Enrollment
311
Indiana · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Valparaiso, IN
South Haven Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for South Haven Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 35/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 180915001516
👥 S:T ratio 17
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 57
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
South Haven Elementary School earns 35/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 93% of Indiana schools.
- #12 of 15
- elementary schools in Valparaiso · Resource Index
- 35
- Resource Index · Typical
- 20.7:1
- large classes for Indiana
- 60.9%
- free-lunch eligible
South Haven Elementary School has class sizes larger than 93% of Indiana schools. Computed live against every Indiana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, South Haven Elementary School ranks #12 of 15 elementary schools in Valparaiso, IN.
School address
District: Portage Township Schools · Indiana
NCES ID 180915001516 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
15.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
20.7:1
vs 15.9:1 Indiana avg
+30% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
60.9%
vs 49.5% Indiana avg
+23% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How South Haven Elementary School compares with Indiana and U.S. medians
What stands out at South Haven Elementary School
South Haven Elementary School is a higher-need, mid-sized elementary school in Valparaiso, Indiana, enrolling 311 students.
Class loads run heavy: 20.7:1 is larger than about 93% of Indiana schools and 30% above the 15.9:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 60.9% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 311 puts it in the smaller third of Indiana schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,862 scored Indiana schools.
Among 325 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Indiana schools statewide, it ranks #270, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (67%) and Hispanic or Latino (18%) (diversity index 51/100).
17.4% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
Among Valparaiso's elementary schools, it stands alongside Cooks Corners Elementary School (487 students): South Haven Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (20.7:1 vs 23.2:1).
Portage Township Schools also operates Portage High School (2,163 students) and Willowcreek Middle School (920 students) alongside South Haven 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 Haven Elementary School compares
South Haven Elementary School on the metrics families compare, against Indiana and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Indiana | Indiana avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 20.7:1 | ▲ 30% | 15.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 60.9% | ▲ 23% | 49.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 311 | top 76% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
20.7:1
Leaner classes than 14% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
311
Bigger than 34% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
60.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 23% above the Indiana average of 49.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
20.7:1
students per teacher
- 30% above state mean
Top 93% in Indiana - lower ratio than 7% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
17.4%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$11,452
per pupil, district-wide
- below Indiana avg of $12,079
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
7
in-school suspensions + 13 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 6.4 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 66.9%
Hispanic or Latino 17.7%
African American 10.9%
Two or More 3.9%
Asian 0.6%
Largest group: White at 66.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 50.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 50.8, South Haven Elementary School is more mixed than the Indiana school average of 39.0.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Portage Township Schools, which includes South Haven Elementary School.
$11,452
Per student
-5%
vs Indiana
Avg $12,079
-31%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 22.8%
State 65.1%
Federal 12.2%
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 Haven Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portage High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Willowcreek Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| William Fegely Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Rowena Kyle Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Central Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to South Haven Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,163
- Students per teacher
- 18.3:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 920
- Students per teacher
- 15.1:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 566
- Students per teacher
- 14.2:1
- Resource Index
- 18/100
- Enrollment
- 437
- Students per teacher
- 20.8:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 409
- Students per teacher
- 19.5:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Similar elementary schools in Valparaiso
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Cooks Corners Elementary School
Standard public school
487 students 23.2:1 students per teacher
Heavilin Elementary School
Standard public school
479 students 16:1 students per teacher
Flint Lake Elementary School
Standard public school
476 students 15.9:1 students per teacher
Memorial Elementary School
Standard public school
434 students 19.7:1 students per teacher
Union Center Elementary School
Standard public school
386 students 17.5:1 students per teacher
Jackson Elementary School
Standard public school
348 students 16.6:1 students per teacher
Similar elementary schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Indiana, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~311 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on South Haven Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare South Haven Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Portage Township Schools'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 Haven Elementary School
How many students attend South Haven Elementary School?
South Haven Elementary School has 311 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Valparaiso, IN.
What is the student-teacher ratio at South Haven Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at South Haven Elementary School is 20.7:1, which is 30% higher than the Indiana average of 15.9:1 and 32% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at South Haven Elementary School?
60.9% of students at South Haven Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Indiana average of 49.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of South Haven Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at South Haven Elementary School is White at 66.9% of enrollment, in Valparaiso, IN. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 50.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for South Haven Elementary School?
South Haven Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 35/100 (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 Haven Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Valparaiso?
By Resource Investment Index, South Haven Elementary School ranks #12 of 15 elementary schools in Valparaiso, IN. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Valparaiso on the city page.
Is South Haven Elementary School a good school?
South Haven Elementary School earns 35/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 93% of Indiana 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 Portage Township Schools?
Besides South Haven Elementary School, Portage Township Schools also operates Portage High School (2,163 students), Willowcreek Middle School (920 students), and William Fegely Middle School (566 students). See the Portage Township Schools 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.