Enrollment
515
Connecticut · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Bristol, CT
South Side School
Federal NCES profile for South Side School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 56/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 090051000105
👥 S:T ratio 38
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 60
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
South Side School earns 56/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 94% of Connecticut schools.
- #3 of 5
- schools in Bristol · Resource Index
- 56
- Resource Index · Higher
- 15.6:1
- large classes for Connecticut
- 45.2%
- free-lunch eligible
South Side School has class sizes larger than 94% of Connecticut schools. Computed live against every Connecticut school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, South Side School ranks #3 of 5 schools in Bristol, CT.
School address
District: Bristol School District · Connecticut
NCES ID 090051000105 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
33.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.6:1
vs 12.1:1 Connecticut avg
+29% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
45.2%
vs 36.4% Connecticut avg
+24% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How South Side School compares with Connecticut and U.S. medians
What stands out at South Side School
South Side School is a mid-sized combined-grade school in Bristol, Connecticut, enrolling 515 students.
Class loads run heavy: 15.6:1 is larger than about 94% of Connecticut schools and 29% above the 12.1:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 45.2% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 515 puts it in the larger third of Connecticut schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 1,003 scored Connecticut schools.
Against 200 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #29.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (44%) and White (38%) (diversity index 65/100).
15.9% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
Among Bristol's public schools, it stands alongside Greene-Hills School (918 students): South Side School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (15.6:1 vs 14.3:1).
Bristol School District also operates Bristol Central High School (1,148 students) and Bristol Eastern High School (998 students) alongside South Side 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 Side School compares
South Side School on the metrics families compare, against Connecticut and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Connecticut | Connecticut avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.6:1 | ▲ 29% | 12.1:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 45.2% | ▲ 24% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 515 | top 31% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.6:1
Leaner classes than 41% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
515
Bigger than 64% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
45.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 24% above the Connecticut average of 36.4%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
15.6:1
students per teacher
- 29% above state mean
Top 94% in Connecticut - lower ratio than 6% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
15.9%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$21,012
per pupil, district-wide
- below Connecticut avg of $23,870
Well above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting substantially higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
32
in-school suspensions + 11 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 6.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 8.3 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
Hispanic or Latino 43.5%
White 38.4%
African American 8.5%
Two or More 7.2%
Asian 2.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 43.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 65.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 65.0, South Side School is more mixed than the Connecticut school average of 50.5.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Bristol School District, which includes South Side School.
$21,012
Per student
-12%
vs Connecticut
Avg $23,870
+27%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 52.6%
State 38.6%
Federal 8.8%
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 Side School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bristol Central High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Bristol Eastern High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Greene-Hills School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| West Bristol School | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Chippens Hill Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to South Side School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,148
- Students per teacher
- 12.3:1
- Resource Index
- 60/100
- Enrollment
- 998
- Students per teacher
- 10:1
- Resource Index
- 61/100
- Enrollment
- 918
- Students per teacher
- 14.3:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 833
- Students per teacher
- 12.3:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 545
- Students per teacher
- 8.7:1
- Resource Index
- 57/100
Similar other schools in Bristol
4 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Greene-Hills School
Standard public school
918 students 14.3:1 students per teacher
Ivy Drive School
Standard public school
385 students 13.3:1 students per teacher
Mountain View School
Standard public school
356 students 13.7:1 students per teacher
Bristol Early Childhood Center-Becc
Special-education school
267 students 44.5:1 students per teacher
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Connecticut, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~515 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on South Side School's federal record.
- Compare South Side School against another school. Compare schools
- Bristol School District'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 Side School
How many students attend South Side School?
South Side School has 515 students enrolled. It is a public school in Bristol, CT.
What is the student-teacher ratio at South Side School?
The student-teacher ratio at South Side School is 15.6:1, which is 29% higher than the Connecticut average of 12.1:1 and 1% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at South Side School?
45.2% of students at South Side School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Connecticut average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of South Side School?
The largest demographic group at South Side School is Hispanic or Latino at 43.5% of enrollment, in Bristol, CT. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 65.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for South Side School?
South Side School has a Resource Investment Index of 56/100 (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 Side School rank among schools in Bristol?
By Resource Investment Index, South Side School ranks #3 of 5 schools in Bristol, CT. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Bristol on the city page.
Is South Side School a good school?
South Side School earns 56/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 94% of Connecticut 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 Bristol School District?
Besides South Side School, Bristol School District also operates Bristol Central High School (1,148 students), Bristol Eastern High School (998 students), and Greene-Hills School (918 students). See the Bristol School District 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.