- Enrollment
- 1,470
- Students per teacher
- 14.8:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Wausau, WI
South Mountain Elementary
Federal NCES profile for South Mountain Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 53/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 551590001409
👥 S:T ratio 55
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 53
📋 Attendance 34
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
South Mountain Elementary earns 53/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 78% of Wisconsin schools.
- #4 of 10
- elementary schools in Wausau · Resource Index
- 53
- Resource Index · Higher
- 11.2:1
- small classes for Wisconsin
- 19.3%
- free-lunch eligible
South Mountain Elementary has class sizes smaller than 78% of Wisconsin schools. Computed live against every Wisconsin school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, South Mountain Elementary ranks #4 of 10 elementary schools in Wausau, WI.
School address
District: Wausau School District · Wisconsin
NCES ID 551590001409 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-10 students YoY
South Mountain Elementary held near 223 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-10 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 21.0 → 18.6 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-10 students YoY 551590001409 · Wausau, WI Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
235 enr · 11.2:1 · 19.3% lunch · RII 53
Nearest enrollment peer: West High (1,470 students)
South Mountain Elementary held near 223 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-10 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 21.0 → 18.6 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Wisconsin schools → · Find another →
South Mountain Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- West High
West High
1,470 students
- John Muir Midd
John Muir Middle
967 students
- East High
East High
893 students
- Horace Mann Mi
Horace Mann Middle
635 students
- G D Jones Elem 492
G D Jones Elementary
492 students
- This school 235
South Mountain Elementary
235 students
What this shows South Mountain Elementary reports 235 students on the CCD universe file.
How South Mountain Elementary compares
South Mountain Elementary held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Wisconsin and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Wisconsin | Wisconsin avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 11.2:1 | ▼ 22% | 14.4:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 19.3% | ▼ 50% | 38.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 235 | top 63% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.2:1
Leaner classes than 82% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
235
Bigger than 23% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
19.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 50% below the Wisconsin average of 38.5%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
11.2:1
students per teacher
- 22% below state mean
Top 22% in Wisconsin - lower ratio than 78% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
26.4%
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
$15,133
per pupil, district-wide
- below Wisconsin avg of $15,645
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 235 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
2
in-school suspensions + 2 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 80.4%
Asian 13.2%
Two or More 5.1%
Hispanic or Latino 1.3%
Largest group: White at 80.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 33.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 33.3, South Mountain Elementary is less mixed than the Wisconsin school average of 35.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Wausau School District reports $15,133 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How South Mountain Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| West High | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| John Muir Middle | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| East High | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Horace Mann Middle | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| G D Jones Elementary | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to South Mountain Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 967
- Students per teacher
- 12.9:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
- Enrollment
- 893
- Students per teacher
- 12.9:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 635
- Students per teacher
- 11.8:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 492
- Students per teacher
- 14.1:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
Similar elementary schools in Wausau
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Stettin Elementary
Standard public school
327 students 18.2:1 students per teacher
John Marshall Elementary
Standard public school
231 students 12.2:1 students per teacher
Maine Elementary
Standard public school
229 students 14.3:1 students per teacher
Lincoln Elementary
Standard public school
204 students 8.5:1 students per teacher
Rib Mountain Elementary
Standard public school
194 students 12.9:1 students per teacher
Grant Elementary
Standard public school
189 students 11.8:1 students per teacher
Nationwide elementary 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 (~235 students)
Frequently asked questions about South Mountain Elementary
How many students attend South Mountain Elementary?
South Mountain Elementary has 235 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Wausau, WI. CCD year-over-year: 233 (2022-23) → 223 (2023-24), nearly flat (-10).
What is the student-teacher ratio at South Mountain Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at South Mountain Elementary is 11.2:1, which is 22% lower than the Wisconsin average of 14.4:1 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 Mountain Elementary?
19.3% of students at South Mountain Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Wisconsin average of 38.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of South Mountain Elementary?
The largest demographic group at South Mountain Elementary is White at 80.4% of enrollment, in Wausau, WI.
What is the Resource Investment Index for South Mountain Elementary?
South Mountain Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 53/100 (higher 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 Mountain Elementary rank among elementary schools in Wausau?
By Resource Investment Index, South Mountain Elementary ranks #4 of 10 elementary schools in Wausau, WI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Wausau on the city page.
What other schools are in Wausau School District?
Besides South Mountain Elementary, Wausau School District also operates West High (1,470 students), John Muir Middle (967 students), and East High (893 students). See the Wausau School District district page for the complete list.