Top Rankings
Lake Preston School District 38-3 ranks among the top 20% of public school district in South Dakota for:
Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Highest overall rank (Top 10%)
Math Proficiency
Highest math proficiency (Top 10%)
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 10%)
Science Proficiency
Highest science proficiency (Top 5%)
Student Attention
Lowest student:teacher ratio (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 3 public schools serving 188 students in Lake Preston School District 38-3. This district's average testing ranking is 10/10, which is in the top 10% of public schools in South Dakota.
Public Schools in Lake Preston School District 38-3 have an average math proficiency score of 69% (versus the South Dakota public school average of 43%), and reading proficiency score of 62% (versus the 51% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 10% of the student body (majority American Indian), which is less than the South Dakota public school average of 33% (majority American Indian).
Overview
This School District
This State (SD)
# Schools
3 Schools
734 Schools
# Students
188 Students
146,041 Students
# Teachers
22 Teachers
10,645 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
9:1
9:1
District Rank
Lake Preston School District 38-3, which is ranked within the top 10% of all 146 school districts in South Dakota (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 80% has increased from 50% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#9 out of 148 school districts
(Top 10%)
(Top 10%)

Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
60-64%
42%

Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
65-69%
51%

Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
60-69%
42%

Graduation Rate
≥80%
82%

Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.19
0.53
# American Indian Students
5 Students
20,873 Students
% American Indian Students
3%
14%
# Asian Students
n/a
2,252 Students
% Asian Students
n/a
2%
# Hispanic Students
4 Students
11,917 Students
% Hispanic Students
2%
8%
# Black Students
n/a
4,730 Students
% Black Students
n/a
3%
# White Students
169 Students
97,780 Students
% White Students
90%
67%
# Hawaiian Students
n/a
197 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
10 Students
8,292 Students
% of Two or more races Students
5%
6%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
15
3,175
# Students in K Grade:
21
11,936
# Students in 1st Grade:
8
10,796
# Students in 2nd Grade:
19
10,955
# Students in 3rd Grade:
14
10,445
# Students in 4th Grade:
15
10,671
# Students in 5th Grade:
12
10,790
# Students in 6th Grade:
13
10,961
# Students in 7th Grade:
12
11,058
# Students in 8th Grade:
8
11,237
# Students in 9th Grade:
12
12,230
# Students in 10th Grade:
15
11,381
# Students in 11th Grade:
11
10,546
# Students in 12th Grade:
13
9,860
# Ungraded Students:
-
-
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $19,324 is higher than the state median of $13,121. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $16,457 is higher than the state median of $12,623. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$4 MM
$1,916 MM

Spending
$3 MM
$1,844 MM

Revenue / Student
$19,324
$13,121

Spending / Student
$16,457
$12,623

Best Lake Preston School District 38-3 Public Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Lake Preston Elementary - 02
(Math: ≥90% | Reading: 80-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
300 1st St Ne
Lake Preston, SD 57249
(605) 847-4464
Lake Preston, SD 57249
(605) 847-4464
Grades: PK-5
| 104 students
Rank: #22.
Lake Preston High School - 01
(Math: <50% | Reading: ≥50%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
300 1st St Ne
Lake Preston, SD 57249
(605) 847-4455
Lake Preston, SD 57249
(605) 847-4455
Grades: 9-12
| 51 students
Rank: #33.
Lake Preston Middle School - 03
(Math: 50-59% | Reading: 40-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
300 1st St Ne
Lake Preston, SD 57249
(605) 847-4455
Lake Preston, SD 57249
(605) 847-4455
Grades: 6-8
| 33 students
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools belong to Lake Preston School District 38-3?
Lake Preston School District 38-3 manages 3 public schools serving 188 students.
What is the rank of Lake Preston School District 38-3?
Lake Preston School District 38-3 is ranked #11 out of 146 school districts in South Dakota (top 10%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2021-2022 school year. This district ranks in the top 20% of South Dakota school districts for: Highest overall rank (Top 10%), Highest math proficiency (Top 10%), Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 10%), Highest science proficiency (Top 5%) and Lowest student:teacher ratio (Top 1%)
What is the racial composition of students in Lake Preston School District 38-3?
90% of Lake Preston School District 38-3 students are White, 5% of students are Two or more races, 3% of students are American Indian, and 2% of students are Hispanic.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Lake Preston School District 38-3?
Lake Preston School District 38-3 has a student/teacher ratio of 9:1, which is lower than the South Dakota state average of 14:1.
What is Lake Preston School District 38-3's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $16,457 is higher than the state median of $12,623. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
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