- Enrollment
- 1,998
- Students per teacher
- 20:1
- Resource Index
- 18/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Rapid City, SD
West Middle School - 37
Federal NCES profile for West Middle School - 37, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 27/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 465982000822
👥 S:T ratio 38
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 40
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
West Middle School - 37 earns 27/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 74% of South Dakota schools.
- #3 of 5
- middle schools in Rapid City · Resource Index
- 27
- Resource Index · Lower
- 15.6:1
- large classes for South Dakota
- 19.8%
- free-lunch eligible
West Middle School - 37 has class sizes larger than 74% of South Dakota schools. Computed live against every South Dakota school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, West Middle School - 37 ranks #3 of 5 middle schools in Rapid City, SD.
School address
District: Rapid City Area School District 51-4 · South Dakota
NCES ID 465982000822 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-9 students YoY
West Middle School - 37 held near 603 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-9 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 38.5 → 35.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-9 students YoY 465982000822 · Rapid City, SD Middle · MID · TRAD
591 enr · 15.6:1 · 19.8% lunch · RII 27
Nearest enrollment peer: Central High School - 41 (1,998 students)
West Middle School - 37 held near 603 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-9 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 38.5 → 35.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Dakota schools → · Find another →
West Middle School - 37 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
- Southwest Midd 614
Southwest Middle School - 38
614 students
- East Middle Sc 613
East Middle School - 30
613 students
- This school 591
West Middle School - 37
591 students
What this shows West Middle School - 37 reports 591 students on the CCD universe file.
How West Middle School - 37 compares
West Middle School - 37 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 | 15.6:1 | ▲ 15% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 19.8% | ▼ 31% | 28.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 591 | top 7% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.6:1
Leaner classes than 41% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
591
Bigger than 72% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
19.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 31% 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
15.6:1
students per teacher
- 15% above state mean
Top 74% in South Dakota - lower ratio than 26% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
24.2%
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
$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 591 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
82
in-school suspensions + 18 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 13.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 16.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 71.2%
Two or More 11.5%
Hispanic or Latino 9.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 6.8%
African American 1.0%
Asian 0.2%
Largest group: White at 71.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 46.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 46.6, West Middle School - 37 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 West Middle School - 37 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 | Similar S:T ratio |
| Southwest Middle School - 38 | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| East Middle School - 30 | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to West Middle School - 37'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
- 614
- Students per teacher
- 18.1:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 613
- Students per teacher
- 15:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
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
Southwest Middle School - 38
Standard public school
614 students 18.1:1 students per teacher
East Middle School - 30
Standard public school
613 students 15:1 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 (~591 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15.6:1)
Frequently asked questions about West Middle School - 37
How many students attend West Middle School - 37?
West Middle School - 37 has 591 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Rapid City, SD. CCD year-over-year: 612 (2022-23) → 603 (2023-24), nearly flat (-9).
What is the student-teacher ratio at West Middle School - 37?
The student-teacher ratio at West Middle School - 37 is 15.6:1, which is 15% higher than the South Dakota average of 13.6:1 and 1% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at West Middle School - 37?
19.8% of students at West Middle School - 37 are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Dakota average of 28.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of West Middle School - 37?
The largest demographic group at West Middle School - 37 is White at 71.2% of enrollment, in Rapid City, SD.
What is the Resource Investment Index for West Middle School - 37?
West Middle School - 37 has a Resource Investment Index of 27/100 (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 West Middle School - 37 rank among middle schools in Rapid City?
By Resource Investment Index, West Middle School - 37 ranks #3 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 West Middle School - 37, 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.