South Side Elementary School

Summary:

South Side Elementary School is a public elementary school in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, serving 654 students in grades K-5 as part of the Central Dauphin School District.

Despite spending more per student than the state average, South Side Elementary consistently ranks in the bottom quarter of Pennsylvania elementary schools, with a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger. The school's performance on PSSA tests is significantly below the state and district averages, with only 26.6% of students proficient or better in PSSA Math, compared to 35.6% in the district and 40.4% statewide. This low academic performance may be linked to the school's high percentage of economically disadvantaged students, with 99.69% qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch.

Interestingly, while South Side Elementary as a whole struggles, its African American and Hispanic students perform relatively better compared to their peers in the state. Additionally, other elementary schools in the Central Dauphin School District, such as Paxtang, Rutherford, and North Side, generally outperform South Side Elementary on academic measures, suggesting that the school may face unique challenges that require further investigation and targeted support.


Detail:

Public K-5

 4525 Union Deposit Rd
       Harrisburg, PA  17111-2911


(717) 657-3204

District: Central Dauphin School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
1154th of 1,526 Pennsylvania Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $12,233 Help


Students who attend South Side Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:    Central Dauphin East Middle School
High:    Central Dauphin East Senior High School

Student/teacher ratio:  14.1 Help
Number of students:  654

Racial breakdown:

African American:
33.6%
Asian:
24.9%
Hispanic:
15.4%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  99.7% Help


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Performance Trends
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Compare Details South Side Elementary School ranks worse than 75.6% of elementary schools in Pennsylvania. It also ranks 10th among 13 ranked elementary schools in the Central Dauphin School District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 24.45. (See more...)
Student Body
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Compare Details Student population at South Side Elementary School is diverse. Racial makeup is: African American (33.6%), Asian (24.9%), Hispanic (15.4%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 99.7% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at South Side Elementary School is 14.1, which is the 5th best among 13 elementary schools in the Central Dauphin School District. (See more...)
Help
Compare South Side Elementary School employs 46.3 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at South Side Elementary School is $12,233, which is the lowest among 13 elementary schools in the Central Dauphin School District!
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

South Side Elementary School:

SchoolDigger ranks South Side Elementary School 1154th of 1526 Pennsylvania public elementary schools. (See South Side Elementary School in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Multi-racial students:
English Language Learner students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Disabled students:
Male students:
Asian students:
African American students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Central Dauphin School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Central Dauphin School District 372nd of 610 Pennsylvania school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for South Side Elementary School

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Rank History for all students at South Side Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2003 41.72 867th 1302 33.4%
2004 23.78 1063rd 1308 18.7%
2005 29.14 1038th 1299 20.1%
2006 32.53 1241st 1545 19.7%
2007 26.28 1305th 1555 16.1%
2008 22.93 1321st 1551 14.8%
2009 22.26 1332nd 1549 14.0%
2010 33.27 1264th 1579 19.9%
2011 29.88 1307th 1597 18.2%
2012 30.51 1293rd 1599 19.1%
2013 41.64 1093rd 1519 28.0%
2014 29.14 1170th 1467 20.2%
2015 30.19 1104th 1474 25.1%
2016 29.70 1182nd 1554 23.9%
2017 37.41 1102nd 1547 28.8%
2018 36.83 1094th 1530 28.5%
2019 28.02 1174th 1544 24.0%
2021 24.77 1110th 1433 22.5%
2022 30.80 1108th 1534 27.8%
2023 28.68 1137th 1534 25.9%
2024 24.45 1154th 1526 24.4%
See the entire list of Pennsylvania Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at South Side Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 52.78 43rd 117 63.2%
2024 38.77 74th 128 42.2%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Elementary Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at South Side Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 50.69 77th 196 60.7%
2024 56.10 72nd 200 64.0%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Elementary Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at South Side Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 38.68 949th 1414 32.9%
2024 36.65 994th 1432 30.6%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at South Side Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 23.93 1150th 1488 22.7%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at South Side Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 15.93 939th 1043 10.0%
2024 13.66 1013th 1084 6.5%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Elementary Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Male students at South Side Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 24.71 1145th 1495 23.4%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at South Side Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 2.91 158th 160 1.3%
2024 4.94 165th 168 1.8%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Elementary Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for African American students at South Side Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 63.00 122nd 437 72.1%
2024 60.59 128th 437 70.7%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at South Side Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 45.07 233rd 432 46.1%
2024 48.61 225th 454 50.4%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at South Side Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 39.20 827th 1236 33.1%
2024 25.90 1011th 1229 17.7%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Pennsylvania Dept of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

South Side Elementary School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 






Data source: Pennsylvania Dept of Education

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Enrollment information for South Side Elementary School

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 513 103 3 4 0 n/a n/a 0 623
1989 505 92 5 4 0 n/a n/a 0 606
1990 529 109 7 5 2 n/a n/a 0 652
1991 494 115 5 5 2 n/a n/a 0 621
1992 500 103 3 4 5 n/a n/a 0 615
1993 514 116 7 6 5 n/a n/a 0 648
1994 507 137 8 15 5 n/a n/a 0 672
1995 482 169 21 41 6 n/a n/a 0 719
1996 482 169 21 41 6 n/a n/a 0 719
1997 455 190 35 50 3 n/a n/a 0 733
1998 481 214 26 48 0 n/a n/a 0 769
1999 489 225 22 53 1 n/a n/a 0 790
2000 452 212 21 38 0 n/a n/a 0 723
2001 428 236 18 48 2 n/a n/a 0 732
2002 377 261 35 56 2 n/a n/a 0 731
2003 377 261 35 56 2 n/a n/a 0 731
2004 354 269 41 56 1 n/a n/a 0 721
2005 264 217 26 40 0 n/a n/a 0 547
2006 227 220 36 49 1 n/a n/a 0 533
2007 248 298 38 54 3 n/a n/a 0 641
2008 215 253 24 61 3 n/a n/a 0 556
2009 182 186 23 52 5 n/a n/a 73 521
2010 176 217 29 54 3 n/a n/a 82 561
2011 173 236 26 85 2 0 86 0 608
2012 178 208 25 101 1 0 78 0 591
2013 165 185 30 96 1 0 77 0 554
2014 152 212 30 108 0 0 81 0 583
2015 145 225 32 140 2 0 91 0 635
2016 138 241 39 127 3 0 95 0 643
2017 149 240 53 126 2 0 77 0 647
2018 149 245 74 145 3 0 90 0 706
2019 147 293 104 140 2 0 93 0 779
2020 133 299 149 141 2 0 92 0 816
2021 122 275 189 136 0 0 85 0 807
2022 112 290 192 123 0 0 89 0 806
2023 92 220 163 101 1 0 77 0 654

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at South Side Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 623 32.4 19.2 n/a
1989 606 34.7 17.4 n/a
1990 652 36.5 17.8 0
1991 621 36.6 16.9 n/a
1992 615 35.5 17.3 n/a
1993 648 39.0 16.6 n/a
1994 672 37.0 18.2 n/a
1995 719 40.0 18.0 n/a
1996 719 40.0 18.0 n/a
1997 733 37.6 19.5 n/a
1998 769 43.6 17.6 n/a
1999 790 43.6 18.1 n/a
2000 723 43.6 16.6 27.1
2001 732 42.0 17.4 27.7
2002 731 41.1 17.8 35.6
2003 731 41.1 17.8 35.6
2004 721 39.0 18.5 28.7
2005 547 34.7 15.8 47.5
2006 533 31.4 17.0 44.1
2007 641 39.1 16.4 42.3
2008 556 40.5 13.7 45.9
2009 521 38.9 13.4 56.9
2010 561 39.5 14.2 64.3
2011 608 43.0 14.1 53.1
2012 591 41.0 14.4 58
2013 554 37.0 14.9 61.7
2014 583 37.2 15.6 63.8
2015 635 42.0 15.1 64.4
2016 643 42.0 15.3 71.2
2017 647 41.9 15.4 74.3
2018 706 46.4 15.2 100
2019 779 45.0 17.3 99.9
2020 816 47.0 17.3 99.8
2021 807 50.9 15.8 100
2022 806 50.0 16.1 99.6
2023 654 46.3 14.1 99.7

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio South Side Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 623 32.4 19.2 n/a
1989 606 34.7 17.4 n/a
1990 652 36.5 17.8 0
1991 621 36.6 16.9 n/a
1992 615 35.5 17.3 n/a
1993 648 39.0 16.6 n/a
1994 672 37.0 18.2 n/a
1995 719 40.0 18.0 n/a
1996 719 40.0 18.0 n/a
1997 733 37.6 19.5 n/a
1998 769 43.6 17.6 n/a
1999 790 43.6 18.1 n/a
2000 723 43.6 16.6 27.1
2001 732 42.0 17.4 27.7
2002 731 41.1 17.8 35.6
2003 731 41.1 17.8 35.6
2004 721 39.0 18.5 28.7
2005 547 34.7 15.8 47.5
2006 533 31.4 17.0 44.1
2007 641 39.1 16.4 42.3
2008 556 40.5 13.7 45.9
2009 521 38.9 13.4 56.9
2010 561 39.5 14.2 64.3
2011 608 43.0 14.1 53.1
2012 591 41.0 14.4 58
2013 554 37.0 14.9 61.7
2014 583 37.2 15.6 63.8
2015 635 42.0 15.1 64.4
2016 643 42.0 15.3 71.2
2017 647 41.9 15.4 74.3
2018 706 46.4 15.2 100
2019 779 45.0 17.3 99.9
2020 816 47.0 17.3 99.8
2021 807 50.9 15.8 100
2022 806 50.0 16.1 99.6
2023 654 46.3 14.1 99.7

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for South Side Elementary School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $882 (7.8%) $10,476 (92.2%) $11,359
2020 $793 (6.9%) $10,756 (93.1%) $11,549
2021 $850 (7.4%) $10,618 (92.6%) $11,468
2022 $1,744 (14.3%) $10,489 (85.7%) $12,233

Data source: Pennsylvania Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on South Side Elementary School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 1174th of 1544 Elementary schoolsRanks 1137th of 1534 Elementary schools
 1.9%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade Math (South Side Elementary School)44.744
 0.7%
   3rd Grade Math (Pennsylvania)5651.7
 4.3%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (South Side Elementary School)5043.9
 6.1%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)61.954
 7.9%
4th Grade Math (South Side Elementary School)33.720
 13.7%
   4th Grade Math (Pennsylvania)46.246.5
 0.3%
4th Grade Science (South Side Elementary School)70.260
 10.2%
   4th Grade Science (Pennsylvania)77.874.1
 3.7%
4th Grade English Language Arts (South Side Elementary School)5136.5
 14.5%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)63.651.8
 11.8%
5th Grade Math (South Side Elementary School)25.338.3
 13%
   5th Grade Math (Pennsylvania)4342.7
 0.3%
5th Grade English Language Arts (South Side Elementary School)39.935.1
 4.8%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)58.553.6
 4.9%
All Grades Math (South Side Elementary School)34.332.6
 1.7%
   All Grades Math (Pennsylvania)42.439.3
 3.1%
All Grades Science (South Side Elementary School)70.260
 10.2%
   All Grades Science (Pennsylvania)6865.6
 2.4%
All Grades English Language Arts (South Side Elementary School)46.638.4
 8.2%
   All Grades English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)60.953.8
 7.1%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students779654
 16%
African American293220
 24.9%
American Indian21
 50%
Asian104163
 56.7%
Hispanic140101
 27.9%
Pacific Islander00
White14792
 37.4%
Two or More Races9377
 17.2%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients99.9%99.7%
 0.2%


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Frequently Asked Questions about South Side Elementary School

Students at South Side Elementary School are 34% African American, 25% Asian, 15% Hispanic, 14% White, 12% Two or more races.

South Side Elementary School ranks in the bottom 24.4% of Pennsylvania elementary schools.

In the 2022-23 school year, 654 students attended South Side Elementary School.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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