Best Elementary Schools in South Dakota (2025-26)

Ranked elementary schools

248

Listed, not ranked

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	95%	66%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	185
#2	A+	Pembrook Colony Elementary 06	Ipswich	Ipswich Public School District 22-6	91%	45%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	34
#3	A+	Fred Assam Elementary 06	Sioux Falls	Brandon Valley School District 49-2	88%	64%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	486
#4	A+	Warner Elementary 02	Warner	Warner School District 06-5	84%	58%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	155
#5	A+	Faulkton Elementary 02	Faulkton	Faulkton Area Schools 24-4	81%	47%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	162
#6	A+	Inspiration Elementary 08	Sioux Falls	Brandon Valley School District 49-2	78%	51%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	295
#7	A+	Jones County Elementary 02	Murdo	Jones County School District 37-3	78%	43%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	79
#8	A+	Adventure Elementary 10	Sioux Falls	Harrisburg School District 41-2	77%	67%	Exceeds Expectations	414
#9	A+	Tyndall Elementary 04	Tyndall	Bon Homme School District 04-2	75%	45%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	155
#10	A+	All City Elementary 50	Sioux Falls	Sioux Falls School District 49-5	72%	51%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	143
#11	A+	Lennox Elementary 02	Lennox	Lennox School District 41-4	72%	46%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	369
#12	A+	Whitewood Elementary 04	Whitewood	Meade School District 46-1	72%	45%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	109
#13	A+	C C Lee Elementary 05	Aberdeen	Aberdeen School District 06-1	71%	61%	Exceeds Expectations	371
#14	A+	Brandon Valley Intermediate 07	Brandon	Brandon Valley School District 49-2	70%	53%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	728
#15	A+	Dell Rapids Elementary 02	Dell Rapids	Dell Rapids School District 49-3	70%	46%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	393
#16	A+	Robert Bennis Elementary 05	Brandon	Brandon Valley School District 49-2	70%	56%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	556
#17	A+	Lake Preston Elementary 02	Lake Preston	Lake Preston School District 38-3	69%	38%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	102
#18	A+	Worthing Elementary 05	Worthing	Lennox School District 41-4	69%	58%	Exceeds Expectations	126
#19	A+	Sonia Sotomayor Elementary 65	Sioux Falls	Sioux Falls School District 49-5	68%	54%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	676
#20	A	Brandon Elementary 03	Brandon	Brandon Valley School District 49-2	67%	55%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	701
#21	A	Kadoka Elementary 02	Kadoka	Kadoka Area School District 35-2	67%	28%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	124
#22	A	Avon Elementary 02	Avon	Avon School District 04-1	66%	44%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	65
#23	A	Corsica Stickney Elementary 02	Stickney	Corsica-Stickney 21-3	66%	48%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	170
#24	A	Dakota Prairie Elementary 07	Brookings	Brookings School District 05-1	66%	52%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	473
#25	A	Platte Geddes Elementary 02	Platte	Platte - Geddes School District 11-5	66%	50%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	219
#26	A	Scotland Elementary 02	Scotland	Scotland School District 04-3	66%	44%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	134
#27	A	Thunderbird Colony Elementary 10	Faulkton	Faulkton Area Schools 24-4	66%	50%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	30
#28	A	Big Stone City Elementary 01	Big Stone City	Big Stone City School District 25-1	65%	31%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	66
#29	A	Frederick Elementary 02	Frederick	Frederick Area School District 06-2	65%	39%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	79
#30	A	Leola Elementary 02	Leola	Leola School District 44-2	65%	48%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	59
#31	A	Tea Area Legacy Elementary 01	Tea	Tea Area School District 41-5	65%	49%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	491
#32	A	Buchanan Elementary 03	Pierre	Pierre School District 32-2	64%	49%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	418
#33	A	Timber Lake Elementary 02	Timber Lake	Timber Lake School District 20-3	64%	36%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	168
#34	A	Arlington Elementary 02	Arlington	Arlington School District 38-1	63%	45%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	155
#35	A	Castlewood Elementary 02	Castlewood	Castlewood School District 28-1	63%	49%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	154
#36	A	Custer Elementary 02	Custer	Custer School District 16-1	63%	44%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	304
#37	A	Gettysburg Elementary 02	Gettysburg	Gettysburg School District 53-1	63%	44%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	95
#38	A	Grass Ranch Colony Elementary 13	Kimball	Kimball School District 07-2	63%	49%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	47
#39	A	Howard Elementary 02	Howard	Howard School District 48-3	63%	46%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	129
#40	A	Journey Elementary 05	Sioux Falls	Harrisburg School District 41-2	63%	55%	Exceeds Expectations	362
#41	A-	Baltic Elementary 02	Baltic	Baltic School District 49-1	63%	45%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	317
#42	A-	Cedar Grove Colony Elementary 14	Platte	Platte - Geddes School District 11-5	62%	44%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	42
#43	A-	Hanson Elementary 06	Alexandria	Hanson School District 30-1	62%	48%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	135
#44	A-	Hitchcock Tulare Elementary 05	Hitchcock	Hitchcock Tulare School District 56-6	62%	42%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	104
#45	A-	Langford Area Elementary 02	Langford	Langford Area 45-5	62%	42%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	102
#46	A-	Milbank Elementary 03	Milbank	Milbank School District 25-4	62%	44%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	437
#47	A-	Montrose Elementary 02	Montrose	Montrose School District 43-2	62%	41%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	107
#48	A-	Shannon Colony Elementary 08	Winfred	Howard School District 48-3	62%	53%	Exceeds Expectations	33
#49	A-	Ethan Elementary 02	Ethan	Ethan School District 17-1	61%	47%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	152
#50	A-	Ipswich Elementary 02	Ipswich	Ipswich Public School District 22-6	61%	46%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	185
#51	A-	Selby Elementary 02	Selby	Selby Area School District 62-5	61%	39%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	91
#52	A-	Bridgewater Emery Elementary 02	Bridgewater	Bridgewater-Emery 30-3	60%	43%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	162
#53	A-	Gregory Elementary 02	Gregory	Gregory School District 26-4	60%	40%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	240
#54	A-	Groton Area Elementary 02	Groton	Groton Area School District 06-6	60%	47%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	295
#55	A-	Hamlin Elementary 09	Hayti	Hamlin School District 28-3	60%	47%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	451
#56	A-	Miller Elementary 02	Miller	Miller 29-4	60%	49%	Exceeds Expectations	233
#57	A-	West Central Hartford Elementary 05	Hartford	West Central School District 49-7	60%	53%	Exceeds Expectations	281
#58	A-	Burke Elementary 02	Burke	Burke School District 26-2	59%	41%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	108
#59	A-	Harvey Dunn Elementary 54	Sioux Falls	Sioux Falls School District 49-5	59%	38%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	632
#60	A-	John Harris Elementary 23	Sioux Falls	Sioux Falls School District 49-5	59%	60%	Meets Expectations	706
#61	A-	Lennox Intermediate 09	Lennox	Lennox School District 41-4	59%	47%	Exceeds Expectations	168
#62	A-	Tea Area Venture Elementary 06	Tea	Tea Area School District 41-5	59%	46%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	389
#63	B+	Sanborn Central Elementary 06	Forestburg	Sanborn Central School District 55-5	59%	46%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	104
#64	B+	Tri Valley Elementary 02	Colton	Tri-Valley School District 49-6	59%	48%	Exceeds Expectations	352
#65	B+	Webster Area Elementary 03	Webster	Webster Area 18-5	59%	46%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	265
#66	B+	Beadle Elementary 03	Yankton	Yankton School District 63-3	58%	45%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	404
#67	B+	Bowdle Elementary 02	Bowdle	Bowdle School District 22-1	58%	37%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	46
#68	B+	Estelline Elementary 02	Estelline	Estelline School District 28-2	58%	40%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	133
#69	B+	Mount Vernon Elementary 02	Mount Vernon	Mount Vernon School District 17-3	58%	49%	Exceeds Expectations	123
#70	B+	Orland Colony Elementary 04	Montrose	Montrose School District 43-2	58%	44%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	36
#71	B+	Sioux Valley Elementary 02	Volga	Sioux Valley School District 05-5	58%	46%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	354
#72	B+	Centerville Elementary 02	Centerville	Centerville School District 60-1	57%	44%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	128
#73	B+	Corral Drive Elementary 21	Rapid City	Rapid City Area School District 51-4	57%	53%	Meets Expectations	461
#74	B+	Hoven Elementary 02	Hoven	Hoven School District 53-2	57%	45%	Exceeds Expectations	74
#75	B+	John F Kennedy Elementary 57	Sioux Falls	Sioux Falls School District 49-5	57%	48%	Exceeds Expectations	682
#76	B+	Onida Elementary 04	Onida	Agar-Blunt-Onida School District 58-3	57%	49%	Exceeds Expectations	69
#77	B+	Piedmont Valley Elementary 05	Piedmont	Meade School District 46-1	57%	52%	Meets Expectations	523
#78	B+	Viborg Hurley Elementary 02	Viborg	Viborg-Hurley School District 60-6	57%	47%	Exceeds Expectations	161
#79	B+	Wessington Springs Elementary 02	Wessington Springs	Wessington Springs School District 36-2	57%	43%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	152
#80	B+	Discovery Elementary 26	Sioux Falls	Sioux Falls School District 49-5	56%	48%	Exceeds Expectations	877
#81	B+	Endeavor Elementary 07	Sioux Falls	Harrisburg School District 41-2	56%	55%	Meets Expectations	391
#82	B+	West Central Humboldt Elementary 02	Humboldt	West Central School District 49-7	56%	47%	Exceeds Expectations	385
#83	B	Faith Elementary 02	Faith	Faith School District 46-2	56%	45%	Exceeds Expectations	64
#84	B	Laura Ingalls Wilder Elementary 02	De Smet	De Smet School District 38-2	56%	48%	Exceeds Expectations	163
#85	B	Pinedale Elementary 11	Rapid City	Rapid City Area School District 51-4	56%	59%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	365
#86	B	Rosholt Elementary 02	Rosholt	Rosholt School District 54-4	56%	47%	Exceeds Expectations	84
#87	B	Madison Elementary 07	Madison	Madison Central School District 39-2	55%	45%	Exceeds Expectations	508
#88	B	Parkston Elementary 02	Parkston	Parkston School District 33-3	55%	49%	Meets Expectations	280
#89	B	Stewart Elementary 05	Yankton	Yankton School District 63-3	55%	36%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	278
#90	B	Wall Elementary 02	Wall	Wall School District 51-5	55%	42%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	116
#91	B	Beresford Elementary 02	Beresford	Beresford School District 61-2	54%	49%	Meets Expectations	307
#92	B	Canistota Elementary 02	Canistota	Canistota School District 43-1	54%	37%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	157
#93	B	Kennedy Elementary 08	Pierre	Pierre School District 32-2	54%	40%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	388
#94	B	Buffalo Elementary 02	Buffalo	Harding County School District 31-1	53%	48%	Exceeds Expectations	92
#95	B	Creekside Elementary 07	Spearfish	Spearfish School District 40-2	53%	47%	Exceeds Expectations	498
#96	B	Explorer Elementary 04	Sioux Falls	Harrisburg School District 41-2	53%	48%	Meets Expectations	370
#97	B	Lemmon Elementary 02	Lemmon	Lemmon School District 52-4	53%	44%	Exceeds Expectations	141
#98	B	Medary Elementary 05	Brookings	Brookings School District 05-1	53%	45%	Exceeds Expectations	323
#99	B	Alcester Hudson Elementary 04	Alcester	Alcester-Hudson School District 61-1	52%	53%	Meets Expectations	195
#100	B	Eugene Field A Elementary 16	Sioux Falls	Sioux Falls School District 49-5	52%	44%	Exceeds Expectations	413
#101	B	South Central Elementary 03	Bonesteel	South Central 26-5	52%	32%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	45
#102	B	Tschetter Colony Elementary 03	Olivet	Freeman School District 33-1	52%	47%	Meets Expectations	45
#103	B	Watertown Intermediate School 13	Watertown	Watertown School District 14-4	52%	51%	Meets Expectations	548
#104	B	White Lake Elementary 02	White Lake	White Lake School District 01-3	52%	40%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	63
#105	B-	Dakota Valley Elementary 02	North Sioux City	Dakota Valley School District 61-8	52%	57%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	365
#106	B-	Mobridge Upper Elementary 04	Mobridge	Mobridge-Pollock 62-6	52%	37%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	116
#107	B-	Jefferson Elementary 09	Watertown	Watertown School District 14-4	51%	51%	Meets Expectations	361
#108	B-	Kimball Elementary 02	Kimball	Kimball School District 07-2	51%	45%	Exceeds Expectations	123
#109	B-	Lawrence Elementary 02	Canton	Canton School District 41-1	51%	54%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	388
#110	B-	Meadowbrook Elementary 10	Rapid City	Rapid City Area School District 51-4	51%	48%	Meets Expectations	464
#111	B-	Hill City Elementary 02	Hill City	Hill City School District 51-2	50%	45%	Meets Expectations	221
#112	B-	Hutterische Colony Elementary 18	Tabor	Bon Homme School District 04-2	50%	30%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	42
#113	B-	Jefferson Elementary 06	Pierre	Pierre School District 32-2	50%	50%	Meets Expectations	430
#114	B-	Lincoln Elementary 08	Aberdeen	Aberdeen School District 06-1	50%	35%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	256
#115	B-	Longfellow Elementary 05	Mitchell	Mitchell School District 17-2	50%	40%	Exceeds Expectations	318
#116	B-	Philip Elementary 02	Philip	Haakon School District 27-1	50%	46%	Meets Expectations	152
#117	B-	Rf Pettigrew Elementary 17	Sioux Falls	Sioux Falls School District 49-5	50%	48%	Meets Expectations	952
#118	B-	Sturgis Elementary 03	Sturgis	Meade School District 46-1	50%	44%	Exceeds Expectations	552
#119	B-	Britton Hecla Elementary 02	Britton	Britton-Hecla School District 45-4	49%	48%	Meets Expectations	174
#120	B-	Colman Elementary 03	Colman	Colman-Egan School District 50-5	49%	44%	Exceeds Expectations	156
#121	B-	Dakota Valley Upper Elementary 04	North Sioux City	Dakota Valley School District 61-8	49%	49%	Meets Expectations	232
#122	B-	Freeman Elementary 02	Freeman	Freeman School District 33-1	49%	38%	Exceeds Expectations	173
#123	B-	Lincoln Elementary 05	Watertown	Watertown School District 14-4	49%	50%	Meets Expectations	338
#124	B-	Marion Elementary 02	Marion	Marion School District 60-3	49%	37%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	96
#125	B-	Plankinton Elementary 02	Plankinton	Plankinton School District 01-1	49%	34%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	141
#126	C+	Chester Elementary 02	Chester	Chester Area School District 39-1	48%	51%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	159
#127	C+	Clark Elementary 02	Clark	Clark School District 12-2	48%	49%	Meets Expectations	201
#128	C+	Colome Elementary 02	Colome	Colome Consolidated 59-3	48%	36%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	81
#129	C+	Deubrook Elementary 03	Toronto	Deubrook Area School District 05-6	48%	39%	Exceeds Expectations	204
#130	C+	Doland Elementary 03	Doland	Doland School District 56-2	48%	43%	Exceeds Expectations	81
#131	C+	Edmunds Central Elementary 05	Roscoe	Edmunds Central School District 22-5	48%	39%	Exceeds Expectations	57
#132	C+	Parker Elementary 02	Parker	Parker School District 60-4	48%	48%	Meets Expectations	262
#133	C+	Patriot Elementary 06	Box Elder	Douglas School District 51-1	48%	45%	Meets Expectations	890
#134	C+	Robert Frost Elementary 18	Sioux Falls	Sioux Falls School District 49-5	48%	51%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	442
#135	C+	Wolf Creek Colony Elementary 04	Olivet	Freeman School District 33-1	48%	52%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	34
#136	C+	Elk Point Jefferson Elementary 02	Elk Point	Elk Point-Jefferson School District 61-7	47%	49%	Meets Expectations	321
#137	C+	Eureka Elementary 02	Eureka	Eureka School District 44-1	47%	43%	Meets Expectations	105
#138	C+	Lincoln Elementary 04	Yankton	Yankton School District 63-3	47%	39%	Exceeds Expectations	410
#139	C+	Menno Elementary 02	Menno	Menno School District 33-2	47%	41%	Exceeds Expectations	82
#140	C+	Newell Elementary 02	Newell	Newell School District 09-2	47%	39%	Exceeds Expectations	152
#141	C+	Northwestern Elementary 04	Mellette	Northwestern Area School District 56-7	47%	44%	Meets Expectations	119
#142	C+	Waubay Elementary 02	Waubay	Waubay School District 18-3	47%	27%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	87
#143	C+	Redfield Elementary 03	Redfield	Redfield School District 56-4	46%	40%	Exceeds Expectations	270
#144	C+	Clear Lake Elementary 02	Clear Lake	Deuel School District 19-4	45%	47%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	259
#145	C+	Gertie Belle Rogers Elementary 04	Mitchell	Mitchell School District 17-2	45%	39%	Meets Expectations	390
#146	C+	South Park Elementary 03	Belle Fourche	Belle Fourche School District 09-1	45%	38%	Exceeds Expectations	382
#147	C	L B Williams Elementary 03	Mitchell	Mitchell School District 17-2	45%	38%	Exceeds Expectations	436
#148	C	Camelot Intermediate 06	Brookings	Brookings School District 05-1	44%	54%	Underperforms Expectations	529
#149	C	Chamberlain Elementary 03	Chamberlain	Chamberlain School District 07-1	44%	30%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	397
#150	C	Hermosa Elementary 04	Hermosa	Custer School District 16-1	44%	49%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	222
#151	C	Stanley County Elementary 08	Fort Pierre	Stanley County School District 57-1	44%	43%	Meets Expectations	188
#152	C	Tea Area Frontier Elementary 05	Sioux Falls	Tea Area School District 41-5	44%	34%	Exceeds Expectations	236
#153	C	Woonsocket Elementary 03	Woonsocket	Woonsocket School District 55-4	44%	36%	Exceeds Expectations	195
#154	C	Central Meade County School 09 Union Center	Union Center	Meade School District 46-1	43%	40%	Meets Expectations	56
#155	C	Garretson Elementary 02	Garretson	Garretson School District 49-4	43%	44%	Meets Expectations	243
#156	C	Lead Deadwood Elementary 03	Deadwood	Lead-Deadwood School District 40-1	43%	41%	Meets Expectations	293
#157	C	Mellette Elementary 07	Watertown	Watertown School District 14-4	43%	48%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	212
#158	C	Oscar Howe Elementary 58	Sioux Falls	Sioux Falls School District 49-5	43%	39%	Meets Expectations	586
#159	C	Vandenberg Elementary 02	Box Elder	Douglas School District 51-1	43%	42%	Meets Expectations	441
#160	C	Florence Elementary 02	Florence	Florence School District 14-1	42%	47%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	152
#161	C	Willow Lake Elementary 02	Willow Lake	Willow Lake School District 12-3	42%	43%	Meets Expectations	144
#162	C	Grandview Elementary 06	Rapid City	Rapid City Area School District 51-4	41%	39%	Meets Expectations	406
#163	C	Liberty Elementary 02	Harrisburg	Harrisburg School District 41-2	41%	52%	Underperforms Expectations	565
#164	C	Long Lake Colony Elementary 05	Wetonka	Leola School District 44-2	41%	39%	Meets Expectations	30
#165	C	Simmons Elementary 10	Aberdeen	Aberdeen School District 06-1	41%	39%	Meets Expectations	395
#166	C	Upland Colony Elementary 05	Artesian	Sanborn Central School District 55-5	41%	45%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	36
#167	C-	Flandreau Elementary 04	Flandreau	Flandreau School District 50-3	41%	33%	Exceeds Expectations	269
#168	C-	Rapid Valley Elementary 12	Rapid City	Rapid City Area School District 51-4	41%	39%	Meets Expectations	514
#169	C-	Hillcrest Elementary 04	Brookings	Brookings School District 05-1	39%	45%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	305
#170	C-	Woodrow Wilson Elementary 17	Rapid City	Rapid City Area School District 51-4	39%	33%	Exceeds Expectations	337
#171	C-	Edgemont Elementary 03	Edgemont	Edgemont School District 23-1	38%	38%	Meets Expectations	107
#172	C-	Highmore Elementary 02	Highmore	Highmore-Harrold 34-2	37%	43%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	130
#173	C-	Lyman Elementary 04	Kennebec	Lyman School District 42-1	37%	25%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	200
#174	C-	Mccook Central Elementary 02	Salem	McCook Central School District 43-7	37%	48%	Underperforms Expectations	184
#175	C-	South Canyon Elementary 15	Rapid City	Rapid City Area School District 51-4	37%	39%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	266
#176	C-	Wilmot Elementary 02	Wilmot	Wilmot School District 54-7	37%	38%	Meets Expectations	122
#177	C-	Bison Elementary 02	Bison	Bison School District 52-1	36%	45%	Underperforms Expectations	67
#178	C-	Elkton Elementary 02	Elkton	Elkton School District 05-3	36%	37%	Meets Expectations	206
#179	C-	Gayville Volin Elementary 02	Gayville	Gayville-Volin School District 63-1	36%	44%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	144
#180	C-	Longvalley Elementary 10	Long Valley	Kadoka Area School District 35-2	36%	33%	Meets Expectations	32
#181	C-	Renberg Elementary 42	Renner	Sioux Falls School District 49-5	36%	35%	Meets Expectations	215
#182	C-	Freedom Elementary 06	Harrisburg	Harrisburg School District 41-2	35%	46%	Underperforms Expectations	410
#183	C-	Horizon Elementary 09	Sioux Falls	Harrisburg School District 41-2	35%	47%	Underperforms Expectations	373
#184	C-	Wakpala Elementary 02	Wakpala	Smee School District 15-3	35%	16%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	85
#185	C-	Westside Elementary 03	Sisseton	Sisseton School District 54-2	35%	25%	Exceeds Expectations	395
#186	D+	May Overby Elementary 09	Aberdeen	Aberdeen School District 06-1	35%	32%	Meets Expectations	357
#187	D+	New Underwood Elementary 02	New Underwood	New Underwood School District 51-3	35%	43%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	127
#188	D+	Susan B Anthony Elementary 66	Sioux Falls	Sioux Falls School District 49-5	35%	37%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	555
#189	D+	Washington 4 5 Center 20	Huron	Huron School District 02-2	35%	35%	Meets Expectations	429
#190	D+	Winner Elementary 04	Winner	Winner School District 59-2	35%	36%	Meets Expectations	444
#191	D+	Black Hawk Elementary 03	Black Hawk	Rapid City Area School District 51-4	34%	45%	Underperforms Expectations	370
#192	D+	Irene Wakonda Elementary 02	Wakonda	Irene - Wakonda School District 13-3	34%	40%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	162
#193	D+	Mike Miller Elementary 07	Aberdeen	Aberdeen School District 06-1	34%	42%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	244
#194	D+	Wagner Elementary 02	Wagner	Wagner Community School District 11-4	34%	22%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	345
#195	D+	Hot Springs Elementary 02	Hot Springs	Hot Springs School District 23-2	33%	36%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	331
#196	D+	O M Tiffany Elementary 11	Aberdeen	Aberdeen School District 06-1	33%	35%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	312
#197	D+	Waverly South Shore Elementary 02	Waverly	Waverly School District 14-5	33%	38%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	122
#198	D+	Old Elm Spring Colony Elementary 03	Parkston	Parkston School District 33-3	32%	39%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	32
#199	D+	Rosa Parks Elementary 15	Sioux Falls	Sioux Falls School District 49-5	32%	36%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	729
#200	D+	Herreid Elementary 02	Herreid	Herreid School District 10-1	31%	45%	Underperforms Expectations	76
#201	D+	Iroquois Elementary 04	Iroquois	Iroquois School District 02-3	31%	44%	Underperforms Expectations	115
#202	D+	Laura Wilder Elementary 31	Sioux Falls	Sioux Falls School District 49-5	31%	33%	Meets Expectations	448
#203	D	Henry Elementary 02	Henry	Henry School District 14-2	31%	43%	Underperforms Expectations	93
#204	D	Westwood Rural Elementary 05	Britton	Britton-Hecla School District 45-4	31%	42%	Underperforms Expectations	34
#205	D	Blumengard Colony Elementary 06	Faulkton	Faulkton Area Schools 24-4	30%	47%	Underperforms Expectations	34
#206	D	Valley View Elementary 13	Rapid City	Rapid City Area School District 51-4	29%	42%	Underperforms Expectations	581
#207	D	Webster Elementary 06	Yankton	Yankton School District 63-3	29%	47%	Underperforms Expectations	396
#208	D	Wolsey Wessington Elementary 02	Wolsey	Wolsey Wessington School District 02-6	29%	39%	Underperforms Expectations	166
#209	D	Armour Elementary 02	Armour	Armour School District 21-1	28%	40%	Underperforms Expectations	123
#210	D	Dupree Elementary 02	Dupree	Dupree School District 64-2	28%	14%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	232
#211	D	Lowell Elementary 28	Sioux Falls	Sioux Falls School District 49-5	27%	22%	Meets Expectations	358
#212	D	Springfield Elementary 03	Springfield	Bon Homme School District 04-2	27%	40%	Underperforms Expectations	45
#213	D	Anne Sullivan Elementary 20	Sioux Falls	Sioux Falls School District 49-5	26%	24%	Meets Expectations	623
#214	D	South Park Elementary 16	Rapid City	Rapid City Area School District 51-4	25%	24%	Meets Expectations	314
#215	D	Madison 2 3 Center 19	Huron	Huron School District 02-2	24%	31%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	437
#216	D	Oaklane Colony Elementary 05	Alexandria	Hanson School District 30-1	24%	49%	Underperforms Expectations	31
#217	D	Cleveland Elementary 14	Sioux Falls	Sioux Falls School District 49-5	23%	15%	Exceeds Expectations	495
#218	D	Martin Elementary 03	Martin	Bennett County School District 03-1	23%	17%	Exceeds Expectations	253
#219	D	Tripp Elementary 03	Tripp	Tripp-Delmont School District 33-5	23%	44%	Underperforms Expectations	101
#220	D	Laura B Anderson Elementary 10	Sioux Falls	Sioux Falls School District 49-5	22%	18%	Meets Expectations	355
#221	D-	Andes Central Elementary 02	Lake Andes	Andes Central School District 11-1	22%	17%	Meets Expectations	189
#222	D-	Summit Elementary 02	Summit	Summit School District 54-6	22%	25%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	121
#223	D-	Rustic Acres Elementary 04	Madison	Chester Area School District 39-1	21%	47%	Underperforms Expectations	36
#224	D-	Terry Redlin Elementary 11	Sioux Falls	Sioux Falls School District 49-5	20%	19%	Meets Expectations	473
#225	D-	Hawthorne Elementary 56	Sioux Falls	Sioux Falls School District 49-5	18%	22%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	334
#226	D-	Knollwood Heights Elementary 08	Rapid City	Rapid City Area School District 51-4	18%	18%	Meets Expectations	357
#227	D-	White River Elementary 02	White River	White River School District 47-1	18%	14%	Meets Expectations	165
#228	D-	Garfield Elementary 19	Sioux Falls	Sioux Falls School District 49-5	17%	23%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	575
#229	D-	Oelrichs Elementary 02	Oelrichs	Oelrichs School District 23-3	17%	20%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	41
#230	D-	Hayward Elementary 38	Sioux Falls	Sioux Falls School District 49-5	15%	21%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	652
#231	D-	Horace Mann Elementary 07	Rapid City	Rapid City Area School District 51-4	15%	17%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	284
#232	D-	Robbinsdale Elementary 14	Rapid City	Rapid City Area School District 51-4	15%	21%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	359
#233	D-	Interior Elementary 09	Interior	Kadoka Area School District 35-2	14%	22%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	33
#234	F	Fordham Colony Elementary 04	Carpenter	Clark School District 12-2	13%	35%	Underperforms Expectations	37
#235	F	Rosebud Elementary 04	Rosebud	Todd County School District 66-1	13%	11%	Meets Expectations	302
#236	F	Maxwell Colony Elementary 04	Scotland	Menno School District 33-2	12%	42%	Underperforms Expectations	47
#237	F	Newport Colony Elementary 04	Claremont	Langford Area 45-5	12%	36%	Underperforms Expectations	41
#238	F	Todd County Elementary 16	Mission	Todd County School District 66-1	12%	12%	Meets Expectations	489
#239	F	Batesland School 01	Batesland	Oglala Lakota County 65-1	11%	10%	Meets Expectations	196
#240	F	Bridges At Horace Mann 52 Sioux Falls	Sioux Falls	Sioux Falls School District 49-5	11%	23%	Underperforms Expectations	52
#241	F	General Beadle Elementary 01	Rapid City	Rapid City Area School District 51-4	11%	19%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	444
#242	F	Mclaughlin Elementary 02	Mclaughlin	McLaughlin School District 15-2	10%	11%	Meets Expectations	203
#243	F	Norris Elementary 08	Norris	White River School District 47-1	10%	12%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	45
#244	F	Eagle Butte Upper Elementary 03	Eagle Butte	Eagle Butte School District 20-1	8%	12%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	242
#245	F	He Dog Elementary 05	Parmelee	Todd County School District 66-1	8%	11%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	195
#246	F	Okreek Elementary	14 Okreek	Todd County School District 66-1	8%	23%	Underperforms Expectations	30
#247	F	Rockyford School 03	Porcupine	Oglala Lakota County 65-1	8%	11%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	396
#248	F	Mcintosh Elementary 02	Mcintosh	McIntosh School District 15-1	7%	22%	Underperforms Expectations	52

How South Dakota's elementary schools compare

A: 62B: 63C: 60D: 48F: 15

50% of the 248 ranked elementary schools in South Dakota earn an A or B (62 A grades, 63 B, 60 C, 48 D, 15 F), against 46% of elementary schools nationwide. 184 schools meet or beat the proficiency projected from their student context (74% here, 70% nationally), and 126 exceed it. On average 46% of tested students meet the state bar against a projected 41% (national averages: 46% actual, 37% projected).

The biggest overperformers, by actual proficiency above projection: Pembrook Colony Elementary 06 (91% against 45%, A+), Kadoka Elementary 02 (67% against 28%, A), Jones County Elementary 02 (78% against 43%, A+), Faulkton Elementary 02 (81% against 47%, A+), Big Stone City Elementary 01 (65% against 31%, A).

Districts with the most schools in the top quarter (the top 62): Sioux Falls School District 49-5 (5), Brandon Valley School District 49-2 (5), Lennox School District 41-4 (3), Ipswich Public School District 22-6 (2).

Cities with the most ranked elementary schools: Sioux Falls (31, 15 at A or B), Rapid City (13, 3 at A or B), Aberdeen (6, 2 at A or B), Brookings (4, 2 at A or B), Yankton (4, 2 at A or B).

The largest ranked elementary schools: Rf Pettigrew Elementary 17 (952 students, B-, #117), Patriot Elementary 06 (890 students, C+, #133), Discovery Elementary 26 (877 students, B+, #80).

Elementary schools in South Dakota that are not ranked

89 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 (31)

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

C- Brentwood Colony Elementary 05, Faulkton
F Claremont Colony Elementary 04, Castlewood
D- Clearfield Colony Elementary 07, Delmont
F Collins Colony Elementary 06, Iroquois
B+ Dawson Colony School 20, Scotland
C+ Deerfield Colony Elementary 05, Leola
A+ Glendale Colony Elementary 04, Frankfort
D+ Goldenview Colony School 04, Salem
D- Graceville Colony 07 Winfred, Winfred
D- Hillcrest Colony Elementary 05, Garden City
D- Hutterville Colony Elementary - 06, Stratford
D Jamesville Colony Elementary 03, Utica
A+ Lakeview Colony Elementary 05, Lake Andes
D Maurine Elementary 04, Faith
D Mayfield Colony Elementary 04, Willow Lake
F New Elm Spring Colony Elementary 08, Ethan
C Newdale Colony Elementary 04, Elkton
D- Norfeld Colony Elementary 07, White
D- Pleasant Valley Colony Elementary 06, Flandreau
F Red Willow Colony School 09, White
F Riverside Colony Elementary 15, Huron
A+ Rockport Colony Elementary 10, Alexandria
D+ Rosedale Colony Elementary 11, Mitchell
F Rosette Colony Elementary 03, Leola
D- Shamrock Colony Elementary 05, Carpenter
D+ Silver Lake Colony 07 Clark, Clark
A+ Spink Colony Elementary 03, Frankfort
D+ Spring Valley Colony Elementary 05, Wessington Springs
F Sunrise Colony - 15, Summit
C- Sunset Colony Elementary 04, Britton
D- White Rock Colony Elementary 03, Rosholt

Not yet graded (58)

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

Abbott House Elementary 06, Mitchell
American Horse School, Allen
Atall Elementary 17 Union Center, Union Center
Austin Elementary 03, Vermillion
Blue Sky Colony 04 Milbank, Milbank
Blunt Elementary 03, Blunt
Boulder Colony School 06, Hosmer
Brandon Valley Distance Learning Academy Elementary 94, Brandon
Brandon Valley Distance Learning Academy Intermediate 90, Brandon
Buchanan K 1 Center 18, Huron
Cameron Colony Elementary 04, Viborg
Camp Crook Elementary 08, Camp Crook
Camridge Colony School - 04, Rutland
Camrose Colony Elementary 06, Frankfort
Canyon Lake Elementary 04, Rapid City
Cheyenne Elementary 06, Hayes
Clark Colony Elementary 05, Raymond
Crow Creek Sioux Tribal Elementary School, Stephan
Eagle Butte Primary 02, Eagle Butte
Elementary Immersion Center 43, Sioux Falls
Elk Mountain Elementary 01, Dewey
Elm Springs Elementary 13, Wasta
Enemy Swim Day School, Waubay
Freeman Davis Elementary 03, Mobridge
Grassland Colony Elementary 06, Westport
Greenwood Colony Elementary 05, Delmont
Hereford Elementary 08, Hereford
Hillside Colony Elementary 04, Doland
Huron Colony Elementary 13, Huron
Jolley Elementary 04, Vermillion
Ludlow Elementary 06, Ludlow
Mckinley Elementary 06, Watertown
Midland Elementary 11, Midland
Milesville Elementary 08, Milesville
Millbrook Colony Elementary 04, Mitchell
Millerdale Colony Elementary 11, Miller
Mountain View Elementary 08, Spearfish
North Park Elementary 08, Belle Fourche
Oldham-ramona Elementary - 02, Ramona
Opal Elementary 15, Opal
Pahin Sinte Owayawa School, Porcupine
Pierre Indian Learning Center, Pierre
Platte Colony Elementary 10 Academy, Academy
Premier Learning Academy Elementary - 94, Langford
Red Shirt School 04, Hermosa
Rock Creek Grant School, Bullhead
Rolland Colony Elementary 05, White
Roosevelt Elementary 08, Watertown
Rutland Elementary - 02, Rutland
Sdsbvi Elementary 01, Aberdeen
Spring Creek Elementary 07, St Francis
Spring Lake Colony Elementary - 04, Arlington
Tabor Elementary 05, Tabor
Valley Springs Elementary 04, Valley Springs
Wessington Springs Elementary Cyber School 94, Wessington Springs
West Elementary 03, Spearfish
Wolf Creek School 02, Pine Ridge
Wounded Knee District School, Manderson

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 248 ranked elementary schools in South Dakota with a SchoolGrade of A+, 95% of tested students meeting the state bar against a projected 66%.

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 337 public elementary schools in South Dakota; 248 are ranked here and 89 are listed as not ranked.