- Enrollment
- 743
- Students per teacher
- 17.3:1
- Resource Index
- 15/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Cumberland, MD
South Penn Elementary
Federal NCES profile for South Penn Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 45/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 240003001359
👥 S:T ratio 57
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 51
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
South Penn Elementary earns 45/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 90% of Maryland schools.
- #3 of 5
- schools in Cumberland · Resource Index
- 45
- Resource Index · Typical
- 10.7:1
- small classes for Maryland
- 77.2%
- free-lunch eligible
South Penn Elementary has class sizes smaller than 90% of Maryland schools. Computed live against every Maryland school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, South Penn Elementary ranks #3 of 5 schools in Cumberland, MD.
School address
District: Allegany County Public Schools · Maryland
NCES ID 240003001359 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-11 students YoY
South Penn Elementary held near 512 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-11 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 46.0 → 47.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-11 students YoY 240003001359 · Cumberland, MD Other · SMALL · TRAD
491 enr · 10.7:1 · 77.2% lunch · RII 45
Nearest enrollment peer: Mountain Ridge High School (743 students)
South Penn Elementary held near 512 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-11 headcount). Teacher FTE added 46.0 → 47.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Maryland schools → · Find another →
South Penn Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Mountain Ridge
Mountain Ridge High School
743 students
- Allegany High
Allegany High
719 students
- Fort Hill High
Fort Hill High
655 students
- Washington Mid
Washington Middle
577 students
- Braddock Middl
Braddock Middle
536 students
- This school
South Penn Elementary
491 students
What this shows South Penn Elementary reports 491 students on the CCD universe file.
How South Penn Elementary compares
South Penn Elementary held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Maryland and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Maryland | Maryland avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 10.7:1 | ▼ 26% | 14.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 77.2% | ▲ 58% | 49.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 491 | top 56% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
10.7:1
Leaner classes than 85% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
491
Bigger than 60% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
77.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 58% above the Maryland average of 49.0%
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
10.7:1
students per teacher
- 26% below state mean
Top 10% in Maryland - lower ratio than 90% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
52.5%
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
$18,290
per pupil, district-wide
- below Maryland avg of $18,753
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 246 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
13
in-school suspensions + 4 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 3.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 70.5%
Two or More 16.7%
African American 9.8%
Hispanic or Latino 2.6%
Asian 0.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: White at 70.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 46.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 46.5, South Penn Elementary is less mixed than the Maryland school average of 52.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Allegany County Public Schools reports $18,290 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How South Penn Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain Ridge High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Allegany High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Fort Hill High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Washington Middle | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Braddock Middle | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to South Penn Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 719
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
- Enrollment
- 655
- Students per teacher
- 16:1
- Resource Index
- 17/100
- Enrollment
- 577
- Students per teacher
- 12.5:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 536
- Students per teacher
- 12.8:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
Similar other schools in Cumberland
4 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
West Side Elementary
Standard public school
321 students 12.8:1 students per teacher
Northeast Elementary
Standard public school
272 students 14.3:1 students per teacher
John Humbird Elementary
Standard public school
242 students 11:1 students per teacher
Bel Air Elementary
Standard public school
216 students 12.7:1 students per teacher
Nationwide other 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 (~491 students)
Frequently asked questions about South Penn Elementary
How many students attend South Penn Elementary?
South Penn Elementary has 491 students enrolled. It is a public school in Cumberland, MD. CCD year-over-year: 523 (2022-23) → 512 (2023-24), nearly flat (-11).
What is the student-teacher ratio at South Penn Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at South Penn Elementary is 10.7:1, which is 26% lower than the Maryland average of 14.5:1 and 32% 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 Penn Elementary?
77.2% of students at South Penn Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Maryland average of 49.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of South Penn Elementary?
The largest demographic group at South Penn Elementary is White at 70.5% of enrollment, in Cumberland, MD.
What is the Resource Investment Index for South Penn Elementary?
South Penn Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 45/100 (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 Penn Elementary rank among schools in Cumberland?
By Resource Investment Index, South Penn Elementary ranks #3 of 5 schools in Cumberland, MD. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Cumberland on the city page.
What other schools are in Allegany County Public Schools?
Besides South Penn Elementary, Allegany County Public Schools also operates Mountain Ridge High School (743 students), Allegany High (719 students), and Fort Hill High (655 students). See the Allegany County Public Schools district page for the complete list.