- Enrollment
- 2,068
- Students per teacher
- 19.7:1
- Resource Index
- 18/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Grand Rapids, MI
Southwood Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Southwood Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 17/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 262034005718
👥 S:T ratio 36
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Southwood Elementary earns 17/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Michigan median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Michigan schools.
- #23 of 24
- elementary schools in Grand Rapids · Resource Index
- 17
- Resource Index · Lower
- 15.9:1
- students per teacher
- 77.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Southwood Elementary has class sizes near the Michigan median. Computed live against every Michigan school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Southwood Elementary ranks #23 of 24 elementary schools in Grand Rapids, MI.
School address
District: Kentwood Public Schools · Michigan
NCES ID 262034005718 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-31 students YoY
Southwood Elementary shrank from 332 students in 2022-23 to 301 in 2023-24 (-9.3%).
Teacher FTE lost 19.4 → 18.4 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-31 students YoY 262034005718 · Grand Rapids, MI Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
302 enr · 15.9:1 · 77.1% lunch · RII 17
Nearest enrollment peer: East Kentwood High School (2,068 students)
Southwood Elementary shrank from 332 students in 2022-23 to 301 in 2023-24 (-9.3%). Teacher FTE lost 19.4 → 18.4 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Michigan schools → · Find another →
Southwood Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- East Kentwood
East Kentwood High School
2,068 students
- Pinewood Middl
Pinewood Middle School
842 students
- East Kentwood 742
East Kentwood Freshman Campus
742 students
- Crestwood Midd 700
Crestwood Middle School
700 students
- Discovery Elem 674
Discovery Elementary
674 students
- This school 302
Southwood Elementary
302 students
What this shows Southwood Elementary reports 302 students on the CCD universe file.
How Southwood Elementary compares
Southwood Elementary is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Michigan and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Michigan | Michigan avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.9:1 | ▼ 9% | 17.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 77.1% | ▲ 42% | 54.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 302 | top 59% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.9:1
Leaner classes than 39% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
302
Bigger than 33% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
77.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 42% above the Michigan average of 54.3%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
15.9:1
students per teacher
- 9% below state mean
Top 41% in Michigan - lower ratio than 59% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
48.7%
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
$14,957
per pupil, district-wide
- below Michigan avg of $15,012
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.2 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
3
in-school suspensions + 21 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 7.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 36.1%
Hispanic or Latino 25.8%
African American 22.5%
Two or More 10.9%
Asian 4.6%
Largest group: White at 36.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 73.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 73.8, Southwood Elementary is more mixed than the Michigan school average of 36.2.
Programs
District finance for Kentwood Public Schools reports $14,957 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Southwood Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Kentwood High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Pinewood Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| East Kentwood Freshman Campus | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Crestwood Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Discovery Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Southwood Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 842
- Students per teacher
- 20:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 742
- Students per teacher
- 17.3:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
- Enrollment
- 700
- Students per teacher
- 17.1:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 674
- Students per teacher
- 18.2:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
Similar elementary schools in Grand Rapids
1 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
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 (~302 students)
Frequently asked questions about Southwood Elementary
How many students attend Southwood Elementary?
Southwood Elementary has 302 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Grand Rapids, MI. CCD year-over-year: 332 (2022-23) → 301 (2023-24), down 31.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Southwood Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Southwood Elementary is 15.9:1, which is 9% lower than the Michigan average of 17.5:1 and 1% higher 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 Southwood Elementary?
77.1% of students at Southwood Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Michigan average of 54.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Southwood Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Southwood Elementary is White at 36.1% of enrollment, in Grand Rapids, MI. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 73.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Southwood Elementary?
Southwood Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 17/100 (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 Southwood Elementary rank among elementary schools in Grand Rapids?
By Resource Investment Index, Southwood Elementary ranks #23 of 24 elementary schools in Grand Rapids, MI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Grand Rapids on the city page.
What other schools are in Kentwood Public Schools?
Besides Southwood Elementary, Kentwood Public Schools also operates East Kentwood High School (2,068 students), Pinewood Middle School (842 students), and East Kentwood Freshman Campus (742 students). See the Kentwood Public Schools district page for the complete list.