- Enrollment
- 982
- Students per teacher
- 14.7:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Box Elder, SD
Vandenberg Elementary - 02
Federal NCES profile for Vandenberg Elementary - 02, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 28/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 461941000436
👥 S:T ratio 37
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 9
📋 Attendance 35
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Vandenberg Elementary - 02 earns 28/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 75% of South Dakota schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most South Dakota schools.
- #3 of 4
- public schools in Box Elder · Resource Index
- 28
- Resource Index · Lower
- 15.7:1
- large classes for South Dakota
- 21.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Vandenberg Elementary - 02 has class sizes larger than 75% of South Dakota schools. Computed live against every South Dakota school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Vandenberg Elementary - 02 ranks #3 of 4 public schools in Box Elder, SD.
School address
District: Douglas School District 51-1 · South Dakota
NCES ID 461941000436 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+1 students YoY
Vandenberg Elementary - 02 held near 442 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+1 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 29.4 → 28.6 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+1 students YoY 461941000436 · Box Elder, SD Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
454 enr · 15.7:1 · 21.8% lunch · RII 28
Nearest enrollment peer: Patriot Elementary -06 (982 students)
Vandenberg Elementary - 02 held near 442 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+1 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 29.4 → 28.6 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Dakota schools → · Find another →
Vandenberg Elementary - 02 in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Patriot Elemen
Patriot Elementary -06
982 students
- Douglas High S
Douglas High School - 03
739 students
- Douglas Middle
Douglas Middle School - 01
633 students
- This school
Vandenberg Elementary - 02
454 students
What this shows Vandenberg Elementary - 02 reports 454 students on the CCD universe file.
How Vandenberg Elementary - 02 compares
Vandenberg Elementary - 02 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 | 15.7:1 | ▲ 15% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 21.8% | ▼ 24% | 28.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 454 | top 12% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.7:1
Leaner classes than 41% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
454
Bigger than 55% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
21.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 24% 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
15.7:1
students per teacher
- 15% above state mean
Top 75% in South Dakota - lower ratio than 25% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
26.0%
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
$11,597
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 454 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 3 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
Student demographics
White 64.8%
Two or More 12.6%
Hispanic or Latino 9.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 9.9%
African American 1.8%
Asian 1.1%
Largest group: White at 64.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 54.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 54.4, Vandenberg Elementary - 02 is more mixed than the South Dakota school average of 27.6.
Programs
District finance for Douglas School District 51-1 reports $11,597 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Vandenberg Elementary - 02 Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patriot Elementary -06 | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Douglas High School - 03 | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Douglas Middle School - 01 | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Vandenberg Elementary - 02's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 739
- Students per teacher
- 16.8:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
- Enrollment
- 633
- Students per teacher
- 15.4:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
Similar elementary schools in Box Elder
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 (~454 students)
Frequently asked questions about Vandenberg Elementary - 02
How many students attend Vandenberg Elementary - 02?
Vandenberg Elementary - 02 has 454 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Box Elder, SD. CCD year-over-year: 441 (2022-23) → 442 (2023-24), nearly flat (+1).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Vandenberg Elementary - 02?
The student-teacher ratio at Vandenberg Elementary - 02 is 15.7:1, which is 15% higher than the South Dakota average of 13.6:1 and 0% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Vandenberg Elementary - 02?
21.8% of students at Vandenberg Elementary - 02 are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Dakota average of 28.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Vandenberg Elementary - 02?
The largest demographic group at Vandenberg Elementary - 02 is White at 64.8% of enrollment, in Box Elder, SD. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 54.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Vandenberg Elementary - 02?
Vandenberg Elementary - 02 has a Resource Investment Index of 28/100 (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 Vandenberg Elementary - 02 rank among public schools in Box Elder?
By Resource Investment Index, Vandenberg Elementary - 02 ranks #3 of 4 public schools in Box Elder, SD. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking.
What other schools are in Douglas School District 51-1?
Besides Vandenberg Elementary - 02, Douglas School District 51-1 also operates Patriot Elementary -06 (982 students), Douglas High School - 03 (739 students), and Douglas Middle School - 01 (633 students). See the Douglas School District 51-1 district page for the complete list.