- Enrollment
- 2,370
- Students per teacher
- 18.4:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Lexington, KY
Southern Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Southern Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 34/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 210186000377
👥 S:T ratio 52
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 5
📋 Attendance 50
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Southern Elementary School earns 34/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 82% of Kentucky schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Kentucky schools.
- #17 of 38
- schools in Lexington · Resource Index
- 34
- Resource Index · Typical
- 11.9:1
- small classes for Kentucky
- 58.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Southern Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 82% of Kentucky schools. Computed live against every Kentucky school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Southern Elementary School ranks #17 of 38 schools in Lexington, KY.
School address
District: Fayette County · Kentucky
NCES ID 210186000377 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-36 students YoY
Southern Elementary School shrank from 526 students in 2022-23 to 490 in 2023-24 (-6.8%).
Teacher FTE added 40.5 → 45.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-36 students YoY 210186000377 · Lexington, KY Other · SMALL · TRAD
476 enr · 11.9:1 · 58.7% lunch · RII 34
Nearest enrollment peer: Lafayette High School (2,370 students)
Southern Elementary School shrank from 526 students in 2022-23 to 490 in 2023-24 (-6.8%). Teacher FTE added 40.5 → 45.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Kentucky schools → · Find another →
Southern Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Lafayette High
Lafayette High School
2,370 students
- Bryan Station
Bryan Station High School
2,030 students
- Henry Clay Hig
Henry Clay High School
1,939 students
- Paul Laurence
Paul Laurence Dunbar High School
1,828 students
- Frederick Doug
Frederick Douglass High School
1,770 students
- This school 476
Southern Elementary School
476 students
What this shows Southern Elementary School reports 476 students on the CCD universe file.
How Southern Elementary School compares
Southern Elementary School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Kentucky and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Kentucky | Kentucky avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 11.9:1 | ▼ 22% | 15.2:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 58.7% | ▼ 1% | 59.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 476 | top 42% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.9:1
Leaner classes than 76% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
476
Bigger than 59% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
58.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 1% below the Kentucky average of 59.2%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
11.9:1
students per teacher
- 22% below state mean
Top 18% in Kentucky - lower ratio than 82% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
20.2%
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
$18,318
per pupil, district-wide
- above Kentucky avg of $14,362
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 476 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
23
in-school suspensions + 3 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 4.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 32.8%
African American 28.8%
Hispanic or Latino 19.7%
Two or More 12.0%
Asian 6.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: White at 32.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 75.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 75.3, Southern Elementary School is more mixed than the Kentucky school average of 34.5.
Programs
District finance for Fayette County reports $18,318 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Southern Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lafayette High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Bryan Station High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Henry Clay High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Paul Laurence Dunbar High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Frederick Douglass High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Southern Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,030
- Students per teacher
- 19:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
- Enrollment
- 1,939
- Students per teacher
- 16.2:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 1,828
- Students per teacher
- 17.1:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 1,770
- Students per teacher
- 19.5:1
- Resource Index
- 19/100
Similar other schools in Lexington
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Sandersville Elementary
Standard public school
765 students 15:1 students per teacher
Coventry Oak Elementary
Standard public school
755 students 13.7:1 students per teacher
Stonewall Elementary School
Standard public school
674 students 14:1 students per teacher
Cardinal Valley Elementary School
Standard public school
643 students 11.7:1 students per teacher
Tates Creek Elementary School
Standard public school
626 students 12:1 students per teacher
Lansdowne Elementary School
Standard public school
610 students 12.2:1 students per teacher
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 (~476 students)
Frequently asked questions about Southern Elementary School
How many students attend Southern Elementary School?
Southern Elementary School has 476 students enrolled. It is a public school in Lexington, KY. CCD year-over-year: 526 (2022-23) → 490 (2023-24), down 36.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Southern Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Southern Elementary School is 11.9:1, which is 22% lower than the Kentucky average of 15.2:1 and 24% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Southern Elementary School?
58.7% of students at Southern Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Kentucky average of 59.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Southern Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Southern Elementary School is White at 32.8% of enrollment, in Lexington, KY. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 75.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Southern Elementary School?
Southern Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 34/100 (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 Southern Elementary School rank among schools in Lexington?
By Resource Investment Index, Southern Elementary School ranks #17 of 38 schools in Lexington, KY. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Lexington on the city page.
What other schools are in Fayette County?
Besides Southern Elementary School, Fayette County also operates Lafayette High School (2,370 students), Bryan Station High School (2,030 students), and Henry Clay High School (1,939 students). See the Fayette County district page for the complete list.