- Enrollment
- 1,003
- Students per teacher
- 11.9:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Palestine, TX
Southside El
Federal NCES profile for Southside El, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 45/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 483405003790
👥 S:T ratio 46
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 12
📋 Attendance 52
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Southside El earns 45/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Texas median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Texas schools.
- #1 of 4
- elementary schools in Palestine · Resource Index
- 45
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.4:1
- students per teacher
- 80.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Southside El has class sizes near the Texas median. Computed live against every Texas school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Southside El ranks #1 of 4 elementary schools in Palestine, TX.
School address
District: Palestine Isd · Texas
NCES ID 483405003790 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+13 students YoY
Southside El held near 460 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+13 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 33.0 → 29.4 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+13 students YoY 483405003790 · Palestine, TX Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
442 enr · 13.4:1 · 80.8% lunch · RII 45
Nearest enrollment peer: Palestine H S (1,003 students)
Southside El held near 460 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+13 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 33.0 → 29.4 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Texas schools → · Find another →
Southside El in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Palestine H S
Palestine H S
1,003 students
- Story Int
Story Int
670 students
- Palestine J H
Palestine J H
456 students
- This school
Southside El
442 students
- Northside Pri 400
Northside Pri
400 students
- Washington Ear 215
Washington Early Childhood Center
215 students
What this shows Southside El reports 442 students on the CCD universe file.
How Southside El compares
Southside El held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Texas and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Texas | Texas avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.4:1 | ▼ 9% | 14.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 80.8% | ▲ 31% | 61.9% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 442 | top 58% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.4:1
Leaner classes than 63% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
442
Bigger than 54% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
80.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 31% above the Texas average of 61.9%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
13.4:1
students per teacher
- 9% below state mean
Top 39% in Texas - lower ratio than 61% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
19.2%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$14,146
per pupil, district-wide
- below Texas avg of $14,348
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 442 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
11
in-school suspensions + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 41.0%
White 29.2%
African American 21.9%
Two or More 6.3%
Asian 1.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 41.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 69.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 69.5, Southside El is more mixed than the Texas school average of 44.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Palestine Isd reports $14,146 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Southside El Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palestine H S | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Story Int | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Palestine J H | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Northside Pri | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Washington Early Childhood Center | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Southside El's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 670
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 456
- Students per teacher
- 9.9:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 400
- Students per teacher
- 13.8:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 215
- Students per teacher
- 14.3:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
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 (~442 students)
Frequently asked questions about Southside El
How many students attend Southside El?
Southside El has 442 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Palestine, TX. CCD year-over-year: 447 (2022-23) → 460 (2023-24), nearly flat (+13).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Southside El?
The student-teacher ratio at Southside El is 13.4:1, which is 9% lower than the Texas average of 14.7:1 and 15% 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 El?
80.8% of students at Southside El are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Texas average of 61.9%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Southside El?
The largest demographic group at Southside El is Hispanic or Latino at 41.0% of enrollment, in Palestine, TX. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 69.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Southside El?
Southside El has a Resource Investment Index of 45/100 (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 Southside El rank among elementary schools in Palestine?
By Resource Investment Index, Southside El ranks #1 of 4 elementary schools in Palestine, TX. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Palestine on the city page.
What other schools are in Palestine Isd?
Besides Southside El, Palestine Isd also operates Palestine H S (1,003 students), Story Int (670 students), and Palestine J H (456 students). See the Palestine Isd district page for the complete list.