Enrollment
412
Kentucky · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Shelbyville, KY
Southside Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Southside Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 48/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 210532002077
👥 S:T ratio 43
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 18
📋 Attendance 63
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Southside Elementary earns 48/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Kentucky median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Kentucky schools.
- #3 of 5
- elementary schools in Shelbyville · Resource Index
- 48
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.2:1
- students per teacher
- 60.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Southside Elementary has class sizes near the Kentucky median. Computed live against every Kentucky school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Southside Elementary ranks #3 of 5 elementary schools in Shelbyville, KY.
School address
District: Shelby County · Kentucky
NCES ID 210532002077 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
29.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
14.2:1
vs 15.2:1 Kentucky avg
-7% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
60.3%
vs 59.2% Kentucky avg
+2% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Southside Elementary compares with Kentucky and U.S. medians
What stands out at Southside Elementary
Southside Elementary is a higher-need, mid-sized elementary school in Shelbyville, Kentucky, enrolling 412 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 14.2:1 puts it in the smaller third of Kentucky schools by student-teacher ratio.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 60.3% lands close to the Kentucky typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
With 412 students, its enrollment sits close to the Kentucky median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 1,389 scored Kentucky schools.
Against 475 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #127.
Its student body is led by White (47%) and Hispanic or Latino (36%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 63/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 412 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
15.0% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
Its district draws 16.9% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Shelbyville's elementary schools, it stands alongside Marnel C. Moorman School (803 students): Southside Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (14.2:1 vs 16.4:1).
Shelby County also operates Martha Layne Collins High School (1,157 students) and Shelby County High School (1,003 students) alongside Southside Elementary.
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 Southside Elementary compares
Southside Elementary on the metrics families compare, against Kentucky and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Kentucky | Kentucky avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14.2:1 | ▼ 7% | 15.2:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 60.3% | ▲ 2% | 59.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 412 | top 54% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.2:1
Leaner classes than 55% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
412
Bigger than 49% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
60.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 2% above the Kentucky average of 59.2%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
14.2:1
students per teacher
- 7% below state mean
Top 38% in Kentucky - lower ratio than 62% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
15.0%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$12,646
per pupil, district-wide
- below Kentucky avg of $13,211
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 412 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 2 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.5 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 47.3%
Hispanic or Latino 36.2%
Two or More 10.0%
African American 6.6%
Largest group: White at 47.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 63.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 63.1, Southside Elementary is more mixed than the Kentucky school average of 34.5.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Shelby County, which includes Southside Elementary.
$12,646
Per student
-4%
vs Kentucky
Avg $13,211
-24%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 39.0%
State 44.0%
Federal 16.9%
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 Southside Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Martha Layne Collins High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Shelby County High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Marnel C. Moorman School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Shelby County West Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Shelby County East Middle School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Southside Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,157
- Students per teacher
- 17.8:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 1,003
- Students per teacher
- 18.6:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 803
- Students per teacher
- 16.4:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 563
- Students per teacher
- 18.2:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 505
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
Similar elementary schools in Shelbyville
4 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Marnel C. Moorman School
Standard public school
803 students 16.4:1 students per teacher
Wright Elementary
Standard public school
489 students 15.8:1 students per teacher
Painted Stone Elementary
Standard public school
458 students 13.1:1 students per teacher
Clear Creek Elementary
Standard public school
425 students 15.7:1 students per teacher
Similar elementary schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Kentucky, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~412 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Southside Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Southside Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Shelby County'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 Southside Elementary
How many students attend Southside Elementary?
Southside Elementary has 412 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Shelbyville, KY.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Southside Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Southside Elementary is 14.2:1, which is 7% lower than the Kentucky average of 15.2:1 and 10% 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 Elementary?
60.3% of students at Southside Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Kentucky average of 59.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Southside Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Southside Elementary is White at 47.3% of enrollment, in Shelbyville, KY. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 63.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Southside Elementary?
Southside Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 48/100 (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 Southside Elementary rank among elementary schools in Shelbyville?
By Resource Investment Index, Southside Elementary ranks #3 of 5 elementary schools in Shelbyville, KY. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Shelbyville on the city page.
Is Southside Elementary a good school?
Southside Elementary earns 48/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Kentucky median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Kentucky 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 Shelby County?
Besides Southside Elementary, Shelby County also operates Martha Layne Collins High School (1,157 students), Shelby County High School (1,003 students), and Marnel C. Moorman School (803 students). See the Shelby County 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.