- Enrollment
- 1,998
- Students per teacher
- 20:1
- Resource Index
- 18/100
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 →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-29 students YoY
South Park Elementary - 16 shrank from 314 students in 2022-23 to 285 in 2023-24 (-9.2%).
Teacher FTE added 20.5 → 21.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-29 students YoY 465982000824 · Rapid City, SD Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
313 enr · 15.7:1 · 100.0% lunch · RII 26
Nearest enrollment peer: Central High School - 41 (1,998 students)
South Park Elementary - 16 shrank from 314 students in 2022-23 to 285 in 2023-24 (-9.2%). Teacher FTE added 20.5 → 21.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Dakota schools → · Find another →
South Park Elementary - 16 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
- South Middle S 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
- This school 313
South Park Elementary - 16
313 students
What this shows South Park Elementary - 16 reports 313 students on the CCD universe file.
How South Park Elementary - 16 compares
South Park Elementary - 16 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 | 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 methodology
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
$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 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.
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
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 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
- 1,771
- 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
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 (~313 students)
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. CCD year-over-year: 314 (2022-23) → 285 (2023-24), down 29.
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, 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 - 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.
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.