- Enrollment
- 1,057
- Students per teacher
- 12.7:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Hershey, PA
South Hanover El Sch
Federal NCES profile for South Hanover El Sch, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 55/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 421410001797
👥 S:T ratio 47
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 26
📋 Attendance 77
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
South Hanover El Sch earns 55/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Pennsylvania median.
- #1 of 4
- elementary schools in Hershey · Resource Index
- 55
- Resource Index · Higher
- 13.3:1
- students per teacher
- 14.8%
- free-lunch eligible
South Hanover El Sch has class sizes near the Pennsylvania median. Computed live against every Pennsylvania school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, South Hanover El Sch ranks #1 of 4 elementary schools in Hershey, PA.
School address
District: Lower Dauphin Sd · Pennsylvania
NCES ID 421410001797 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-13 students YoY
South Hanover El Sch held near 372 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-13 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 28.4 → 26.4 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-13 students YoY 421410001797 · Hershey, PA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
371 enr · 13.3:1 · 14.8% lunch · RII 55
Nearest enrollment peer: Lower Dauphin Hs (1,057 students)
South Hanover El Sch held near 372 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-13 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 28.4 → 26.4 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Pennsylvania schools → · Find another →
South Hanover El Sch in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Lower Dauphin
Lower Dauphin Hs
1,057 students
- Lower Dauphin
Lower Dauphin Ms
781 students
- This school 371
South Hanover El Sch
371 students
- East Hanover E 333
East Hanover El Sch
333 students
- Nye El Sch 317
Nye El Sch
317 students
- Conewago El Sc 239
Conewago El Sch
239 students
What this shows South Hanover El Sch reports 371 students on the CCD universe file.
How South Hanover El Sch compares
South Hanover El Sch held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Pennsylvania and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.3:1 | ▼ 2% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 14.8% | ▼ 75% | 58.1% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 371 | top 66% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.3:1
Leaner classes than 64% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
371
Bigger than 43% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
14.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 75% below the Pennsylvania average of 58.1%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
13.3:1
students per teacher
- 2% below state mean
Top 49% in Pennsylvania - lower ratio than 51% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
9.4%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
Funding equity
$17,880
per pupil, district-wide
- below Pennsylvania avg of $18,725
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 371 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 2 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 74.9%
Asian 8.1%
Hispanic or Latino 7.5%
Two or More 5.4%
African American 4.0%
Largest group: White at 74.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 42.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 42.2, South Hanover El Sch is more mixed than the Pennsylvania school average of 37.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Lower Dauphin Sd reports $17,880 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How South Hanover El Sch Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower Dauphin Hs | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Lower Dauphin Ms | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| East Hanover El Sch | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Nye El Sch | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Conewago El Sch | Smaller | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to South Hanover El Sch's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 781
- Students per teacher
- 11.5:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
- Enrollment
- 333
- Students per teacher
- 13.3:1
- Resource Index
- 53/100
- Enrollment
- 317
- Students per teacher
- 13.2:1
- Resource Index
- 56/100
- Enrollment
- 239
- Students per teacher
- 15.9:1
- Resource Index
- 60/100
Similar elementary schools in Hershey
3 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
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 (~371 students)
Frequently asked questions about South Hanover El Sch
How many students attend South Hanover El Sch?
South Hanover El Sch has 371 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Hershey, PA. CCD year-over-year: 385 (2022-23) → 372 (2023-24), nearly flat (-13).
What is the student-teacher ratio at South Hanover El Sch?
The student-teacher ratio at South Hanover El Sch is 13.3:1, which is 2% lower than the Pennsylvania average of 13.6:1 and 15% lower 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 Hanover El Sch?
14.8% of students at South Hanover El Sch are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Pennsylvania average of 58.1%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of South Hanover El Sch?
The largest demographic group at South Hanover El Sch is White at 74.9% of enrollment, in Hershey, PA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for South Hanover El Sch?
South Hanover El Sch has a Resource Investment Index of 55/100 (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 Hanover El Sch rank among elementary schools in Hershey?
By Resource Investment Index, South Hanover El Sch ranks #1 of 4 elementary schools in Hershey, PA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Hershey on the city page.
What other schools are in Lower Dauphin Sd?
Besides South Hanover El Sch, Lower Dauphin Sd also operates Lower Dauphin Hs (1,057 students), Lower Dauphin Ms (781 students), and East Hanover El Sch (333 students). See the Lower Dauphin Sd district page for the complete list.