- Enrollment
- 1,998
- Students per teacher
- 20:1
- Resource Index
- 18/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Rapid City, SD
Southwest Middle School - 38
Federal NCES profile for Southwest Middle School - 38, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 31/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 465982000457
👥 S:T ratio 28
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 65
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Southwest Middle School - 38 earns 31/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 90% of South Dakota schools.
- #2 of 5
- middle schools in Rapid City · Resource Index
- 31
- Resource Index · Lower
- 18.1:1
- large classes for South Dakota
- 9.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Southwest Middle School - 38 has class sizes larger than 90% of South Dakota schools. Computed live against every South Dakota school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Southwest Middle School - 38 ranks #2 of 5 middle schools in Rapid City, SD.
School address
District: Rapid City Area School District 51-4 · South Dakota
NCES ID 465982000457 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+5 students YoY
Southwest Middle School - 38 held near 665 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+5 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 34.5 → 37.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+5 students YoY 465982000457 · Rapid City, SD Middle · MID · TRAD
614 enr · 18.1:1 · 9.2% lunch · RII 31
Nearest enrollment peer: Central High School - 41 (1,998 students)
Southwest Middle School - 38 held near 665 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+5 headcount). Teacher FTE added 34.5 → 37.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Dakota schools → · Find another →
Southwest Middle School - 38 in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Central High S
Central High School - 41
1,998 students
- Stevens High S
Stevens High School - 42
1,771 students
- South Middle S 618
South Middle School - 36
618 students
- This school 614
Southwest Middle School - 38
614 students
- East Middle Sc 613
East Middle School - 30
613 students
- Valley View El 605
Valley View Elementary - 13
605 students
What this shows Southwest Middle School - 38 reports 614 students on the CCD universe file.
How Southwest Middle School - 38 compares
Southwest Middle School - 38 held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs South Dakota and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs South Dakota | South Dakota avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 18.1:1 | ▲ 33% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 9.2% | ▼ 68% | 28.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 614 | top 6% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.1:1
Leaner classes than 24% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
614
Bigger than 74% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
9.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 68% below the South Dakota average of 28.8%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
18.1:1
students per teacher
- 33% above state mean
Top 90% in South Dakota - lower ratio than 10% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
14.0%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$10,377
per pupil, district-wide
- below South Dakota avg of $13,985
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 614 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
37
in-school suspensions + 23 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 6.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 9.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 76.7%
Two or More 9.8%
Hispanic or Latino 6.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 3.6%
Asian 2.6%
African American 0.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: White at 76.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 39.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 39.6, Southwest Middle School - 38 is more mixed than the South Dakota school average of 27.6.
Programs
District finance for Rapid City Area School District 51-4 reports $10,377 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Southwest Middle School - 38 Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central High School - 41 | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Stevens High School - 42 | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| South Middle School - 36 | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| East Middle School - 30 | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Valley View Elementary - 13 | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Southwest Middle School - 38's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,771
- Students per teacher
- 19.9:1
- Resource Index
- 18/100
- Enrollment
- 618
- Students per teacher
- 14.7:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 613
- Students per teacher
- 15:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
- Enrollment
- 605
- Students per teacher
- 18.9:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
Similar middle schools in Rapid City
4 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
South Middle School - 36
Standard public school
618 students 14.7:1 students per teacher
East Middle School - 30
Standard public school
613 students 15:1 students per teacher
West Middle School - 37
Standard public school
591 students 15.6:1 students per teacher
North Middle School - 35
Standard public school
418 students 11.9:1 students per teacher
Nationwide middle 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 (~614 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~18.1:1)
Frequently asked questions about Southwest Middle School - 38
How many students attend Southwest Middle School - 38?
Southwest Middle School - 38 has 614 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Rapid City, SD. CCD year-over-year: 660 (2022-23) → 665 (2023-24), nearly flat (+5).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Southwest Middle School - 38?
The student-teacher ratio at Southwest Middle School - 38 is 18.1:1, which is 33% higher than the South Dakota average of 13.6:1 and 15% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Southwest Middle School - 38?
9.2% of students at Southwest Middle School - 38 are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Dakota average of 28.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Southwest Middle School - 38?
The largest demographic group at Southwest Middle School - 38 is White at 76.7% of enrollment, in Rapid City, SD.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Southwest Middle School - 38?
Southwest Middle School - 38 has a Resource Investment Index of 31/100 (lower 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 Southwest Middle School - 38 rank among middle schools in Rapid City?
By Resource Investment Index, Southwest Middle School - 38 ranks #2 of 5 middle schools in Rapid City, SD. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Rapid City on the city page.
What other schools are in Rapid City Area School District 51-4?
Besides Southwest Middle School - 38, Rapid City Area School District 51-4 also operates Central High School - 41 (1,998 students), Stevens High School - 42 (1,771 students), and South Middle School - 36 (618 students). See the Rapid City Area School District 51-4 district page for the complete list.