Enrollment
532
South Dakota · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Watertown, SD
Watertown Intermediate School - 13
Federal NCES profile for Watertown Intermediate School - 13, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 31/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 467662001378
👥 S:T ratio 48
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 4
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Watertown Intermediate School - 13 earns 31/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the South Dakota median.
- #4 of 4
- elementary schools in Watertown · Resource Index
- 31
- Resource Index · Lower
- 13:1
- students per teacher
- 21.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Watertown Intermediate School - 13 has class sizes near the South Dakota median. Computed live against every South Dakota school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Watertown Intermediate School - 13 ranks #4 of 4 elementary schools in Watertown, SD.
School address
District: Watertown School District 14-4 · South Dakota
NCES ID 467662001378 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
41.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13:1
vs 13.6:1 South Dakota avg
-4% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
21.2%
vs 28.8% South Dakota avg
-26% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Watertown Intermediate School - 13 compares with South Dakota and U.S. medians
What stands out at Watertown Intermediate School - 13
Watertown Intermediate School - 13 is a large elementary school in Watertown, South Dakota, enrolling 532 students.
At 13:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the South Dakota median, within a few percentage points of the 13.6:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 21.2% lands close to the South Dakota typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in South Dakota, bigger than 91% of state schools at 532 students.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 691 scored South Dakota schools.
Among 82 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need South Dakota schools statewide, it ranks #71, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (80%) and Hispanic or Latino (9%) (diversity index 35/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 532 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 38.2% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Watertown School District 14-4 spends $9,475 per pupil, 30% below the South Dakota average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Its district draws 16.7% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Watertown's elementary schools, it stands alongside Lincoln Elementary - 05 (361 students): Watertown Intermediate School - 13 is larger than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (13:1 vs 17.2:1).
Watertown School District 14-4 also operates Watertown High School - 01 (1,222 students) and Watertown Middle School - 02 (575 students) alongside Watertown Intermediate School - 13.
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 Watertown Intermediate School - 13 compares
Watertown Intermediate School - 13 on the metrics families compare, against South Dakota and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs South Dakota | South Dakota avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13:1 | ▼ 4% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 21.2% | ▼ 26% | 28.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 532 | top 9% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13:1
Leaner classes than 67% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
532
Bigger than 66% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
21.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 26% 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
13:1
students per teacher
- 4% below state mean
Top 47% in South Dakota - lower ratio than 53% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
38.2%
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
$9,475
per pupil, district-wide
- below South Dakota avg of $13,477
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 532 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
29
in-school suspensions + 5 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 5.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 6.4 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 79.5%
Hispanic or Latino 8.6%
Two or More 7.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 3.4%
Asian 0.8%
African American 0.2%
Largest group: White at 79.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 35.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 35.4, Watertown Intermediate School - 13 is more mixed than the South Dakota school average of 27.6.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Watertown School District 14-4, which includes Watertown Intermediate School - 13.
$9,475
Per student
-30%
vs South Dakota
Avg $13,477
-43%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 49.1%
State 34.2%
Federal 16.7%
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 Watertown Intermediate School - 13 Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Watertown High School - 01 | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Watertown Middle School - 02 | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lincoln Elementary - 05 | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Jefferson Elementary - 09 | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Mckinley Elementary - 06 | Smaller | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Watertown Intermediate School - 13's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,222
- Students per teacher
- 16.7:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 575
- Students per teacher
- 16:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 361
- Students per teacher
- 17.2:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 333
- Students per teacher
- 16.6:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 296
- Students per teacher
- 16.4:1
- Resource Index
- 67/100
Similar elementary schools in Watertown
3 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Similar elementary schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of South Dakota, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~532 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Watertown Intermediate School - 13's federal record.
- Compare Watertown Intermediate School - 13 against another school. Compare schools
- Watertown School District 14-4'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 Watertown Intermediate School - 13
How many students attend Watertown Intermediate School - 13?
Watertown Intermediate School - 13 has 532 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Watertown, SD.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Watertown Intermediate School - 13?
The student-teacher ratio at Watertown Intermediate School - 13 is 13:1, which is 4% lower than the South Dakota average of 13.6:1 and 17% 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 Watertown Intermediate School - 13?
21.2% of students at Watertown Intermediate School - 13 are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Dakota average of 28.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Watertown Intermediate School - 13?
The largest demographic group at Watertown Intermediate School - 13 is White at 79.5% of enrollment, in Watertown, SD.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Watertown Intermediate School - 13?
Watertown Intermediate School - 13 has a Resource Investment Index of 31/100 (lower 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 Watertown Intermediate School - 13 rank among elementary schools in Watertown?
By Resource Investment Index, Watertown Intermediate School - 13 ranks #4 of 4 elementary schools in Watertown, SD. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Watertown on the city page.
Is Watertown Intermediate School - 13 a good school?
Watertown Intermediate School - 13 earns 31/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the South Dakota median. 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 Watertown School District 14-4?
Besides Watertown Intermediate School - 13, Watertown School District 14-4 also operates Watertown High School - 01 (1,222 students), Watertown Middle School - 02 (575 students), and Lincoln Elementary - 05 (361 students). See the Watertown School District 14-4 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.