For the 2026 school year, there are 2 public elementary schools serving 264 students in De Smet School District 38-2. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public elementary schools in South Dakota.
Public Elementary Schools in De Smet School District 38-2 have an average math proficiency score of 36% (versus the South Dakota public elementary school average of 43%), and reading proficiency score of 47% (versus the 49% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 7% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the South Dakota public elementary school average of 36% (majority American Indian).
Overview
This School District
This State (SD)
# Schools
3 Schools
495 Schools
# Students
354 Students
100,764 Students
# Teachers
26 Teachers
7,485 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
14:1
14:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
De Smet School District 38-2, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 146 school districts in South Dakota (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 80% has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#89 out of 148 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
36%
42%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
50-54%
51%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
40-44%
42%
Graduation Rate
(21-22)≥80%
82%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.13
0.55
% American Indian
1%
17%
% Asian
n/a
2%
% Hispanic
4%
8%
% Black
1%
3%
% White
93%
64%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
1%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $12,960 in this school district is less than the state median of $13,146. The school district revenue/student has declined by 12% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $11,424 is less than the state median of $12,647. The school district spending/student has declined by 19% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$5 MM
$1,916 MM
Spending
$4 MM
$1,844 MM
Revenue / Student
$12,960
$13,146
Spending / Student
$11,424
$12,647
Best De Smet School District 38-2 Public Elementary Schools (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Laura Ingalls Wilder Elementary - 02
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
407 Ingalls Ave Sw
De Smet, SD 57231
(605) 854-3963
De Smet, SD 57231
(605) 854-3963
Gr: PK-5 | 178 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 7%
Rank: #22.
De Smet Middle School - 03
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
405 3rd St Sw
De Smet, SD 57231
(605) 854-3423
De Smet, SD 57231
(605) 854-3423
Gr: 6-8 | 86 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 8%
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