- Enrollment
- 506
- Students per teacher
- 14.9:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Laurel, MT
South School
Federal NCES profile for South School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 33/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 301620001124
👥 S:T ratio 37
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 44
📋 Attendance 23
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
South School earns 33/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 83% of Montana schools.
- #5 of 5
- public schools in Laurel · Resource Index
- 33
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.8:1
- large classes for Montana
- 158
- students enrolled
South School has class sizes larger than 83% of Montana schools. Computed live against every Montana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, South School ranks #5 of 5 public schools in Laurel, MT.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-13 students YoY
South School shrank from 165 students in 2022-23 to 152 in 2023-24 (-7.9%).
Teacher FTE held 10.9 → 10.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-13 students YoY 301620001124 · Laurel, MT Other · SMALL · TRAD
158 enr · 15.8:1 · RII 33
Nearest enrollment peer: Laurel Middle School (506 students)
South School shrank from 165 students in 2022-23 to 152 in 2023-24 (-7.9%). Teacher FTE held 10.9 → 10.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Montana schools → · Find another →
South School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Laurel Middle
Laurel Middle School
506 students
- West School
West School
248 students
- Fred W Graff S
Fred W Graff School
245 students
- This school 158
South School
158 students
What this shows South School reports 158 students on the CCD universe file.
How South School compares
South School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Montana and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Montana | Montana avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.8:1 | ▲ 34% | 11.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Enrollment | 158 | top 37% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.8:1
Leaner classes than 40% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
158
Bigger than 15% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators methodology
Staffing depth
15.8:1
students per teacher
- 34% above state mean
Top 83% in Montana - lower ratio than 17% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
31.0%
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
$12,438
per pupil, district-wide
- below Montana avg of $19,859
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.6 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 85.4%
Hispanic or Latino 7.0%
Two or More 5.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.6%
Largest group: White at 85.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 26.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 26.2, South School is more mixed than the Montana school average of 23.6.
Programs
District finance for Laurel Elem reports $12,438 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How South School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laurel Middle School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| West School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Lower S:T ratio |
| Fred W Graff School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to South School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 248
- Students per teacher
- 13.1:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 245
- Students per teacher
- 16.3:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
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 (~158 students)
Frequently asked questions about South School
How many students attend South School?
South School has 158 students enrolled. It is a public school in Laurel, MT. CCD year-over-year: 165 (2022-23) → 152 (2023-24), down 13.
What is the student-teacher ratio at South School?
The student-teacher ratio at South School is 15.8:1, which is 34% higher than the Montana average of 11.8:1 and 1% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of South School?
The largest demographic group at South School is White at 85.4% of enrollment, in Laurel, MT.
What is the Resource Investment Index for South School?
South School has a Resource Investment Index of 33/100 (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 School rank among public schools in Laurel?
By Resource Investment Index, South School ranks #5 of 5 public schools in Laurel, MT. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Laurel on the city page.
What other schools are in Laurel Elem?
Besides South School, Laurel Elem also operates Laurel Middle School (506 students), West School (248 students), and Fred W Graff School (245 students). See the Laurel Elem district page for the complete list.