Enrollment
313
South Dakota · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Rapid City, SD
South Park Elementary - 16
Federal NCES profile for South Park Elementary - 16, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 26/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 465982000824
👥 S:T ratio 37
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 37
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
South Park Elementary - 16 earns 26/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 75% of South Dakota schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most South Dakota schools.
- #10 of 10
- elementary schools in Rapid City · Resource Index
- 26
- Resource Index · Lower
- 15.7:1
- large classes for South Dakota
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
South Park Elementary - 16 has class sizes larger than 75% of South Dakota schools. Computed live against every South Dakota school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, South Park Elementary - 16 ranks #10 of 10 elementary schools in Rapid City, SD.
School address
District: Rapid City Area School District 51-4 · South Dakota
NCES ID 465982000824 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
20.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.7:1
vs 13.6:1 South Dakota avg
+15% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
100.0%
vs 28.8% South Dakota avg
+247% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How South Park Elementary - 16 compares with South Dakota and U.S. medians
What stands out at South Park Elementary - 16
South Park Elementary - 16 is a high-poverty, mid-sized elementary school in Rapid City, South Dakota, enrolling 313 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 15.7:1 puts it in the larger third of South Dakota schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need is high: 100.0% of students qualify for free meals, 247% above the South Dakota average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
Enrollment of 313 puts it in the larger third of South Dakota schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index trails 95% of the 691 South Dakota schools with a score on record, one of the lower results on this measure.
Among 17 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need South Dakota schools statewide, it ranks #16, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (38%) and American Indian / Alaska Native (35%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 70/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 313 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 41.2% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 18.9% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Rapid City's elementary schools, it stands alongside Valley View Elementary - 13 (605 students): South Park Elementary - 16 is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (15.7:1 vs 18.9:1).
Rapid City Area School District 51-4 also operates Central High School - 41 (1,998 students) and Stevens High School - 42 (1,771 students) alongside South Park Elementary - 16.
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 Park Elementary - 16 compares
South Park Elementary - 16 on the metrics families compare, against South Dakota and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs South Dakota | South Dakota avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.7:1 | ▲ 15% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 247% | 28.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 313 | top 22% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.7:1
Leaner classes than 41% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
313
Bigger than 34% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
100.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 247% above the South Dakota average of 28.8%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
15.7:1
students per teacher
- 15% above state mean
Top 75% in South Dakota - lower ratio than 25% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
41.2%
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
$11,191
per pupil, district-wide
- below South Dakota avg of $13,477
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 313 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
7
in-school suspensions + 10 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.4 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 37.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 34.8%
Two or More 15.0%
Hispanic or Latino 10.5%
African American 1.3%
Asian 0.6%
Largest group: White at 37.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 70.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 70.3, South Park Elementary - 16 is more mixed than the South Dakota school average of 27.6.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Rapid City Area School District 51-4, which includes South Park Elementary - 16.
$11,191
Per student
-17%
vs South Dakota
Avg $13,477
-33%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 54.3%
State 26.7%
Federal 18.9%
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 Park Elementary - 16 Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central High School - 41 | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Stevens High School - 42 | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| South Middle School - 36 | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Southwest Middle School - 38 | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| East Middle School - 30 | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to South Park Elementary - 16's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,998
- Students per teacher
- 20:1
- Resource Index
- 18/100
- Enrollment
- 1,771
- Students per teacher
- 19.9:1
- Resource Index
- 18/100
- Enrollment
- 618
- Students per teacher
- 14.7:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 614
- Students per teacher
- 18.1:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 613
- Students per teacher
- 15:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
Similar elementary schools in Rapid City
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Valley View Elementary - 13
Standard public school
605 students 18.9:1 students per teacher
Meadowbrook Elementary - 10
Standard public school
478 students 15.9:1 students per teacher
Corral Drive Elementary - 21
Standard public school
439 students 20:1 students per teacher
Grandview Elementary - 06
Standard public school
431 students 16.6:1 students per teacher
Pinedale Elementary - 11
Standard public school
377 students 17.1:1 students per teacher
Knollwood Heights Elementary - 08
Standard public school
368 students 13.6:1 students per teacher
Similar elementary schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of South Dakota, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~313 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15.7:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on South Park Elementary - 16's federal record.
- Compare South Park Elementary - 16 against another school. Compare schools
- Rapid City Area School District 51-4'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 Park Elementary - 16
How many students attend South Park Elementary - 16?
South Park Elementary - 16 has 313 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Rapid City, SD.
What is the student-teacher ratio at South Park Elementary - 16?
The student-teacher ratio at South Park Elementary - 16 is 15.7:1, which is 15% higher than the South Dakota average of 13.6:1 and 0% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at South Park Elementary - 16?
100.0% of students at South Park Elementary - 16 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 - 16?
The largest demographic group at South Park Elementary - 16 is White at 37.7% of enrollment, in Rapid City, SD. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 70.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for South Park Elementary - 16?
South Park Elementary - 16 has a Resource Investment Index of 26/100 (lower 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 Park Elementary - 16 rank among elementary schools in Rapid City?
By Resource Investment Index, South Park Elementary - 16 ranks #10 of 10 elementary 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 elementary schools in Rapid City on the city page.
Is South Park Elementary - 16 a good school?
South Park Elementary - 16 earns 26/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 75% of South Dakota schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most South Dakota 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 Rapid City Area School District 51-4?
Besides South Park Elementary - 16, Rapid City Area School District 51-4 also operates Central High School - 41 (1,998 students), Stevens High School - 42 (1,771 students), and South Middle School - 36 (618 students). See the Rapid City Area School District 51-4 district page for the complete list.
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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.