Enrollment
241
Kentucky · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Benton, KY
South Marshall Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for South Marshall Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 59/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 210381000979
👥 S:T ratio 56
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 52
📋 Attendance 60
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
South Marshall Elementary School earns 59/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 86% of Kentucky schools.
- #1 of 7
- schools in Benton · Resource Index
- 59
- Resource Index · Higher
- 11:1
- small classes for Kentucky
- 62.3%
- free-lunch eligible
South Marshall Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 86% of Kentucky schools. Computed live against every Kentucky school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, South Marshall Elementary School ranks #1 of 7 schools in Benton, KY.
School address
District: Marshall County · Kentucky
NCES ID 210381000979 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
22.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
11:1
vs 15.2:1 Kentucky avg
-28% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
62.3%
vs 59.2% Kentucky avg
+5% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How South Marshall Elementary School compares with Kentucky and U.S. medians
What stands out at South Marshall Elementary School
South Marshall Elementary School is a higher-need, mid-sized combined-grade school in Benton, Kentucky, enrolling 241 students.
Classes run notably small here: at 11:1, South Marshall Elementary School is leaner than roughly 86% of Kentucky schools and 28% under the state's 15.2:1 norm, more adult attention per pupil than most peers.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 62.3% lands close to the Kentucky typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
Enrollment of 241 puts it in the smaller third of Kentucky schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index outscores 91% of the 1,389 Kentucky schools with a score on record, a top-tier result on this measure.
Among 187 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Kentucky schools statewide, it ranks #20, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is predominantly White (95% of enrollment) (diversity index 10/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 241 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
16.2% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
Its district draws 16.1% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Benton's public schools, it stands alongside Benton Elementary School (528 students): South Marshall Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (11:1 vs 16.5:1).
Marshall County also operates Marshall County High School (1,201 students) and Benton Elementary School (528 students) alongside South Marshall 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 Marshall Elementary School compares
South Marshall 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 | 11:1 | ▼ 28% | 15.2:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 62.3% | ▲ 5% | 59.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 241 | top 77% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11:1
Leaner classes than 83% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
241
Bigger than 24% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
62.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 5% 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
11:1
students per teacher
- 28% below state mean
Top 14% in Kentucky - lower ratio than 86% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
16.2%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$12,197
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 241 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
2
in-school suspensions + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.2 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 95.0%
Two or More 2.9%
Hispanic or Latino 2.1%
Largest group: White at 95.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 9.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 9.6, South Marshall Elementary School is less mixed than the Kentucky school average of 34.5.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Marshall County, which includes South Marshall Elementary School.
$12,197
Per student
-8%
vs Kentucky
Avg $13,211
-26%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 34.6%
State 49.4%
Federal 16.1%
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 Marshall Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marshall County High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Benton Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| North Marshall Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Central Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| South Marshall Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to South Marshall Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,201
- Students per teacher
- 17.9:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
- Enrollment
- 528
- Students per teacher
- 16.5:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 487
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 53/100
- Enrollment
- 480
- Students per teacher
- 15.5:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 432
- Students per teacher
- 14.9:1
- Resource Index
- 55/100
Similar other schools in Benton
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Benton Elementary School
Standard public school
528 students 16.5:1 students per teacher
Central Elementary School
Standard public school
480 students 15.5:1 students per teacher
Sharpe Elementary School
Standard public school
276 students 13.8:1 students per teacher
Jonathan Elementary School
Standard public school
241 students 13.4:1 students per teacher
Mc Academy
Alternative education program
100 students 33.3:1 students per teacher
Purchase Youth Village
Alternative education program
22 students 11:1 students per teacher
Similar other 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 (~241 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on South Marshall Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare South Marshall Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Marshall 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 Marshall Elementary School
How many students attend South Marshall Elementary School?
South Marshall Elementary School has 241 students enrolled. It is a public school in Benton, KY.
What is the student-teacher ratio at South Marshall Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at South Marshall Elementary School is 11:1, which is 28% lower than the Kentucky average of 15.2:1 and 30% 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 Marshall Elementary School?
62.3% of students at South Marshall Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Kentucky average of 59.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of South Marshall Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at South Marshall Elementary School is White at 95.0% of enrollment, in Benton, KY.
What is the Resource Investment Index for South Marshall Elementary School?
South Marshall Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 59/100 (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 Marshall Elementary School rank among schools in Benton?
By Resource Investment Index, South Marshall Elementary School ranks #1 of 7 schools in Benton, KY. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Benton on the city page.
Is South Marshall Elementary School a good school?
South Marshall Elementary School earns 59/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 86% of 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 Marshall County?
Besides South Marshall Elementary School, Marshall County also operates Marshall County High School (1,201 students), Benton Elementary School (528 students), and North Marshall Middle School (487 students). See the Marshall 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.