Enrollment
158
Montana · 2024-25 NCES data
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
Teachers (FTE)
10.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.8:1
vs 11.8:1 Montana avg
+34% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How South School compares with Montana and U.S. medians
What stands out at South School
South School is a mid-sized combined-grade school in Laurel, Montana, enrolling 158 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 15.8:1 puts it in the larger third of Montana schools by student-teacher ratio.
With 158 students, its enrollment sits close to the Montana median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 826 scored Montana schools.
Its student body is predominantly White (85% of enrollment) (diversity index 26/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 282 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 31.0% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Laurel Elem spends $12,716 per pupil, 34% below the Montana average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Its district draws 16.3% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Laurel Elem also operates Laurel Middle School (506 students) and West School (248 students) alongside South 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 School compares
South School on the metrics families compare, against 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 (what these measure)
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
$12,716
per pupil, district-wide
- below Montana avg of $19,282
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.
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
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
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Laurel Elem, which includes South School.
$12,716
Per student
-34%
vs Montana
Avg $19,282
-23%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 43.6%
State 40.1%
Federal 16.3%
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 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
- 506
- Students per teacher
- 14.9:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 248
- Students per teacher
- 13.1:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 245
- Students per teacher
- 16.3:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Montana, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~158 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15.8:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on South School's federal record.
- Compare South School against another school. Compare schools
- Laurel Elem'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 School
How many students attend South School?
South School has 158 students enrolled. It is a public school in Laurel, MT.
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, counselor availability, attendance rates. 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.
Is South School a good school?
South School earns 33/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 83% of Montana schools. 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 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.
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.