Enrollment
261
Nebraska · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Sidney, NE
South Ward Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for South Ward Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 42/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 317671001603
👥 S:T ratio 20
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 48
📋 Attendance 72
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
South Ward Elementary School earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 95% of Nebraska schools.
- #3 of 3
- elementary schools in Sidney · Resource Index
- 42
- Resource Index · Typical
- 20.1:1
- large classes for Nebraska
- 45.1%
- free-lunch eligible
South Ward Elementary School has class sizes larger than 95% of Nebraska schools. Computed live against every Nebraska school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, South Ward Elementary School ranks #3 of 3 elementary schools in Sidney, NE.
School address
District: Sidney Public Schools · Nebraska
NCES ID 317671001603 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
13.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
20.1:1
vs 13.5:1 Nebraska avg
+49% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
45.1%
vs 30.9% Nebraska avg
+46% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How South Ward Elementary School compares with Nebraska and U.S. medians
What stands out at South Ward Elementary School
South Ward Elementary School is a mid-sized elementary school in Sidney, Nebraska, enrolling 261 students.
Class loads run heavy: 20.1:1 is larger than about 95% of Nebraska schools and 49% above the 13.5:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 45.1% of students eligible for free meals.
With 261 students, its enrollment sits close to the Nebraska median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,003 scored Nebraska schools.
Among 147 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Nebraska schools statewide, it ranks #122, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is predominantly White (90% of enrollment) (diversity index 18/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 261 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
11.1% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
The surrounding Sidney Public Schools spends $12,601 per pupil, 29% below the Nebraska average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Sidney Public Schools also operates Sidney High School (329 students) and West Elementary School (238 students) alongside South Ward 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 Ward Elementary School compares
South Ward Elementary School on the metrics families compare, against Nebraska and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Nebraska | Nebraska avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 20.1:1 | ▲ 49% | 13.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 45.1% | ▲ 46% | 30.9% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 261 | top 46% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
20.1:1
Leaner classes than 16% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
261
Bigger than 27% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
45.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 46% above the Nebraska average of 30.9%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
20.1:1
students per teacher
- 49% above state mean
Top 95% in Nebraska - lower ratio than 5% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
11.1%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$12,601
per pupil, district-wide
- below Nebraska avg of $17,680
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 261 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 5 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.9 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 90.4%
Hispanic or Latino 6.9%
Two or More 1.9%
African American 0.8%
Largest group: White at 90.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 17.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 17.8, South Ward Elementary School is less mixed than the Nebraska school average of 34.9.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Sidney Public Schools, which includes South Ward Elementary School.
$12,601
Per student
-29%
vs Nebraska
Avg $17,680
-24%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 53.2%
State 35.4%
Federal 11.4%
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 Ward Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sidney High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| West Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Central Elementary School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| North Ward Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Sidney Middle School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to South Ward Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 329
- Students per teacher
- 13.2:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 238
- Students per teacher
- 18.3:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 223
- Students per teacher
- 20.3:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 186
- Students per teacher
- 14.3:1
- Resource Index
- 56/100
- Enrollment
- 152
- Students per teacher
- 12.7:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
Similar elementary schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Nebraska, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~261 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on South Ward Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare South Ward Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Sidney Public Schools'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 Ward Elementary School
How many students attend South Ward Elementary School?
South Ward Elementary School has 261 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Sidney, NE.
What is the student-teacher ratio at South Ward Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at South Ward Elementary School is 20.1:1, which is 49% higher than the Nebraska average of 13.5:1 and 28% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at South Ward Elementary School?
45.1% of students at South Ward Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Nebraska average of 30.9%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of South Ward Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at South Ward Elementary School is White at 90.4% of enrollment, in Sidney, NE.
What is the Resource Investment Index for South Ward Elementary School?
South Ward Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 42/100 (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 Ward Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Sidney?
By Resource Investment Index, South Ward Elementary School ranks #3 of 3 elementary schools in Sidney, NE. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Sidney on the city page.
Is South Ward Elementary School a good school?
South Ward Elementary School earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 95% of Nebraska 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 Sidney Public Schools?
Besides South Ward Elementary School, Sidney Public Schools also operates Sidney High School (329 students), West Elementary School (238 students), and Central Elementary School (223 students). See the Sidney Public Schools 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.