- Enrollment
- 787
- Students per teacher
- 17.9:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Spearfish, SD
West Elementary - 03
Federal NCES profile for West Elementary - 03, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 47/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 466693000392
👥 S:T ratio 60
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 36
📋 Attendance 64
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
West Elementary - 03 earns 47/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 78% of South Dakota schools.
- #2 of 4
- elementary schools in Spearfish · Resource Index
- 47
- Resource Index · Typical
- 10.1:1
- small classes for South Dakota
- 13.1%
- free-lunch eligible
West Elementary - 03 has class sizes smaller than 78% of South Dakota schools. Computed live against every South Dakota school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, West Elementary - 03 ranks #2 of 4 elementary schools in Spearfish, SD.
School address
District: Spearfish School District 40-2 · South Dakota
NCES ID 466693000392 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-4 students YoY
West Elementary - 03 held near 348 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-4 headcount).
Teacher FTE held 32.1 → 32.4 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-4 students YoY 466693000392 · Spearfish, SD Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
322 enr · 10.1:1 · 13.1% lunch · RII 47
Nearest enrollment peer: Spearfish High School - 01 (787 students)
West Elementary - 03 held near 348 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-4 headcount). Teacher FTE held 32.1 → 32.4 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Dakota schools → · Find another →
West Elementary - 03 in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Spearfish High
Spearfish High School - 01
787 students
- Creekside Elem
Creekside Elementary - 07
553 students
- Spearfish Midd
Spearfish Middle School - 05
545 students
- This school
West Elementary - 03
322 students
- Mountain View 168
Mountain View Elementary - 08
168 students
- Spearfish Acad 21
Spearfish Academy at Canyon Hills High School - 10
21 students
What this shows West Elementary - 03 reports 322 students on the CCD universe file.
How West Elementary - 03 compares
West Elementary - 03 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 | 10.1:1 | ▼ 26% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 13.1% | ▼ 55% | 28.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 322 | top 21% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
10.1:1
Leaner classes than 88% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
322
Bigger than 36% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
13.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 55% 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
10.1:1
students per teacher
- 26% below state mean
Top 22% in South Dakota - lower ratio than 78% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
14.3%
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
$9,680
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 322 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
9
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 87.9%
Two or More 5.0%
Hispanic or Latino 3.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 3.1%
Asian 0.3%
Largest group: White at 87.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 22.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 22.3, West Elementary - 03 is less mixed than the South Dakota school average of 27.6.
Programs
District finance for Spearfish School District 40-2 reports $9,680 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How West Elementary - 03 Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spearfish High School - 01 | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Creekside Elementary - 07 | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Spearfish Middle School - 05 | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Mountain View Elementary - 08 | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Spearfish Academy at Canyon Hills High School - 10 | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to West Elementary - 03's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 553
- Students per teacher
- 15.4:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 545
- Students per teacher
- 13.6:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 168
- Students per teacher
- 12:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 21
- Students per teacher
- 7:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
Similar elementary schools in Spearfish
3 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 (~322 students)
Frequently asked questions about West Elementary - 03
How many students attend West Elementary - 03?
West Elementary - 03 has 322 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Spearfish, SD. CCD year-over-year: 352 (2022-23) → 348 (2023-24), nearly flat (-4).
What is the student-teacher ratio at West Elementary - 03?
The student-teacher ratio at West Elementary - 03 is 10.1:1, which is 26% lower than the South Dakota average of 13.6:1 and 36% 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 West Elementary - 03?
13.1% of students at West Elementary - 03 are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Dakota average of 28.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of West Elementary - 03?
The largest demographic group at West Elementary - 03 is White at 87.9% of enrollment, in Spearfish, SD.
What is the Resource Investment Index for West Elementary - 03?
West Elementary - 03 has a Resource Investment Index of 47/100 (typical 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 West Elementary - 03 rank among elementary schools in Spearfish?
By Resource Investment Index, West Elementary - 03 ranks #2 of 4 elementary schools in Spearfish, 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 Spearfish on the city page.
What other schools are in Spearfish School District 40-2?
Besides West Elementary - 03, Spearfish School District 40-2 also operates Spearfish High School - 01 (787 students), Creekside Elementary - 07 (553 students), and Spearfish Middle School - 05 (545 students). See the Spearfish School District 40-2 district page for the complete list.