Enrollment
413
Kentucky · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Henderson, KY
South Heights Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for South Heights Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 50/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 210271000581
👥 S:T ratio 47
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 17
📋 Attendance 64
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
South Heights Elementary School earns 50/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 72% of Kentucky schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Kentucky schools.
- #5 of 6
- elementary schools in Henderson · Resource Index
- 50
- Resource Index · Higher
- 13.3:1
- small classes for Kentucky
- 74.0%
- free-lunch eligible
South Heights Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 72% of Kentucky schools. Computed live against every Kentucky school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, South Heights Elementary School ranks #5 of 6 elementary schools in Henderson, KY.
School address
District: Henderson County · Kentucky
NCES ID 210271000581 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
31.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13.3:1
vs 15.2:1 Kentucky avg
-12% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
74.0%
vs 59.2% Kentucky avg
+25% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How South Heights Elementary School compares with Kentucky and U.S. medians
What stands out at South Heights Elementary School
South Heights Elementary School is a higher-need, mid-sized elementary school in Henderson, Kentucky, enrolling 413 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 13.3:1 puts it in the smaller third of Kentucky schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 74.0% of students eligible for free meals.
With 413 students, its enrollment sits close to the Kentucky median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 1,389 scored Kentucky schools.
Among 366 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Kentucky schools statewide, it ranks #39, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (45%) and African American (19%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 70/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 413 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
14.3% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
Its district draws 20.6% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Henderson's elementary schools, it stands alongside Bend Gate Elementary School (421 students): South Heights Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (13.3:1 vs 14:1).
Henderson County also operates Henderson County High School (1,852 students) and Henderson County North Middle School (670 students) alongside South Heights 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 Heights Elementary School compares
South Heights Elementary School on the metrics families compare, against Kentucky and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Kentucky | Kentucky avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.3:1 | ▼ 12% | 15.2:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 74.0% | ▲ 25% | 59.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 413 | top 54% | - | - |
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.
413
Bigger than 49% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
74.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 25% above the Kentucky average of 59.2%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
13.3:1
students per teacher
- 12% below state mean
Top 28% in Kentucky - lower ratio than 72% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
14.3%
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
$12,593
per pupil, district-wide
- below Kentucky avg of $13,211
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 413 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
5
in-school suspensions + 7 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.9 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 44.8%
African American 19.4%
Two or More 17.7%
Hispanic or Latino 16.9%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 1.0%
Asian 0.2%
Largest group: White at 44.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 70.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 70.2, South Heights Elementary School is more mixed than the Kentucky school average of 34.5.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Henderson County, which includes South Heights Elementary School.
$12,593
Per student
-5%
vs Kentucky
Avg $13,211
-24%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 27.6%
State 51.9%
Federal 20.6%
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 Heights Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Henderson County High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Henderson County North Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Henderson County South Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Spottsville Elementary School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Bend Gate Elementary School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to South Heights Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,852
- Students per teacher
- 15.3:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
- Enrollment
- 670
- Students per teacher
- 14.3:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 661
- Students per teacher
- 14.4:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 514
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 421
- Students per teacher
- 14:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
Similar elementary schools in Henderson
5 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Bend Gate Elementary School
Standard public school
421 students 14:1 students per teacher
Jefferson Elementary School
Standard public school
413 students 18:1 students per teacher
East Heights Elementary School
Standard public school
377 students 14.5:1 students per teacher
Niagara Elementary School
Standard public school
270 students 16.9:1 students per teacher
Cairo Elementary School
Standard public school
233 students 15.5:1 students per teacher
Similar elementary schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Kentucky, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~413 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on South Heights Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare South Heights Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Henderson County'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 Heights Elementary School
How many students attend South Heights Elementary School?
South Heights Elementary School has 413 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Henderson, KY.
What is the student-teacher ratio at South Heights Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at South Heights Elementary School is 13.3:1, which is 12% lower than the Kentucky average of 15.2:1 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 Heights Elementary School?
74.0% of students at South Heights Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Kentucky average of 59.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of South Heights Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at South Heights Elementary School is White at 44.8% of enrollment, in Henderson, KY. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 70.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for South Heights Elementary School?
South Heights Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 50/100 (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 Heights Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Henderson?
By Resource Investment Index, South Heights Elementary School ranks #5 of 6 elementary schools in Henderson, KY. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Henderson on the city page.
Is South Heights Elementary School a good school?
South Heights Elementary School earns 50/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 72% of Kentucky schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Kentucky 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 Henderson County?
Besides South Heights Elementary School, Henderson County also operates Henderson County High School (1,852 students), Henderson County North Middle School (670 students), and Henderson County South Middle School (661 students). See the Henderson County 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.