #518, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (75%) and Hispanic or Latino (17%) (diversity index 40/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 670 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 44.2% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Watervliet School District also operates Watervliet Senior High School (360 students) and North Elementary School (312 students) alongside South Elementary School.
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 Elementary School compares
South Elementary School on the metrics families compare, against Michigan and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Michigan | Michigan avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 16.8:1 | ▼ 4% | 17.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 67.1% | ▲ 24% | 54.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 335 | top 54% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.8:1
Leaner classes than 32% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
335
Bigger than 37% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
67.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 24% above the Michigan average of 54.3%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
16.8:1
students per teacher
- 4% below state mean
Top 51% in Michigan - lower ratio than 49% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
44.2%
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
$12,716
per pupil, district-wide
- below Michigan avg of $13,507
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.5 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 22 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 6.6 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 75.2%
Hispanic or Latino 16.7%
Two or More 5.7%
African American 2.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: White at 75.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 40.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 40.3, South Elementary School is more mixed than the Michigan school average of 36.2.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Watervliet School District, which includes South Elementary School.
$12,716
Per student
-6%
vs Michigan
Avg $13,507
-23%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 21.5%
State 64.2%
Federal 14.3%
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 Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Watervliet Senior High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| North Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Watervliet Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Way Watervliet High School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to South Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 360
- Students per teacher
- 17.1:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
- Enrollment
- 312
- Students per teacher
- 19.5:1
- Resource Index
- 17/100
- Enrollment
- 309
- Students per teacher
- 16.3:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 90
- Students per teacher
- 45:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Michigan, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~335 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~16.8:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on South Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare South Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Watervliet School District'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 Elementary School
How many students attend South Elementary School?
South Elementary School has 335 students enrolled. It is a public school in Watervliet, MI.
What is the student-teacher ratio at South Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at South Elementary School is 16.8:1, which is 4% lower than the Michigan average of 17.5:1 and 7% higher than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at South Elementary School?
67.1% of students at South Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Michigan average of 54.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of South Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at South Elementary School is White at 75.2% of enrollment, in Watervliet, MI.
What is the Resource Investment Index for South Elementary School?
South Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 16/100 (lower 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 South Elementary School rank among public schools in Watervliet?
By Resource Investment Index, South Elementary School ranks #4 of 4 public schools in Watervliet, MI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Watervliet on the city page.
Is South Elementary School a good school?
South Elementary School earns 16/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Michigan median. 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 Watervliet School District?
Besides South Elementary School, Watervliet School District also operates Watervliet Senior High School (360 students), North Elementary School (312 students), and Watervliet Middle School (309 students). See the Watervliet School District 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.