Enrollment
367
North Dakota · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · West Fargo, ND
South Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for South Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 56/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 381941000682
👥 S:T ratio 53
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 27
📋 Attendance 73
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
South Elementary School earns 56/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the North Dakota median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most North Dakota schools.
- #3 of 9
- elementary schools in West Fargo · Resource Index
- 56
- Resource Index · Higher
- 11.8:1
- students per teacher
- 25.7%
- free-lunch eligible
South Elementary School has class sizes near the North Dakota median. Computed live against every North Dakota school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, South Elementary School ranks #3 of 9 elementary schools in West Fargo, ND.
School address
District: West Fargo 6 · North Dakota
NCES ID 381941000682 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
31.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
11.8:1
vs 11.8:1 North Dakota avg
+0% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
25.7%
vs 28.2% North Dakota avg
-9% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How South Elementary School compares with North Dakota and U.S. medians
What stands out at South Elementary School
South Elementary School is a mid-sized elementary school in West Fargo, North Dakota, enrolling 367 students.
At 11.8:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the North Dakota median, within a few percentage points of the 11.8:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 25.7% lands close to the North Dakota typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
Enrollment of 367 puts it in the larger third of North Dakota schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 498 scored North Dakota schools.
Among 87 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need North Dakota schools statewide, it ranks #9, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (62%) and African American (19%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 57/100).
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 367 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
10.9% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
The surrounding West Fargo 6 spends $13,475 per pupil, 27% below the North Dakota average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among West Fargo's elementary schools, it stands alongside Brooks Harbor Elementary School (537 students): South Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (11.8:1 vs 14.1:1).
West Fargo 6 also operates West Fargo Sheyenne High School (1,400 students) and West Fargo High School (1,380 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 North Dakota and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs North Dakota | North Dakota avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 11.8:1 | ▼ 0% | 11.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 25.7% | ▼ 9% | 28.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 367 | top 19% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.8:1
Leaner classes than 77% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
367
Bigger than 42% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
25.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 9% below the North Dakota average of 28.2%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
11.8:1
students per teacher
- 0% above state mean
Top 54% in North Dakota - lower ratio than 46% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
10.9%
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
$13,475
per pupil, district-wide
- below North Dakota avg of $18,450
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 367 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 5 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.6 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 61.9%
African American 18.8%
Two or More 7.4%
Hispanic or Latino 6.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 4.1%
Asian 1.6%
Largest group: White at 61.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 57.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 57.0, South Elementary School is more mixed than the North Dakota school average of 29.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for West Fargo 6, which includes South Elementary School.
$13,475
Per student
-27%
vs North Dakota
Avg $18,450
-19%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 35.6%
State 52.9%
Federal 11.4%
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Fargo Sheyenne High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| West Fargo High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Liberty Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Cheney Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Heritage Middle School | Larger | Lower 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
- 1,400
- Students per teacher
- 14.1:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 1,380
- Students per teacher
- 13.1:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 1,103
- Students per teacher
- 12:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 1,006
- Students per teacher
- 11.6:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 799
- Students per teacher
- 15.4:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
Similar elementary schools in West Fargo
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Brooks Harbor Elementary School
Standard public school
537 students 14.1:1 students per teacher
Freedom Elementary School
Standard public school
473 students 11:1 students per teacher
Legacy Elementary School
Standard public school
456 students 14.3:1 students per teacher
Westside Elementary School
Standard public school
397 students 11.3:1 students per teacher
Eastwood Elementary School
Standard public school
387 students 10.5:1 students per teacher
Aurora Elementary School
Standard public school
377 students 10.8:1 students per teacher
Similar elementary schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of North Dakota, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~367 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~11.8:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on South Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare South Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- West Fargo 6'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 367 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in West Fargo, ND.
What is the student-teacher ratio at South Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at South Elementary School is 11.8:1, which is 0% higher than the North Dakota average of 11.8:1 and 25% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at South Elementary School?
25.7% of students at South Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Dakota average of 28.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of South Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at South Elementary School is White at 61.9% of enrollment, in West Fargo, ND. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 57.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for South Elementary School?
South Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 56/100 (higher 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 elementary schools in West Fargo?
By Resource Investment Index, South Elementary School ranks #3 of 9 elementary schools in West Fargo, ND. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in West Fargo on the city page.
Is South Elementary School a good school?
South Elementary School earns 56/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the North Dakota median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most North 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 West Fargo 6?
Besides South Elementary School, West Fargo 6 also operates West Fargo Sheyenne High School (1,400 students), West Fargo High School (1,380 students), and Liberty Middle School (1,103 students). See the West Fargo 6 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.