Enrollment
456
Illinois · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Sycamore, IL
South Prairie Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for South Prairie Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 53/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 173846002633
👥 S:T ratio 47
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 82
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
South Prairie Elementary School earns 53/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Illinois median.
- #1 of 7
- public schools in Sycamore · Resource Index
- 53
- Resource Index · Higher
- 13.3:1
- students per teacher
- 456
- students enrolled
South Prairie Elementary School has class sizes near the Illinois median. Computed live against every Illinois school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, South Prairie Elementary School ranks #1 of 7 public schools in Sycamore, IL.
School address
District: Sycamore Cusd 427 · Illinois
NCES ID 173846002633 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
23.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13.3:1
vs 14:1 Illinois avg
-5% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How South Prairie Elementary School compares with Illinois and U.S. medians
What stands out at South Prairie Elementary School
South Prairie Elementary School is a mid-sized combined-grade school in Sycamore, Illinois, enrolling 456 students.
At 13.3:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the Illinois median, within a few percentage points of the 14:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
With 456 students, its enrollment sits close to the Illinois median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 3,845 scored Illinois schools.
Its student body is led by White (71%) and Hispanic or Latino (16%) (diversity index 46/100).
Attendance holds up well here: only 7.2% of students were chronically absent, below the typical post-pandemic national figure.
Sycamore Cusd 427 also operates Sycamore High School (1,161 students) and Sycamore Middle School (847 students) alongside South Prairie Elementary School.
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 Prairie Elementary School compares
South Prairie Elementary School on the metrics families compare, against Illinois and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Illinois | Illinois avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.3:1 | ▼ 5% | 14:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Enrollment | 456 | top 36% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.3:1
Leaner classes than 66% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
456
Bigger than 56% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Staffing depth
13.3:1
students per teacher
- 5% below state mean
Top 46% in Illinois - lower ratio than 54% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
7.2%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
Funding equity
$19,156
per pupil, district-wide
- above Illinois avg of $17,042
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 2 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
Enrollment 456 Top 36% in Illinois - larger than 64% of 3,845 state schools
Teachers (FTE) 23.0
Students per teacher 13.3:1 -5% vs state
Free-lunch eligible -
NCES ID 173846002633
Student demographics
White 71.1%
Hispanic or Latino 16.4%
African American 5.7%
Two or More 5.5%
Asian 1.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: White at 71.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 46.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 46.1, South Prairie Elementary School is more mixed than the Illinois school average of 38.9.
Programs & staff
Counselors (FTE) 0.0
Discipline & special education
Chronically absent 7.2%
In-school suspensions 0
Out-of-school suspensions 2
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Sycamore Cusd 427, which includes South Prairie Elementary School.
$19,156
Per student
+12%
vs Illinois
Avg $17,042
+15%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 59.3%
State 36.1%
Federal 4.6%
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 Prairie Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sycamore High School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Sycamore Middle School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| North Grove Elementary School | Similar size | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| North Elementary School | Smaller | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| Southeast Elem School | Smaller | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to South Prairie Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,161
- Students per teacher
- 17:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 847
- Students per teacher
- 13.5:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 377
- Students per teacher
- 14.2:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 309
- Students per teacher
- 13.8:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 300
- Students per teacher
- 13.5:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on South Prairie Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare South Prairie Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Sycamore Cusd 427'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 Prairie Elementary School
How many students attend South Prairie Elementary School?
South Prairie Elementary School has 456 students enrolled. It is a public school in Sycamore, IL.
What is the student-teacher ratio at South Prairie Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at South Prairie Elementary School is 13.3:1, which is 5% lower than the Illinois average of 14:1 and 15% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of South Prairie Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at South Prairie Elementary School is White at 71.1% of enrollment, in Sycamore, IL.
What is the Resource Investment Index for South Prairie Elementary School?
South Prairie Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 53/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does South Prairie Elementary School rank among public schools in Sycamore?
By Resource Investment Index, South Prairie Elementary School ranks #1 of 7 public schools in Sycamore, IL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Sycamore on the city page.
Is South Prairie Elementary School a good school?
South Prairie Elementary School earns 53/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Illinois median. 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 Sycamore Cusd 427?
Besides South Prairie Elementary School, Sycamore Cusd 427 also operates Sycamore High School (1,161 students), Sycamore Middle School (847 students), and North Grove Elementary School (377 students). See the Sycamore Cusd 427 district page for the complete list.