Enrollment
158
Elementary
DISTRICT 217 · STATE 167
SCHOOL COMMUNITY·LAUREL ELEM·NCES 301620001124
South School
606 SW Fifth, Laurel, MT 59044 · (406) 628-6917 · Yellowstone County
GRADES PK–KGELEMENTARY31-TOWNTITLE IREGULAR SCHOOL158 STUDENTS
·
allk12 Grade
Not graded
This school has no state test results for 2023-24 or 2024-25 to grade, which is common for schools that end before third grade. How grades work
Student : Teacher
13.3:1
12 FTE teachers
DISTRICT 14.5:1 · STATE 11.9:1
Free / Reduced Lunch
93%
147 students
DISTRICT 76% · STATE 58%
Community
0
0 members
Enrollment and student:teacher ratio compared against other elementary schools. Free/Reduced Lunch and demographics compared against all schools.
Enrollment by grade, 2024-25
| Grade | Students | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-K | 35 | 22% |
| Kindergarten | 123 | 78% |
Student demographics
26%Diversity index
The chance that two students picked at random belong to different racial or ethnic groups.
DISTRICT 23% · STATE 40% · US 70%
Student head counts by race/ethnicity from federal NCES enrollment data. District, state, and US figures are each group's share of all public school students in that area (US excludes territories). Very small groups may be suppressed in the source, so categories do not always sum exactly to total enrollment.
Gender split
School pathway
Students here typically continue to
Based on grade levels within Laurel Elem. Attendance zones can vary; confirm enrollment with the district.
Schools most like South School
| School | Students | Low-income | Proficient |
|---|---|---|---|
| South School this school | 158 | 93.0% | N/A |
| W F Morrison School Troy | 158 | 100.0% | N/A |
| Victor School Victor | 132 | 100.0% | N/A |
| Thompson Falls Elem Schl Thompson Falls | 240 | 91.3% | N/A |
| Fred W Graff School Laurel | 245 | 87.3% | N/A |
| Darby School Darby | 170 | 100.0% | N/A |
Matched among Montana elementary schools on enrollment, the share of students from low-income families (eligible for free or reduced-price lunch), and racial and ethnic makeup. Proficient is the average share of students meeting the state standard across all of the school's state tests in 2023-24 and 2024-25, the same combined score our test-score rankings use. Online schools and schools serving specialized populations are not matched.
Where South School ranks
Among elementary schools| Measure | This school | In Montana | In Yellowstone County |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 158 | #190 of 421 | #32 of 39 |
| Free and reduced lunch ranked highest share first | 93.0% | #57 of 226 | #4 of 35 |
Ranked against other public elementary schools. Online schools are left out of every list, and test-score lists leave out schools that serve specialized populations. Each rank links to the full list. Arrows under a test-score rank show places moved since the prior test year, among schools tested both years.
4-year change
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25Enrollment
158
+42 (+36%) vs 2020
Student : Teacher
13.3:1
was 14.5:1
Source: NCES Common Core of Data
Enrollment and staffing by year
| School year | Students | Teachers (FTE) | Students per teacher | Free and reduced lunch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 158 | 11.9 | 13.3:1 | 93% (147) |
| 2023-24 | 152 | 10.9 | 14.0:1 | 42% (64) |
| 2022-23 | 165 | 11 | 15.1:1 | N/A |
| 2020-21 | 116 | 8 | 14.5:1 | N/A |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data. Rows are the federal collections on file for South School.
About South School
In Laurel, Montana, South School is a medium-sized elementary school. The school serves 158 students in pre-K through kindergarten in 2024-25.
In Laurel Elem, 4 schools enroll a combined 1,157 students.
White students are the large majority at South School, with 85% of enrollment. Next come 7% Hispanic and 6% multiracial. The White share in Yellowstone County as a whole is similar, at about 86%. By the diversity index, South School comes in at 26%.
The school reported 11.9 full-time-equivalent teachers in 2024-25 and a ratio of 13.3:1. The 11.9:1 average for elementary schools in Montana is lower than this school's figure. Eligible students account for 93% of enrollment in the free or reduced-price lunch program. Compared with the 48% average for public schools in Yellowstone County, the school's rate is higher.
Census Bureau estimates for Yellowstone County show that median household income is about $76,570, 34% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and about 7% of residents live below the federal poverty line. A total of 68 public schools operate in Yellowstone County, serving about 23,853 students.
The closest public school to South School is West School, about 0.8 miles away. Within five miles of South School, there are 4 other public schools.
For locale, NCES codes South School as Town: Fringe.
Enrollment was 116 in 2020-21 and 158 in 2024-25, a rise of 42 students. The student-to-teacher ratio went down from 14.5:1 to 13.3:1.
Topics for discussion here include sports tryouts, band and choir, and theater. Alumni can share how the school prepared them.
Yellowstone County at a glance
View full county profilePopulation
168,957
Census ACS
Median income
$76,570
Household, ACS
Bachelor's+
34%
Adults 25+
Poverty rate
7%
Below federal line
Schools in county
68
23,853 students
Quick facts
Related schools
Other schools in Laurel Elem
- Laurel Middle SchoolMiddle · 506 students
- West SchoolElementary · 248 students
- Fred W Graff SchoolElementary · 245 students
Other schools in Laurel
- Laurel High SchoolHigh · 578 students
- Laurel Middle SchoolMiddle · 506 students
- West SchoolElementary · 248 students
- Fred W Graff SchoolElementary · 245 students
Other South schools
5 other US public schools in 5 states are named South. South School is the 5th largest of the 6.
- South SchoolNew Canaan, CT · 477 students
- SouthStoneham, MA · 347 students
- South SchoolRockland, ME · 311 students
- SouthSomerset, MA · 242 students
- South SchoolWestmont, IL · 53 students
Nearby schools
- West School0.8 mi · 248
- Fred W Graff School1.1 mi · 245
- Laurel High School1.2 mi · 578
- Laurel Middle School1.3 mi · 506
- Yellowstone Academy 7-86.5 mi · 16
- Yellowstone Academy Elem6.5 mi · 36
Frequently asked questions
About South SchoolHow large is South School?
South School enrolls approximately 158 students in grades PK-KG.
Is South School an elementary, middle, or high school?
South School is an elementary school covering grades PK-KG.
What is the student-teacher ratio at South School?
The student-to-teacher ratio at South School is approximately 13.3:1 (12 FTE teachers).
What is the racial breakdown of students at South School?
At South School, the student body is approximately 85% White, 7% Hispanic, 6% Two or more.
Is South School public or private?
South School is a public K-12 school, overseen by Laurel Elem.
Data sourceSchool profile facts are sourced from the NCES. Community content is posted by allk12 members.