Enrollment
389
Pennsylvania · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Dillsburg, PA
South Mountain El Sch
Federal NCES profile for South Mountain El Sch, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 52/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 421776000459
👥 S:T ratio 46
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 22
📋 Attendance 69
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
South Mountain El Sch earns 52/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Pennsylvania median.
- #1 of 3
- elementary schools in Dillsburg · Resource Index
- 52
- Resource Index · Higher
- 13.4:1
- students per teacher
- 23.6%
- free-lunch eligible
South Mountain El Sch has class sizes near the Pennsylvania median. Computed live against every Pennsylvania school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, South Mountain El Sch ranks #1 of 3 elementary schools in Dillsburg, PA.
School address
District: Northern York County Sd · Pennsylvania
NCES ID 421776000459 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
29.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13.4:1
vs 13.6:1 Pennsylvania avg
-1% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
23.6%
vs 58.1% Pennsylvania avg
-59% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How South Mountain El Sch compares with Pennsylvania and U.S. medians
What stands out at South Mountain El Sch
South Mountain El Sch is a mid-sized elementary school in Dillsburg, Pennsylvania, enrolling 389 students.
At 13.4:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the Pennsylvania median, within a few percentage points of the 13.6:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 23.6% of students eligible for free meals.
With 389 students, its enrollment sits close to the Pennsylvania median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 2,889 scored Pennsylvania schools.
Against 436 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #199.
Its student body is predominantly White (90% of enrollment) (diversity index 19/100).
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 389 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
12.3% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
The surrounding Northern York County Sd spends $14,338 per pupil, 20% below the Pennsylvania average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Dillsburg's elementary schools, it stands alongside Dillsburg El Sch (440 students): South Mountain El Sch is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (13.4:1 vs 13.8:1).
Northern York County Sd also operates Northern Hs (982 students) and Northern Ms (757 students) alongside South Mountain El Sch.
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 Mountain El Sch compares
South Mountain El Sch on the metrics families compare, against Pennsylvania and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.4:1 | ▼ 1% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 23.6% | ▼ 59% | 58.1% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 389 | top 63% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.4:1
Leaner classes than 63% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
389
Bigger than 46% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
23.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 59% below the Pennsylvania average of 58.1%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
13.4:1
students per teacher
- 1% below state mean
Top 51% in Pennsylvania - lower ratio than 49% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
12.3%
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
$14,338
per pupil, district-wide
- below Pennsylvania avg of $17,970
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 389 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 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 90.0%
Hispanic or Latino 4.1%
Asian 2.1%
African American 1.8%
Two or More 1.8%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: White at 90.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 18.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 18.7, South Mountain El Sch is less mixed than the Pennsylvania school average of 37.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Northern York County Sd, which includes South Mountain El Sch.
$14,338
Per student
-20%
vs Pennsylvania
Avg $17,970
-14%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 65.0%
State 29.9%
Federal 5.1%
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 Mountain El Sch Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Hs | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Northern Ms | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Dillsburg El Sch | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Northern El Sch | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Wellsville Campus | Smaller | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to South Mountain El Sch's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 982
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
- Enrollment
- 757
- Students per teacher
- 14.6:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
- Enrollment
- 440
- Students per teacher
- 13.8:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 397
- Students per teacher
- 13.7:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
- Enrollment
- 244
- Students per teacher
- 12.8:1
- Resource Index
- 59/100
Similar elementary schools in Dillsburg
2 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Similar elementary schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Pennsylvania, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~389 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~13.4:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on South Mountain El Sch's federal record.
- Compare South Mountain El Sch against another school. Compare schools
- Northern York County Sd'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 Mountain El Sch
How many students attend South Mountain El Sch?
South Mountain El Sch has 389 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Dillsburg, PA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at South Mountain El Sch?
The student-teacher ratio at South Mountain El Sch is 13.4:1, which is 1% lower than the Pennsylvania average of 13.6:1 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 Mountain El Sch?
23.6% of students at South Mountain El Sch are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Pennsylvania average of 58.1%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of South Mountain El Sch?
The largest demographic group at South Mountain El Sch is White at 90.0% of enrollment, in Dillsburg, PA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for South Mountain El Sch?
South Mountain El Sch has a Resource Investment Index of 52/100 (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 Mountain El Sch rank among elementary schools in Dillsburg?
By Resource Investment Index, South Mountain El Sch ranks #1 of 3 elementary schools in Dillsburg, PA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Dillsburg on the city page.
Is South Mountain El Sch a good school?
South Mountain El Sch earns 52/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Pennsylvania median. 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 Northern York County Sd?
Besides South Mountain El Sch, Northern York County Sd also operates Northern Hs (982 students), Northern Ms (757 students), and Dillsburg El Sch (440 students). See the Northern York County Sd 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.