- Enrollment
- 4,879
- Students per teacher
- 20.4:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Reading, PA
Southern Ms
Federal NCES profile for Southern Ms, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 39/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 422004000855
👥 S:T ratio 52
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 34
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Southern Ms earns 39/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 72% of Pennsylvania schools.
- #8 of 12
- elementary schools in Reading · Resource Index
- 39
- Resource Index · Typical
- 12:1
- small classes for Pennsylvania
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Southern Ms has class sizes smaller than 72% of Pennsylvania schools. Computed live against every Pennsylvania school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Southern Ms ranks #8 of 12 elementary schools in Reading, PA.
School address
District: Reading Sd · Pennsylvania
NCES ID 422004000855 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-61 students YoY
Southern Ms shrank from 759 students in 2022-23 to 698 in 2023-24 (-8.0%).
Teacher FTE lost 55.3 → 53.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-61 students YoY 422004000855 · Reading, PA Elementary · MID · TRAD
661 enr · 12:1 · 100.0% lunch · RII 39
Nearest enrollment peer: Reading Shs (4,879 students)
Southern Ms shrank from 759 students in 2022-23 to 698 in 2023-24 (-8.0%). Teacher FTE lost 55.3 → 53.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Pennsylvania schools → · Find another →
Southern Ms in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Reading Shs
Reading Shs
4,879 students
- Central Ms 1,785
Central Ms
1,785 students
- Northeast Ms 868
Northeast Ms
868 students
- Northwest Ms 821
Northwest Ms
821 students
- Amanda E Stout 758
Amanda E Stout El Sch
758 students
- This school 661
Southern Ms
661 students
What this shows Southern Ms reports 661 students on the CCD universe file.
How Southern Ms compares
Southern Ms is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Pennsylvania and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 12:1 | ▼ 12% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 72% | 58.1% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 661 | top 24% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12:1
Leaner classes than 75% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
661
Bigger than 78% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
100.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 72% above the Pennsylvania average of 58.1%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
12:1
students per teacher
- 12% below state mean
Top 28% in Pennsylvania - lower ratio than 72% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
59.8%
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
$14,509
per pupil, district-wide
- below Pennsylvania avg of $18,725
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 331 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
87
in-school suspensions + 198 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 13.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 43.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 12 expulsions.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 86.1%
African American 7.9%
White 4.2%
Two or More 1.8%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 86.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 25.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 25.0, Southern Ms is less mixed than the Pennsylvania school average of 37.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Reading Sd reports $14,509 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Southern Ms Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading Shs | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Central Ms | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Northeast Ms | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Northwest Ms | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Amanda E Stout El Sch | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Southern Ms's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,785
- Students per teacher
- 15:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 868
- Students per teacher
- 14:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 821
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 758
- Students per teacher
- 14.9:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
Similar elementary schools in Reading
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Central Ms
Standard public school
1,785 students 15:1 students per teacher
Muhlenberg El Ctr
Standard public school
1,241 students 18:1 students per teacher
C E Cole Intermediate Sch
Standard public school
986 students 17.6:1 students per teacher
Northeast Ms
Standard public school
868 students 14:1 students per teacher
Northwest Ms
Standard public school
821 students 15.8:1 students per teacher
Southwest Ms
Standard public school
574 students 13.3:1 students per teacher
Nationwide elementary 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 (~661 students)
Frequently asked questions about Southern Ms
How many students attend Southern Ms?
Southern Ms has 661 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Reading, PA. CCD year-over-year: 759 (2022-23) → 698 (2023-24), down 61.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Southern Ms?
The student-teacher ratio at Southern Ms is 12:1, which is 12% lower than the Pennsylvania average of 13.6:1 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 Ms?
100.0% of students at Southern Ms are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Pennsylvania average of 58.1%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Southern Ms?
The largest demographic group at Southern Ms is Hispanic or Latino at 86.1% of enrollment, in Reading, PA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Southern Ms?
Southern Ms has a Resource Investment Index of 39/100 (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 Ms rank among elementary schools in Reading?
By Resource Investment Index, Southern Ms ranks #8 of 12 elementary schools in Reading, PA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Reading on the city page.
What other schools are in Reading Sd?
Besides Southern Ms, Reading Sd also operates Reading Shs (4,879 students), Central Ms (1,785 students), and Northeast Ms (868 students). See the Reading Sd district page for the complete list.