- Enrollment
- 871
- Students per teacher
- 14.8:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Sparta, WI
Southside Early Learning Center
Federal NCES profile for Southside Early Learning Center, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 55/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 551416001841
👥 S:T ratio 57
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 49
📋 Attendance 83
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Southside Early Learning Center earns 55/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 83% of Wisconsin schools.
- #1 of 3
- schools in Sparta · Resource Index
- 55
- Resource Index · Higher
- 10.7:1
- small classes for Wisconsin
- 47.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Southside Early Learning Center has class sizes smaller than 83% of Wisconsin schools. Computed live against every Wisconsin school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Southside Early Learning Center ranks #1 of 3 schools in Sparta, WI.
School address
District: Sparta Area School District · Wisconsin
NCES ID 551416001841 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+6 students YoY
Southside Early Learning Center held near 298 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+6 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 25.6 → 22.1 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+6 students YoY 551416001841 · Sparta, WI Other · SMALL · TRAD
268 enr · 10.7:1 · 47.6% lunch · RII 55
Nearest enrollment peer: Sparta High (871 students)
Southside Early Learning Center held near 298 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+6 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 25.6 → 22.1 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Wisconsin schools → · Find another →
Southside Early Learning Center in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Sparta High
Sparta High
871 students
- Sparta Meadowv
Sparta Meadowview Middle
687 students
- Herrman Elemen
Herrman Elementary
616 students
- This school 268
Southside Early Learning Center
268 students
- Sparta Montess 161
Sparta Montessori School
161 students
- Innovations St 90
Innovations Stem Academy
90 students
What this shows Southside Early Learning Center reports 268 students on the CCD universe file.
How Southside Early Learning Center compares
Southside Early Learning Center held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Wisconsin and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Wisconsin | Wisconsin avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 10.7:1 | ▼ 26% | 14.4:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 47.6% | ▲ 24% | 38.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 268 | top 57% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
10.7:1
Leaner classes than 85% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
268
Bigger than 28% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
47.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 24% above the Wisconsin average of 38.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
10.7:1
students per teacher
- 26% below state mean
Top 17% in Wisconsin - lower ratio than 83% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
6.7%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
Funding equity
$14,085
per pupil, district-wide
- below Wisconsin avg of $15,645
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.1 FTE
Per 255 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
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.
Student demographics
White 69.8%
Hispanic or Latino 23.5%
Two or More 3.4%
Asian 2.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Largest group: White at 69.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 45.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 45.6, Southside Early Learning Center is more mixed than the Wisconsin school average of 35.7.
Programs
District finance for Sparta Area School District reports $14,085 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Southside Early Learning Center Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sparta High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Sparta Meadowview Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Herrman Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Sparta Montessori School | Smaller | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Innovations Stem Academy | Smaller | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Southside Early Learning Center's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 687
- Students per teacher
- 9.8:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
- Enrollment
- 616
- Students per teacher
- 10.4:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
- Enrollment
- 161
- Students per teacher
- 20.1:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 90
- Students per teacher
- 22.5:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
Similar other schools in Sparta
2 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
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 (~268 students)
Frequently asked questions about Southside Early Learning Center
How many students attend Southside Early Learning Center?
Southside Early Learning Center has 268 students enrolled. It is a public school in Sparta, WI. CCD year-over-year: 292 (2022-23) → 298 (2023-24), nearly flat (+6).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Southside Early Learning Center?
The student-teacher ratio at Southside Early Learning Center is 10.7:1, which is 26% lower than the Wisconsin average of 14.4:1 and 32% 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 Southside Early Learning Center?
47.6% of students at Southside Early Learning Center are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Wisconsin average of 38.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Southside Early Learning Center?
The largest demographic group at Southside Early Learning Center is White at 69.8% of enrollment, in Sparta, WI.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Southside Early Learning Center?
Southside Early Learning Center has a Resource Investment Index of 55/100 (higher 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 Southside Early Learning Center rank among schools in Sparta?
By Resource Investment Index, Southside Early Learning Center ranks #1 of 3 schools in Sparta, WI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Sparta on the city page.
What other schools are in Sparta Area School District?
Besides Southside Early Learning Center, Sparta Area School District also operates Sparta High (871 students), Sparta Meadowview Middle (687 students), and Herrman Elementary (616 students). See the Sparta Area School District district page for the complete list.