- Enrollment
- 1,277
- Students per teacher
- 13.7:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Fargo, ND
South High School
Federal NCES profile for South High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 32/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 380678000208
👥 S:T ratio 56
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 40
📋 Attendance 3
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
South High School earns 32/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the North Dakota median. It is also one of the largest schools in North Dakota.
- #3 of 5
- high schools in Fargo · Resource Index
- 32
- Resource Index · Typical
- 11.1:1
- students per teacher
- 26.0%
- free-lunch eligible
South High School has class sizes near the North Dakota median. Computed live against every North Dakota school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, South High School ranks #3 of 5 high schools in Fargo, ND.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-51 students YoY
South High School shrank from 961 students in 2022-23 to 910 in 2023-24 (-5.3%).
Teacher FTE lost 81.0 → 80.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-51 students YoY 380678000208 · Fargo, ND High · MID · TRAD
898 enr · 11.1:1 · 26.0% lunch · RII 32
Nearest enrollment peer: Fargo Davies High School (1,277 students)
South High School shrank from 961 students in 2022-23 to 910 in 2023-24 (-5.3%). Teacher FTE lost 81.0 → 80.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Dakota schools → · Find another →
South High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Fargo Davies H
Fargo Davies High School
1,277 students
- North High Sch
North High School
1,110 students
- Discovery Midd
Discovery Middle School
992 students
- This school
South High School
898 students
- Ben Franklin M
Ben Franklin Middle School
873 students
- Carl Ben Eiels
Carl Ben Eielson Middle School
677 students
What this shows South High School reports 898 students on the CCD universe file.
How South High School compares
South High School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs North Dakota and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs North Dakota | North Dakota avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 11.1:1 | ▼ 6% | 11.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 26.0% | ▼ 8% | 28.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 898 | top 4% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.1:1
Leaner classes than 82% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
898
Bigger than 89% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
26.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 8% 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
11.1:1
students per teacher
- 6% below state mean
Top 47% in North Dakota - lower ratio than 53% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
38.9%
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
$17,740
per pupil, district-wide
- below North Dakota avg of $19,475
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 299 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
19
in-school suspensions + 61 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 8.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 61.6%
African American 16.7%
Hispanic or Latino 9.5%
Asian 4.8%
Two or More 4.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 3.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: White at 61.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 57.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 57.9, South High School is more mixed than the North Dakota school average of 29.7.
Programs
AP courses offered 17
District finance for Fargo 1 reports $17,740 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How South High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo Davies High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| North High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Discovery Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Ben Franklin Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Carl Ben Eielson Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to South High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,110
- Students per teacher
- 13.9:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 992
- Students per teacher
- 12.2:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
- Enrollment
- 873
- Students per teacher
- 13.6:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 677
- Students per teacher
- 11.9:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
Similar high schools in Fargo
4 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Fargo Davies High School
Standard public school
1,277 students 13.7:1 students per teacher
North High School
Standard public school
1,110 students 13.9:1 students per teacher
Dakota High School
Standard public school
127 students 14.1:1 students per teacher
Fargo 9-12 Virtual Academy
Standard public school
113 students
Nationwide high 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 (~898 students)
Frequently asked questions about South High School
How many students attend South High School?
South High School has 898 students enrolled. It is a high school in Fargo, ND. CCD year-over-year: 961 (2022-23) → 910 (2023-24), down 51.
What is the student-teacher ratio at South High School?
The student-teacher ratio at South High School is 11.1:1, which is 6% lower than the North Dakota average of 11.8:1 and 29% 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 High School?
26.0% of students at South High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Dakota average of 28.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of South High School?
The largest demographic group at South High School is White at 61.6% of enrollment, in Fargo, ND. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 57.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for South High School?
South High School has a Resource Investment Index of 32/100 (typical 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 High School rank among high schools in Fargo?
By Resource Investment Index, South High School ranks #3 of 5 high schools in Fargo, ND. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Fargo on the city page.
What other schools are in Fargo 1?
Besides South High School, Fargo 1 also operates Fargo Davies High School (1,277 students), North High School (1,110 students), and Discovery Middle School (992 students). See the Fargo 1 district page for the complete list.