- Enrollment
- 1,998
- Students per teacher
- 20:1
- Resource Index
- 18/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Rapid City, SD
South Middle School - 36
Federal NCES profile for South Middle School - 36, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 23/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 465982000533
👥 S:T ratio 41
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 20
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
South Middle School - 36 earns 23/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the South Dakota median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most South Dakota schools.
- #5 of 5
- middle schools in Rapid City · Resource Index
- 23
- Resource Index · Lower
- 14.7:1
- students per teacher
- 40.5%
- free-lunch eligible
South Middle School - 36 has class sizes near the South Dakota median. Computed live against every South Dakota school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, South Middle School - 36 ranks #5 of 5 middle schools in Rapid City, SD.
School address
District: Rapid City Area School District 51-4 · South Dakota
NCES ID 465982000533 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-51 students YoY
South Middle School - 36 shrank from 553 students in 2022-23 to 502 in 2023-24 (-9.2%).
Teacher FTE lost 42.2 → 41.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-51 students YoY 465982000533 · Rapid City, SD Middle · MID · TRAD
618 enr · 14.7:1 · 40.5% lunch · RII 23
Nearest enrollment peer: Central High School - 41 (1,998 students)
South Middle School - 36 shrank from 553 students in 2022-23 to 502 in 2023-24 (-9.2%). Teacher FTE lost 42.2 → 41.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Dakota schools → · Find another →
South Middle School - 36 in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Central High S
Central High School - 41
1,998 students
- Stevens High S
Stevens High School - 42
1,771 students
- This school 618
South Middle School - 36
618 students
- Southwest Midd 614
Southwest Middle School - 38
614 students
- East Middle Sc 613
East Middle School - 30
613 students
- Valley View El 605
Valley View Elementary - 13
605 students
What this shows South Middle School - 36 reports 618 students on the CCD universe file.
How South Middle School - 36 compares
South Middle School - 36 is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs South Dakota and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs South Dakota | South Dakota avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14.7:1 | ▲ 8% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 40.5% | ▲ 41% | 28.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 618 | top 6% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.7:1
Leaner classes than 50% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
618
Bigger than 74% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
40.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 41% above the South Dakota average of 28.8%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
14.7:1
students per teacher
- 8% above state mean
Top 66% in South Dakota - lower ratio than 34% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
31.9%
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
$10,377
per pupil, district-wide
- below South Dakota avg of $13,985
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 618 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
83
in-school suspensions + 26 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 13.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 17.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 45.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 22.8%
Two or More 17.2%
Hispanic or Latino 11.8%
African American 1.9%
Asian 1.0%
Largest group: White at 45.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 69.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 69.9, South Middle School - 36 is more mixed than the South Dakota school average of 27.6.
Programs
District finance for Rapid City Area School District 51-4 reports $10,377 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How South Middle School - 36 Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central High School - 41 | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Stevens High School - 42 | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Southwest Middle School - 38 | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| East Middle School - 30 | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Valley View Elementary - 13 | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to South Middle School - 36's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,771
- Students per teacher
- 19.9:1
- Resource Index
- 18/100
- Enrollment
- 614
- Students per teacher
- 18.1:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 613
- Students per teacher
- 15:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
- Enrollment
- 605
- Students per teacher
- 18.9:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
Similar middle schools in Rapid City
4 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Southwest Middle School - 38
Standard public school
614 students 18.1:1 students per teacher
East Middle School - 30
Standard public school
613 students 15:1 students per teacher
West Middle School - 37
Standard public school
591 students 15.6:1 students per teacher
North Middle School - 35
Standard public school
418 students 11.9:1 students per teacher
Nationwide middle 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 (~618 students)
Frequently asked questions about South Middle School - 36
How many students attend South Middle School - 36?
South Middle School - 36 has 618 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Rapid City, SD. CCD year-over-year: 553 (2022-23) → 502 (2023-24), down 51.
What is the student-teacher ratio at South Middle School - 36?
The student-teacher ratio at South Middle School - 36 is 14.7:1, which is 8% higher than the South Dakota average of 13.6:1 and 6% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at South Middle School - 36?
40.5% of students at South Middle School - 36 are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Dakota average of 28.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of South Middle School - 36?
The largest demographic group at South Middle School - 36 is White at 45.3% of enrollment, in Rapid City, SD. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 69.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for South Middle School - 36?
South Middle School - 36 has a Resource Investment Index of 23/100 (lower 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 Middle School - 36 rank among middle schools in Rapid City?
By Resource Investment Index, South Middle School - 36 ranks #5 of 5 middle schools in Rapid City, SD. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Rapid City on the city page.
What other schools are in Rapid City Area School District 51-4?
Besides South Middle School - 36, Rapid City Area School District 51-4 also operates Central High School - 41 (1,998 students), Stevens High School - 42 (1,771 students), and Southwest Middle School - 38 (614 students). See the Rapid City Area School District 51-4 district page for the complete list.