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 2 public elementary schools serving 137 students in Lake Preston School District 38-3. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 10/10, which is in the top 5% of public elementary schools in South Dakota.
Public Elementary Schools in Lake Preston School District 38-3 have an average math proficiency score of 73% (versus the South Dakota public elementary school average of 43%), and reading proficiency score of 65% (versus the 49% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 11% of the student body (majority American Indian), 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
497 Schools
# Students
188 Students
101,009 Students
# Teachers
22 Teachers
7,507 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
0.55
# American Indian Students
5 Students
16,670 Students
% American Indian Students
3%
17%
# Asian Students
n/a
1,571 Students
% Asian Students
n/a
2%
# Hispanic Students
4 Students
8,335 Students
% Hispanic Students
2%
8%
# Black Students
n/a
3,317 Students
% Black Students
n/a
3%
# White Students
169 Students
64,951 Students
% White Students
90%
64%
# Hawaiian Students
n/a
129 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
10 Students
6,036 Students
% of Two or more races Students
5%
6%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
15
2,878
# Students in K Grade:
21
11,668
# 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
10,958
# Students in 7th Grade:
12
9,781
# Students in 8th Grade:
8
9,926
# Students in 9th Grade:
12
674
# Students in 10th Grade:
15
577
# Students in 11th Grade:
11
475
# Students in 12th Grade:
13
415
# 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 Elementary 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 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
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