- Enrollment
- 414
- Students per teacher
- 12.2:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Belle Fourche, SD
South Park Elementary - 03
Federal NCES profile for South Park Elementary - 03, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 44/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 460561000269
👥 S:T ratio 57
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 31
📋 Attendance 58
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
South Park Elementary - 03 earns 44/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 74% of South Dakota schools.
- #1 of 3
- elementary schools in Belle Fourche · Resource Index
- 44
- Resource Index · Typical
- 10.8:1
- small classes for South Dakota
- 31.2%
- free-lunch eligible
South Park Elementary - 03 has class sizes smaller than 74% of South Dakota schools. Computed live against every South Dakota school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, South Park Elementary - 03 ranks #1 of 3 elementary schools in Belle Fourche, SD.
School address
District: Belle Fourche School District 09-1 · South Dakota
NCES ID 460561000269 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+14 students YoY
South Park Elementary - 03 held near 396 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+14 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 32.5 → 31.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+14 students YoY 460561000269 · Belle Fourche, SD Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
347 enr · 10.8:1 · 31.2% lunch · RII 44
Nearest enrollment peer: Belle Fourche Middle School - 07 (414 students)
South Park Elementary - 03 held near 396 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+14 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 32.5 → 31.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Dakota schools → · Find another →
South Park Elementary - 03 in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Belle Fourche
Belle Fourche Middle School - 07
414 students
- Belle Fourche
Belle Fourche High School - 01
389 students
- This school
South Park Elementary - 03
347 students
- North Park Ele 89
North Park Elementary - 08
89 students
- Belle Fourche 57
Belle Fourche Education Connection - 09
57 students
What this shows South Park Elementary - 03 reports 347 students on the CCD universe file.
How South Park Elementary - 03 compares
South Park Elementary - 03 held steady on CCD headcount: 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 | 10.8:1 | ▼ 21% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 31.2% | ▲ 8% | 28.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 347 | top 19% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
10.8:1
Leaner classes than 84% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
347
Bigger than 39% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
31.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 8% above the South Dakota average of 28.8%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
10.8:1
students per teacher
- 21% below state mean
Top 26% in South Dakota - lower ratio than 74% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
16.7%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$10,737
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 347 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
5
in-school suspensions + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.4 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 83.0%
Hispanic or Latino 9.2%
Two or More 5.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 2.3%
Largest group: White at 83.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 29.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 29.9, South Park Elementary - 03 is more mixed than the South Dakota school average of 27.6.
Programs
District finance for Belle Fourche School District 09-1 reports $10,737 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How South Park Elementary - 03 Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belle Fourche Middle School - 07 | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Belle Fourche High School - 01 | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| North Park Elementary - 08 | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Belle Fourche Education Connection - 09 | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to South Park Elementary - 03's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 389
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 89
- Students per teacher
- 11.1:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 57
- Students per teacher
- 19:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
Similar elementary schools in Belle Fourche
2 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
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 (~347 students)
Frequently asked questions about South Park Elementary - 03
How many students attend South Park Elementary - 03?
South Park Elementary - 03 has 347 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Belle Fourche, SD. CCD year-over-year: 382 (2022-23) → 396 (2023-24), nearly flat (+14).
What is the student-teacher ratio at South Park Elementary - 03?
The student-teacher ratio at South Park Elementary - 03 is 10.8:1, which is 21% lower than the South Dakota average of 13.6:1 and 31% 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 Park Elementary - 03?
31.2% of students at South Park Elementary - 03 are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Dakota average of 28.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of South Park Elementary - 03?
The largest demographic group at South Park Elementary - 03 is White at 83.0% of enrollment, in Belle Fourche, SD.
What is the Resource Investment Index for South Park Elementary - 03?
South Park Elementary - 03 has a Resource Investment Index of 44/100 (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 Park Elementary - 03 rank among elementary schools in Belle Fourche?
By Resource Investment Index, South Park Elementary - 03 ranks #1 of 3 elementary schools in Belle Fourche, SD. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Belle Fourche on the city page.
What other schools are in Belle Fourche School District 09-1?
Besides South Park Elementary - 03, Belle Fourche School District 09-1 also operates Belle Fourche Middle School - 07 (414 students), Belle Fourche High School - 01 (389 students), and North Park Elementary - 08 (89 students). See the Belle Fourche School District 09-1 district page for the complete list.