Best Elementary Schools in South Dakota (2025-26)

Ranked elementary schools

206

Listed, not ranked

117

Every ranked elementary school in South Dakota, ordered by SchoolGrade. A grade rewards actual test performance against the projection for each school's student context, so a B in a high-poverty school can outrank an A- elsewhere on impact. Click a column heading to sort, or filter by school, city or district.

South Dakota rankings: High Schools · Middle Schools · Elementary Schools

South Dakota elementary schools ranked

Rank	Grade	School	City	District	Actual	Projected	Impact	Students
#1	A+	Challenge Center 51	Sioux Falls	Sioux Falls School District 49-5	80%	55%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	185
#2	A+	Big Stone City Elementary 01	Big Stone City	Big Stone City School District 25-1	75%	60%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	66
#3	A+	Cedar Grove Colony Elementary 14	Platte	Platte - Geddes School District 11-5	75%	44%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	42
#4	A+	Eureka Elementary 02	Eureka	Eureka School District 44-1	75%	56%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	105
#5	A+	Grass Ranch Colony Elementary 13	Kimball	Kimball School District 07-2	75%	55%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	47
#6	A+	Henry Elementary 02	Henry	Henry School District 14-2	75%	39%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	93
#7	A+	Herreid Elementary 02	Herreid	Herreid School District 10-1	75%	36%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	76
#8	A+	Hoven Elementary 02	Hoven	Hoven School District 53-2	75%	43%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	74
#9	A+	Iroquois Elementary 04	Iroquois	Iroquois School District 02-3	75%	40%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	115
#10	A+	Kadoka Elementary 02	Kadoka	Kadoka Area School District 35-2	75%	25%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	124
#11	A+	Leola Elementary 02	Leola	Leola School District 44-2	75%	41%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	59
#12	A+	Mount Vernon Elementary 02	Mount Vernon	Mount Vernon School District 17-3	75%	64%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	123
#13	A+	Oaklane Colony Elementary 05	Alexandria	Hanson School District 30-1	75%	47%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	31
#14	A+	Onida Elementary 04	Onida	Agar-Blunt-Onida School District 58-3	75%	50%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	69
#15	A+	Sanborn Central Elementary 06	Forestburg	Sanborn Central School District 55-5	75%	41%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	104
#16	A+	Selby Elementary 02	Selby	Selby Area School District 62-5	75%	49%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	91
#17	A+	Shannon Colony Elementary 08	Winfred	Howard School District 48-3	75%	56%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	33
#18	A+	Thunderbird Colony Elementary 10	Faulkton	Faulkton Area Schools 24-4	75%	48%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	30
#19	A+	Whitewood Elementary 04	Whitewood	Meade School District 46-1	75%	55%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	109
#20	A	C C Lee Elementary 05	Aberdeen	Aberdeen School District 06-1	70%	64%	Exceeds Expectations	371
#21	A	Milbank Elementary 03	Milbank	Milbank School District 25-4	70%	55%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	437
#22	A	Platte Geddes Elementary 02	Platte	Platte - Geddes School District 11-5	70%	49%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	219
#23	A	Sonia Sotomayor Elementary 65	Sioux Falls	Sioux Falls School District 49-5	70%	53%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	676
#24	A-	Beadle Elementary 03	Yankton	Yankton School District 63-3	60%	44%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	404
#25	A-	Britton Hecla Elementary 02	Britton	Britton-Hecla School District 45-4	60%	48%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	174
#26	A-	Castlewood Elementary 02	Castlewood	Castlewood School District 28-1	60%	53%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	154
#27	A-	Clear Lake Elementary 02	Clear Lake	Deuel School District 19-4	60%	50%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	259
#28	A-	Corsica Stickney Elementary 02	Stickney	Corsica-Stickney 21-3	60%	41%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	170
#29	A-	Endeavor Elementary 07	Sioux Falls	Harrisburg School District 41-2	60%	64%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	391
#30	A-	Groton Area Elementary 02	Groton	Groton Area School District 06-6	60%	49%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	295
#31	A-	Ipswich Elementary 02	Ipswich	Ipswich Public School District 22-6	60%	54%	Exceeds Expectations	185
#32	A-	Laura Ingalls Wilder Elementary 02	De Smet	De Smet School District 38-2	60%	48%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	163
#33	A-	Miller Elementary 02	Miller	Miller 29-4	60%	47%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	233
#34	A-	Parkston Elementary 02	Parkston	Parkston School District 33-3	60%	46%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	280
#35	A-	Rf Pettigrew Elementary 17	Sioux Falls	Sioux Falls School District 49-5	60%	58%	Meets Expectations	952
#36	A-	Stanley County Elementary 08	Fort Pierre	Stanley County School District 57-1	60%	54%	Exceeds Expectations	188
#37	A-	Stewart Elementary 05	Yankton	Yankton School District 63-3	60%	41%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	278
#38	A-	Warner Elementary 02	Warner	Warner School District 06-5	60%	53%	Exceeds Expectations	155
#39	A-	Brandon Valley Intermediate 07	Brandon	Brandon Valley School District 49-2	54%	61%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	728
#40	B+	Freedom Elementary 06	Harrisburg	Harrisburg School District 41-2	55%	52%	Exceeds Expectations	410
#41	B+	Liberty Elementary 02	Harrisburg	Harrisburg School District 41-2	55%	53%	Meets Expectations	565
#42	B+	Madison Elementary 07	Madison	Madison Central School District 39-2	55%	50%	Exceeds Expectations	508
#43	B	Buchanan Elementary 03	Pierre	Pierre School District 32-2	50%	47%	Exceeds Expectations	418
#44	B	Harvey Dunn Elementary 54	Sioux Falls	Sioux Falls School District 49-5	50%	45%	Exceeds Expectations	632
#45	B	Hill City Elementary 02	Hill City	Hill City School District 51-2	50%	47%	Exceeds Expectations	221
#46	B	John Harris Elementary 23	Sioux Falls	Sioux Falls School District 49-5	50%	53%	Meets Expectations	706
#47	B	Journey Elementary 05	Sioux Falls	Harrisburg School District 41-2	50%	56%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	362
#48	B	Lincoln Elementary 04	Yankton	Yankton School District 63-3	50%	40%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	410
#49	B	Parker Elementary 02	Parker	Parker School District 60-4	50%	43%	Exceeds Expectations	262
#50	B	Tea Area Legacy Elementary 01	Tea	Tea Area School District 41-5	50%	52%	Meets Expectations	491
#51	B	Tea Area Venture Elementary 06	Tea	Tea Area School District 41-5	50%	49%	Meets Expectations	389
#52	B	Webster Area Elementary 03	Webster	Webster Area 18-5	50%	47%	Exceeds Expectations	265
#53	B	Camelot Intermediate 06	Brookings	Brookings School District 05-1	48%	57%	Underperforms Expectations	529
#54	B	Corral Drive Elementary 21	Rapid City	Rapid City Area School District 51-4	45%	57%	Underperforms Expectations	461
#55	B	Creekside Elementary 07	Spearfish	Spearfish School District 40-2	45%	47%	Meets Expectations	498
#56	B	Discovery Elementary 26	Sioux Falls	Sioux Falls School District 49-5	45%	55%	Underperforms Expectations	877
#57	B	Eugene Field A Elementary 16	Sioux Falls	Sioux Falls School District 49-5	45%	48%	Meets Expectations	413
#58	B	Jefferson Elementary 06	Pierre	Pierre School District 32-2	45%	44%	Meets Expectations	430
#59	B	L B Williams Elementary 03	Mitchell	Mitchell School District 17-2	45%	42%	Exceeds Expectations	436
#60	B	Lawrence Elementary 02	Canton	Canton School District 41-1	45%	46%	Meets Expectations	388
#61	B	Pinedale Elementary 11	Rapid City	Rapid City Area School District 51-4	45%	55%	Underperforms Expectations	365
#62	B	Susan B Anthony Elementary 66	Sioux Falls	Sioux Falls School District 49-5	45%	44%	Meets Expectations	555
#63	B	Watertown Intermediate School 13	Watertown	Watertown School District 14-4	45%	50%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	548
#64	B	West Central Humboldt Elementary 02	Humboldt	West Central School District 49-7	45%	51%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	385
#65	B-	Vandenberg Elementary 02	Box Elder	Douglas School District 51-1	43%	42%	Meets Expectations	441
#66	B-	Alcester Hudson Elementary 04	Alcester	Alcester-Hudson School District 61-1	40%	39%	Meets Expectations	195
#67	B-	All City Elementary 50	Sioux Falls	Sioux Falls School District 49-5	40%	51%	Underperforms Expectations	143
#68	B-	Arlington Elementary 02	Arlington	Arlington School District 38-1	40%	40%	Meets Expectations	155
#69	B-	Baltic Elementary 02	Baltic	Baltic School District 49-1	40%	49%	Underperforms Expectations	317
#70	B-	Beresford Elementary 02	Beresford	Beresford School District 61-2	40%	41%	Meets Expectations	307
#71	B-	Bridgewater Emery Elementary 02	Bridgewater	Bridgewater-Emery 30-3	40%	39%	Meets Expectations	162
#72	B-	Buffalo Elementary 02	Buffalo	Harding County School District 31-1	40%	40%	Meets Expectations	92
#73	B-	Canistota Elementary 02	Canistota	Canistota School District 43-1	40%	38%	Exceeds Expectations	157
#74	B-	Centerville Elementary 02	Centerville	Centerville School District 60-1	40%	43%	Meets Expectations	128
#75	B-	Colman Elementary 03	Colman	Colman-Egan School District 50-5	40%	42%	Meets Expectations	156
#76	B-	Dakota Valley Upper Elementary 04	North Sioux City	Dakota Valley School District 61-8	40%	47%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	232
#77	B-	Elkton Elementary 02	Elkton	Elkton School District 05-3	40%	37%	Exceeds Expectations	206
#78	B-	Estelline Elementary 02	Estelline	Estelline School District 28-2	40%	36%	Exceeds Expectations	133
#79	B-	Ethan Elementary 02	Ethan	Ethan School District 17-1	40%	42%	Meets Expectations	152
#80	B-	Explorer Elementary 04	Sioux Falls	Harrisburg School District 41-2	40%	54%	Underperforms Expectations	370
#81	B-	Faulkton Elementary 02	Faulkton	Faulkton Area Schools 24-4	40%	38%	Meets Expectations	162
#82	B-	Freeman Elementary 02	Freeman	Freeman School District 33-1	40%	40%	Meets Expectations	173
#83	B-	Gertie Belle Rogers Elementary 04	Mitchell	Mitchell School District 17-2	40%	41%	Meets Expectations	390
#84	B-	Grandview Elementary 06	Rapid City	Rapid City Area School District 51-4	40%	38%	Meets Expectations	406
#85	B-	Hamlin Elementary 09	Hayti	Hamlin School District 28-3	40%	41%	Meets Expectations	451
#86	B-	Highmore Elementary 02	Highmore	Highmore-Harrold 34-2	40%	42%	Meets Expectations	130
#87	B-	John F Kennedy Elementary 57	Sioux Falls	Sioux Falls School District 49-5	40%	48%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	682
#88	B-	Kennedy Elementary 08	Pierre	Pierre School District 32-2	40%	39%	Meets Expectations	388
#89	B-	Lemmon Elementary 02	Lemmon	Lemmon School District 52-4	40%	40%	Meets Expectations	141
#90	B-	Lincoln Elementary 08	Aberdeen	Aberdeen School District 06-1	40%	36%	Exceeds Expectations	256
#91	B-	Menno Elementary 02	Menno	Menno School District 33-2	40%	47%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	82
#92	B-	Mike Miller Elementary 07	Aberdeen	Aberdeen School District 06-1	40%	40%	Meets Expectations	244
#93	B-	Northwestern Elementary 04	Mellette	Northwestern Area School District 56-7	40%	45%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	119
#94	B-	Tea Area Frontier Elementary 05	Sioux Falls	Tea Area School District 41-5	40%	42%	Meets Expectations	236
#95	B-	Timber Lake Elementary 02	Timber Lake	Timber Lake School District 20-3	40%	36%	Exceeds Expectations	168
#96	B-	Tri Valley Elementary 02	Colton	Tri-Valley School District 49-6	40%	47%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	352
#97	B-	Tyndall Elementary 04	Tyndall	Bon Homme School District 04-2	40%	44%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	155
#98	B-	Wall Elementary 02	Wall	Wall School District 51-5	40%	40%	Meets Expectations	116
#99	B-	Wessington Springs Elementary 02	Wessington Springs	Wessington Springs School District 36-2	40%	34%	Exceeds Expectations	152
#100	B-	Willow Lake Elementary 02	Willow Lake	Willow Lake School District 12-3	40%	42%	Meets Expectations	144
#101	C	Hot Springs Elementary 02	Hot Springs	Hot Springs School District 23-2	35%	38%	Meets Expectations	331
#102	C	Lennox Intermediate 09	Lennox	Lennox School District 41-4	35%	41%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	168
#103	C	Meadowbrook Elementary 10	Rapid City	Rapid City Area School District 51-4	35%	54%	Underperforms Expectations	464
#104	C	Oscar Howe Elementary 58	Sioux Falls	Sioux Falls School District 49-5	35%	46%	Underperforms Expectations	586
#105	C	Robert Frost Elementary 18	Sioux Falls	Sioux Falls School District 49-5	35%	50%	Underperforms Expectations	442
#106	C-	Chamberlain Elementary 03	Chamberlain	Chamberlain School District 07-1	30%	34%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	397
#107	C-	Custer Elementary 02	Custer	Custer School District 16-1	30%	39%	Underperforms Expectations	304
#108	C-	Elk Point Jefferson Elementary 02	Elk Point	Elk Point-Jefferson School District 61-7	30%	42%	Underperforms Expectations	321
#109	C-	Hermosa Elementary 04	Hermosa	Custer School District 16-1	30%	40%	Underperforms Expectations	222
#110	C-	Lead Deadwood Elementary 03	Deadwood	Lead-Deadwood School District 40-1	30%	36%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	293
#111	C-	Longfellow Elementary 05	Mitchell	Mitchell School District 17-2	30%	39%	Underperforms Expectations	318
#112	C-	May Overby Elementary 09	Aberdeen	Aberdeen School District 06-1	30%	35%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	357
#113	C-	Mobridge Upper Elementary 04	Mobridge	Mobridge-Pollock 62-6	30%	38%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	116
#114	C-	Rosa Parks Elementary 15	Sioux Falls	Sioux Falls School District 49-5	30%	44%	Underperforms Expectations	729
#115	C-	Simmons Elementary 10	Aberdeen	Aberdeen School District 06-1	30%	36%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	395
#116	C-	Sioux Valley Elementary 02	Volga	Sioux Valley School District 05-5	30%	40%	Underperforms Expectations	354
#117	C-	Winner Elementary 04	Winner	Winner School District 59-2	30%	30%	Meets Expectations	444
#118	C-	Woodrow Wilson Elementary 17	Rapid City	Rapid City Area School District 51-4	30%	37%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	337
#119	C-	Washington 4 5 Center 20	Huron	Huron School District 02-2	29%	28%	Meets Expectations	429
#120	D+	Bison Elementary 02	Bison	Bison School District 52-1	25%	33%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	67
#121	D+	Bowdle Elementary 02	Bowdle	Bowdle School District 22-1	25%	36%	Underperforms Expectations	46
#122	D+	Bridges At Horace Mann 52 Sioux Falls	Sioux Falls	Sioux Falls School District 49-5	25%	37%	Underperforms Expectations	52
#123	D+	Burke Elementary 02	Burke	Burke School District 26-2	25%	41%	Underperforms Expectations	108
#124	D+	Central Meade County School 09 Union Center	Union Center	Meade School District 46-1	25%	34%	Underperforms Expectations	56
#125	D+	Colome Elementary 02	Colome	Colome Consolidated 59-3	25%	31%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	81
#126	D+	Edmunds Central Elementary 05	Roscoe	Edmunds Central School District 22-5	25%	28%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	57
#127	D+	Faith Elementary 02	Faith	Faith School District 46-2	25%	41%	Underperforms Expectations	64
#128	D+	Fordham Colony Elementary 04	Carpenter	Clark School District 12-2	25%	45%	Underperforms Expectations	37
#129	D+	Frederick Elementary 02	Frederick	Frederick Area School District 06-2	25%	35%	Underperforms Expectations	79
#130	D+	Gettysburg Elementary 02	Gettysburg	Gettysburg School District 53-1	25%	35%	Underperforms Expectations	95
#131	D+	Hitchcock Tulare Elementary 05	Hitchcock	Hitchcock Tulare School District 56-6	25%	40%	Underperforms Expectations	104
#132	D+	Hutterische Colony Elementary 18	Tabor	Bon Homme School District 04-2	25%	39%	Underperforms Expectations	42
#133	D+	Lake Preston Elementary 02	Lake Preston	Lake Preston School District 38-3	25%	30%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	102
#134	D+	Langford Area Elementary 02	Langford	Langford Area 45-5	25%	31%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	102
#135	D+	Longvalley Elementary 10	Long Valley	Kadoka Area School District 35-2	25%	32%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	32
#136	D+	Marion Elementary 02	Marion	Marion School District 60-3	25%	34%	Underperforms Expectations	96
#137	D+	Maxwell Colony Elementary 04	Scotland	Menno School District 33-2	25%	36%	Underperforms Expectations	47
#138	D+	Mcintosh Elementary 02	Mcintosh	McIntosh School District 15-1	25%	23%	Meets Expectations	52
#139	D+	Newport Colony Elementary 04	Claremont	Langford Area 45-5	25%	39%	Underperforms Expectations	41
#140	D+	Oelrichs Elementary 02	Oelrichs	Oelrichs School District 23-3	25%	32%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	41
#141	D+	Old Elm Spring Colony Elementary 03	Parkston	Parkston School District 33-3	25%	41%	Underperforms Expectations	32
#142	D+	Pembrook Colony Elementary 06	Ipswich	Ipswich Public School District 22-6	25%	40%	Underperforms Expectations	34
#143	D+	Terry Redlin Elementary 11	Sioux Falls	Sioux Falls School District 49-5	25%	33%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	473
#144	D+	Tripp Elementary 03	Tripp	Tripp-Delmont School District 33-5	25%	31%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	101
#145	D+	Wakpala Elementary 02	Wakpala	Smee School District 15-3	25%	20%	Exceeds Expectations	85
#146	D+	White Lake Elementary 02	White Lake	White Lake School District 01-3	25%	32%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	63
#147	D+	White River Elementary 02	White River	White River School District 47-1	25%	12%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	165
#148	D+	Wilmot Elementary 02	Wilmot	Wilmot School District 54-7	25%	33%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	122
#149	D+	Wolf Creek Colony Elementary 04	Olivet	Freeman School District 33-1	25%	50%	Underperforms Expectations	34
#150	D+	Avon Elementary 02	Avon	Avon School District 04-1	21%	34%	Underperforms Expectations	65
#151	D+	Chester Elementary 02	Chester	Chester Area School District 39-1	21%	54%	Underperforms Expectations	159
#152	D+	Deubrook Elementary 03	Toronto	Deubrook Area School District 05-6	21%	42%	Underperforms Expectations	204
#153	D+	Edgemont Elementary 03	Edgemont	Edgemont School District 23-1	21%	29%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	107
#154	D+	Gayville Volin Elementary 02	Gayville	Gayville-Volin School District 63-1	21%	27%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	144
#155	D+	Gregory Elementary 02	Gregory	Gregory School District 26-4	21%	40%	Underperforms Expectations	240
#156	D+	Hanson Elementary 06	Alexandria	Hanson School District 30-1	21%	46%	Underperforms Expectations	135
#157	D+	Howard Elementary 02	Howard	Howard School District 48-3	21%	32%	Underperforms Expectations	129
#158	D+	Irene Wakonda Elementary 02	Wakonda	Irene - Wakonda School District 13-3	21%	36%	Underperforms Expectations	162
#159	D+	Lyman Elementary 04	Kennebec	Lyman School District 42-1	21%	24%	Meets Expectations	200
#160	D+	Montrose Elementary 02	Montrose	Montrose School District 43-2	21%	44%	Underperforms Expectations	107
#161	D+	New Underwood Elementary 02	New Underwood	New Underwood School District 51-3	21%	30%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	127
#162	D+	Newell Elementary 02	Newell	Newell School District 09-2	21%	30%	Underperforms Expectations	152
#163	D+	Philip Elementary 02	Philip	Haakon School District 27-1	21%	42%	Underperforms Expectations	152
#164	D+	Plankinton Elementary 02	Plankinton	Plankinton School District 01-1	21%	28%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	141
#165	D+	Renberg Elementary 42	Renner	Sioux Falls School District 49-5	21%	34%	Underperforms Expectations	215
#166	D+	Rosholt Elementary 02	Rosholt	Rosholt School District 54-4	21%	31%	Underperforms Expectations	84
#167	D+	Summit Elementary 02	Summit	Summit School District 54-6	21%	30%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	121
#168	D+	Webster Elementary 06	Yankton	Yankton School District 63-3	21%	34%	Underperforms Expectations	396
#169	D+	Wolsey Wessington Elementary 02	Wolsey	Wolsey Wessington School District 02-6	21%	33%	Underperforms Expectations	166
#170	D	Anne Sullivan Elementary 20	Sioux Falls	Sioux Falls School District 49-5	20%	31%	Underperforms Expectations	623
#171	D	Garretson Elementary 02	Garretson	Garretson School District 49-4	20%	41%	Underperforms Expectations	243
#172	D	Horace Mann Elementary 07	Rapid City	Rapid City Area School District 51-4	20%	23%	Meets Expectations	284
#173	D	Horizon Elementary 09	Sioux Falls	Harrisburg School District 41-2	20%	45%	Underperforms Expectations	373
#174	D	Lowell Elementary 28	Sioux Falls	Sioux Falls School District 49-5	20%	31%	Underperforms Expectations	358
#175	D	O M Tiffany Elementary 11	Aberdeen	Aberdeen School District 06-1	20%	38%	Underperforms Expectations	312
#176	D	Rapid Valley Elementary 12	Rapid City	Rapid City Area School District 51-4	20%	32%	Underperforms Expectations	514
#177	D	Robbinsdale Elementary 14	Rapid City	Rapid City Area School District 51-4	20%	26%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	359
#178	D	South Canyon Elementary 15	Rapid City	Rapid City Area School District 51-4	20%	29%	Underperforms Expectations	266
#179	D	South Park Elementary 16	Rapid City	Rapid City Area School District 51-4	20%	24%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	314
#180	D	Valley View Elementary 13	Rapid City	Rapid City Area School District 51-4	20%	29%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	581
#181	D	Woonsocket Elementary 03	Woonsocket	Woonsocket School District 55-4	20%	29%	Underperforms Expectations	195
#182	D-	Black Hawk Elementary 03	Black Hawk	Rapid City Area School District 51-4	15%	26%	Underperforms Expectations	370
#183	D-	Cleveland Elementary 14	Sioux Falls	Sioux Falls School District 49-5	15%	29%	Underperforms Expectations	495
#184	D-	Garfield Elementary 19	Sioux Falls	Sioux Falls School District 49-5	15%	34%	Underperforms Expectations	575
#185	D-	Hayward Elementary 38	Sioux Falls	Sioux Falls School District 49-5	15%	33%	Underperforms Expectations	652
#186	D-	General Beadle Elementary 01	Rapid City	Rapid City Area School District 51-4	11%	14%	Meets Expectations	444
#187	D-	Hawthorne Elementary 56	Sioux Falls	Sioux Falls School District 49-5	11%	31%	Underperforms Expectations	334
#188	D-	Knollwood Heights Elementary 08	Rapid City	Rapid City Area School District 51-4	11%	16%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	357
#189	D-	Laura B Anderson Elementary 10	Sioux Falls	Sioux Falls School District 49-5	11%	33%	Underperforms Expectations	355
#190	D-	Martin Elementary 03	Martin	Bennett County School District 03-1	11%	13%	Meets Expectations	253
#191	D-	Redfield Elementary 03	Redfield	Redfield School District 56-4	11%	26%	Underperforms Expectations	270
#192	F	Andes Central Elementary 02	Lake Andes	Andes Central School District 11-1	10%	12%	Meets Expectations	189
#193	F	Armour Elementary 02	Armour	Armour School District 21-1	10%	26%	Underperforms Expectations	123
#194	F	Batesland School 01	Batesland	Oglala Lakota County 65-1	10%	9%	Meets Expectations	196
#195	F	Dupree Elementary 02	Dupree	Dupree School District 64-2	10%	15%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	232
#196	F	Elementary Immersion Center 43	Sioux Falls	Sioux Falls School District 49-5	10%	14%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	55
#197	F	Florence Elementary 02	Florence	Florence School District 14-1	10%	33%	Underperforms Expectations	152
#198	F	Laura Wilder Elementary 31	Sioux Falls	Sioux Falls School District 49-5	10%	40%	Underperforms Expectations	448
#199	F	Mclaughlin Elementary 02	Mclaughlin	McLaughlin School District 15-2	10%	11%	Meets Expectations	203
#200	F	Red Shirt School 04	Hermosa	Oglala Lakota County 65-1	10%	20%	Underperforms Expectations	43
#201	F	Scotland Elementary 02	Scotland	Scotland School District 04-3	10%	24%	Underperforms Expectations	134
#202	F	Waubay Elementary 02	Waubay	Waubay School District 18-3	10%	24%	Underperforms Expectations	87
#203	F	Waverly South Shore Elementary 02	Waverly	Waverly School District 14-5	10%	24%	Underperforms Expectations	122
#204	F	Eagle Butte Upper Elementary 03	Eagle Butte	Eagle Butte School District 20-1	5%	10%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	242
#205	F	Rockyford School 03	Porcupine	Oglala Lakota County 65-1	5%	9%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	396
#206	F	Wolf Creek School 02	Pine Ridge	Oglala Lakota County 65-1	3%	5%	Meets Expectations	624

How South Dakota's elementary schools compare

A: 39B: 61C: 19D: 72F: 15

49% of the 206 ranked elementary schools in South Dakota earn an A or B (39 A grades, 61 B, 19 C, 72 D, 15 F), against 46% of elementary schools nationwide. 96 schools meet or beat the proficiency projected from their student context (47% here, 71% nationally), and 53 exceed it. On average 37% of tested students meet the state bar against a projected 39% (national averages: 39% actual, 38% projected).

The biggest overperformers, by actual proficiency above projection: Kadoka Elementary 02 (75% against 25%, A+), Herreid Elementary 02 (75% against 36%, A+), Henry Elementary 02 (75% against 39%, A+), Iroquois Elementary 04 (75% against 40%, A+), Leola Elementary 02 (75% against 41%, A+).

Districts with the most schools in the top quarter (the top 52): Sioux Falls School District 49-5 (5), Harrisburg School District 41-2 (4), Yankton School District 63-3 (3), Platte - Geddes School District 11-5 (2).

Cities with the most ranked elementary schools: Sioux Falls (29, 14 at A or B), Rapid City (13, 3 at A or B), Aberdeen (6, 3 at A or B), Yankton (4, 3 at A or B), Pierre (3, 3 at A or B).

The largest ranked elementary schools: Rf Pettigrew Elementary 17 (952 students, A-, #35), Discovery Elementary 26 (877 students, B, #56), Rosa Parks Elementary 15 (729 students, C-, #114).

Elementary schools in South Dakota that are not ranked

117 graded elementary schools are listed here rather than ranked, each for the reason given. Every one has its own page with its full SchoolGrade report.

Very small schools (8)

Schools with fewer than 30 students have grades that swing on a handful of test results.

D+ Grassland Colony Elementary 06, Westport
D+ Hillcrest Colony Elementary 05, Garden City
D+ Hillside Colony Elementary 04, Doland
D+ Huron Colony Elementary 13, Huron
D+ Lakeview Colony Elementary 05, Lake Andes
D+ Newdale Colony Elementary 04, Elkton
D+ Silver Lake Colony 07 Clark, Clark
D+ Spring Valley Colony Elementary 05, Wessington Springs

Closed schools (3)

NCES lists these schools as closed or inactive since their last graded year.

Not yet graded (106)

Our source data has no school-level proficiency results for these schools, so they carry no SchoolGrade yet.

Abbott House Elementary 06, Mitchell
Adventure Elementary 10, Sioux Falls
Atall Elementary 17 Union Center, Union Center
Austin Elementary 03, Vermillion
Blue Sky Colony 04 Milbank, Milbank
Blumengard Colony Elementary 06, Faulkton
Blunt Elementary 03, Blunt
Boulder Colony School 06, Hosmer
Brandon Elementary 03, Brandon
Brandon Valley Distance Learning Academy Elementary 94, Brandon
Brandon Valley Distance Learning Academy Intermediate 90, Brandon
Brentwood Colony Elementary 05, Faulkton
Buchanan K 1 Center 18, Huron
Cameron Colony Elementary 04, Viborg
Camp Crook Elementary 08, Camp Crook
Camrose Colony Elementary 06, Frankfort
Cheyenne Elementary 06, Hayes
Claremont Colony Elementary 04, Castlewood
Clark Colony Elementary 05, Raymond
Clark Elementary 02, Clark
Clearfield Colony Elementary 07, Delmont
Collins Colony Elementary 06, Iroquois
Dakota Prairie Elementary 07, Brookings
Dakota Valley Elementary 02, North Sioux City
Dawson Colony School 20, Scotland
Deerfield Colony Elementary 05, Leola
Dell Rapids Elementary 02, Dell Rapids
Doland Elementary 03, Doland
Eagle Butte Primary 02, Eagle Butte
Elk Mountain Elementary 01, Dewey
Elm Springs Elementary 13, Wasta
Flandreau Elementary 04, Flandreau
Fred Assam Elementary 06, Sioux Falls
Freeman Davis Elementary 03, Mobridge
Glendale Colony Elementary 04, Frankfort
Goldenview Colony School 04, Salem
Graceville Colony 07 Winfred, Winfred
Greenwood Colony Elementary 05, Delmont
He Dog Elementary 05, Parmelee
Hereford Elementary 08, Hereford
Hillcrest Elementary 04, Brookings
Inspiration Elementary 08, Sioux Falls
Interior Elementary 09, Interior
Jamesville Colony Elementary 03, Utica
Jefferson Elementary 09, Watertown
Jones County Elementary 02, Murdo
Kimball Elementary 02, Kimball
Lennox Elementary 02, Lennox
Lincoln Elementary 05, Watertown
Long Lake Colony Elementary 05, Wetonka
Ludlow Elementary 06, Ludlow
Madison 2 3 Center 19, Huron
Maurine Elementary 04, Faith
Mayfield Colony Elementary 04, Willow Lake
Mccook Central Elementary 02, Salem
Mckinley Elementary 06, Watertown
Medary Elementary 05, Brookings
Mellette Elementary 07, Watertown
Midland Elementary 11, Midland
Milesville Elementary 08, Milesville
Millbrook Colony Elementary 04, Mitchell
Millerdale Colony Elementary 11, Miller
Mountain View Elementary 08, Spearfish
New Elm Spring Colony Elementary 08, Ethan
Norfeld Colony Elementary 07, White
Norris Elementary 08, Norris
North Park Elementary 08, Belle Fourche
Okreek Elementary, 14 Okreek
Opal Elementary 15, Opal
Orland Colony Elementary 04, Montrose
Patriot Elementary 06, Box Elder
Piedmont Valley Elementary 05, Piedmont
Platte Colony Elementary 10 Academy, Academy
Pleasant Valley Colony Elementary 06, Flandreau
Red Willow Colony School 09, White
Riverside Colony Elementary 15, Huron
Robert Bennis Elementary 05, Brandon
Rockport Colony Elementary 10, Alexandria
Rolland Colony Elementary 05, White
Roosevelt Elementary 08, Watertown
Rosebud Elementary 04, Rosebud
Rosedale Colony Elementary 11, Mitchell
Rosette Colony Elementary 03, Leola
Rustic Acres Elementary 04, Madison
Sdsbvi Elementary 01, Aberdeen
Shamrock Colony Elementary 05, Carpenter
South Central Elementary 03, Bonesteel
South Park Elementary 03, Belle Fourche
Spink Colony Elementary 03, Frankfort
Spring Creek Elementary 07, St Francis
Springfield Elementary 03, Springfield
Sturgis Elementary 03, Sturgis
Sunset Colony Elementary 04, Britton
Todd County Elementary 16, Mission
Tschetter Colony Elementary 03, Olivet
Upland Colony Elementary 05, Artesian
Valley Springs Elementary 04, Valley Springs
Viborg Hurley Elementary 02, Viborg
Wagner Elementary 02, Wagner
Wessington Springs Elementary Cyber School 94, Wessington Springs
West Central Hartford Elementary 05, Hartford
West Elementary 03, Spearfish
Westside Elementary 03, Sisseton
Westwood Rural Elementary 05, Britton
White Rock Colony Elementary 03, Rosholt
Worthing Elementary 05, Worthing

About this ranking

Scope: every public elementary school in South Dakota.
Order: SchoolGrade, then actual proficiency, then name; schools with the same grade and score share a rank.
Ranked: regular public schools that NCES lists as open, not fully online, with at least 30 students. Others are listed with the reason.
Tags: Magnet and Charter from the NCES school directory; K-12 marks schools serving every grade that are ranked with the elementary schools.
Grades are the 2025-26 SchoolGrade model. How SchoolGrade works

Questions about elementary schools in South Dakota

What is the best elementary school in South Dakota?

Challenge Center 51 in Sioux Falls ranks first among the 206 ranked elementary schools in South Dakota with a SchoolGrade of A+, 80% of tested students meeting the state bar against a projected 55%.

How are elementary schools in South Dakota ranked?

By SchoolGrade, the 2025-26 model that scores each school's actual test proficiency against the level projected for its student context, then by actual proficiency to break ties. Regular public schools that are open, not fully online and have at least 30 students are ranked; the rest are listed below the table with the reason.

How many elementary schools does South Dakota have?

SchoolGrade grades 323 public elementary schools in South Dakota; 206 are ranked here and 117 are listed as not ranked.