Enrollment
855
Georgia · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Covington, GA
South Salem Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for South Salem Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 35/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 130393003770
👥 S:T ratio 41
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 14
📋 Attendance 14
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
South Salem Elementary School earns 35/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Georgia median.
- #7 of 12
- schools in Covington · Resource Index
- 35
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.7:1
- students per teacher
- 85.0%
- free-lunch eligible
South Salem Elementary School has class sizes near the Georgia median. Computed live against every Georgia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, South Salem Elementary School ranks #7 of 12 schools in Covington, GA.
School address
District: Newton County · Georgia
NCES ID 130393003770 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
58.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
14.7:1
vs 14.4:1 Georgia avg
+2% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
85.0%
vs 60.7% Georgia avg
+40% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How South Salem Elementary School compares with Georgia and U.S. medians
What stands out at South Salem Elementary School
South Salem Elementary School is a high-poverty, mid-sized combined-grade school in Covington, Georgia, enrolling 855 students.
At 14.7:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the Georgia median, within a few percentage points of the 14.4:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 85.0% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 855 puts it in the larger third of Georgia schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 2,314 scored Georgia schools.
Against 477 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #314.
Its student body is led by African American (67%) and White (13%) (diversity index 52/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 428 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 34.5% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 16.2% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 1 expulsion at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Covington's public schools, it stands alongside Live Oak Elementary (936 students): South Salem Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (14.7:1 vs 20.3:1).
Newton County also operates Newton High School (2,499 students) and Alcovy High School (1,968 students) alongside South Salem 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 Salem Elementary School compares
South Salem Elementary School on the metrics families compare, against Georgia and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Georgia | Georgia avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14.7:1 | ▲ 2% | 14.4:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 85.0% | ▲ 40% | 60.7% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 855 | top 28% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.7:1
Leaner classes than 50% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
855
Bigger than 87% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
85.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 40% above the Georgia average of 60.7%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
14.7:1
students per teacher
- 2% above state mean
Top 60% in Georgia - lower ratio than 40% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
34.5%
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
$12,938
per pupil, district-wide
- below Georgia avg of $13,863
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 428 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
2
in-school suspensions + 66 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 8.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
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
African American 66.8%
White 13.3%
Hispanic or Latino 13.0%
Two or More 5.7%
Asian 0.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: African American at 66.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 51.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 51.6, South Salem Elementary School is about as mixed as the Georgia school average of 50.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Newton County, which includes South Salem Elementary School.
$12,938
Per student
-7%
vs Georgia
Avg $13,863
-22%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 35.3%
State 48.6%
Federal 16.2%
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 Salem Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newton High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Alcovy High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Eastside High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Newton County Theme School at Ficquett | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Live Oak Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to South Salem Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,499
- Students per teacher
- 22.1:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 1,968
- Students per teacher
- 20.7:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 1,590
- Students per teacher
- 19.2:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 1,095
- Students per teacher
- 20.7:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 936
- Students per teacher
- 20.3:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
Similar other schools in Covington
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Live Oak Elementary
Standard public school
936 students 20.3:1 students per teacher
Walnut Grove Elementary School
Standard public school
721 students 16:1 students per teacher
West Newton Elementary School
Standard public school
698 students 16.6:1 students per teacher
Oak Hill Elementary School
Standard public school
663 students 15.4:1 students per teacher
Middle Ridge Elementary School
Standard public school
594 students 14.1:1 students per teacher
Fairview Elementary
Standard public school
591 students 16:1 students per teacher
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Georgia, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~855 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on South Salem Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare South Salem Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Newton County'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 Salem Elementary School
How many students attend South Salem Elementary School?
South Salem Elementary School has 855 students enrolled. It is a public school in Covington, GA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at South Salem Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at South Salem Elementary School is 14.7:1, which is 2% higher than the Georgia average of 14.4:1 and 6% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at South Salem Elementary School?
85.0% of students at South Salem Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Georgia average of 60.7%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of South Salem Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at South Salem Elementary School is African American at 66.8% of enrollment, in Covington, GA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 51.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for South Salem Elementary School?
South Salem Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 35/100 (typical 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 Salem Elementary School rank among schools in Covington?
By Resource Investment Index, South Salem Elementary School ranks #7 of 12 schools in Covington, GA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Covington on the city page.
Is South Salem Elementary School a good school?
South Salem Elementary School earns 35/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Georgia 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 Newton County?
Besides South Salem Elementary School, Newton County also operates Newton High School (2,499 students), Alcovy High School (1,968 students), and Eastside High School (1,590 students). See the Newton County district page for the complete list.
Related tools
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.