Top Rankings
Northwestern Area School District 56-7 ranks among the top 20% of public school district in South Dakota for:
Category
Attribute
Science Proficiency
Highest science proficiency (Top 20%)
For the 2025 school year, there is 1 public preschool serving 124 students in Northwestern Area School District 56-7. This district's average pre testing ranking is 5/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public pre schools in South Dakota.
Public Preschool in Northwestern Area School District 56-7 have an average math proficiency score of 55% (versus the South Dakota public pre school average of 45%), and reading proficiency score of 45% (versus the 45% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 6% of the student body (majority Black and Hispanic), which is less than the South Dakota public preschool average of 34% (majority American Indian and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (SD)
# Schools
6 Schools
146 Schools
# Students
359 Students
30,673 Students
# Teachers
25 Teachers
2,365 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
14:1
14:1
District Rank
Northwestern Area School District 56-7, which is ranked within the top 30% 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 50-59% has increased from 50% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#40 out of 148 school districts
(Top 30%)
(Top 30%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
50-54%
42%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
55-59%
51%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
50-54%
42%
Graduation Rate
50-59%
82%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.13
0.54
# American Indian Students
5 Students
4,061 Students
% American Indian Students
1%
13%
# Asian Students
n/a
393 Students
% Asian Students
n/a
1%
# Hispanic Students
6 Students
2,670 Students
% Hispanic Students
2%
9%
# Black Students
4 Students
1,561 Students
% Black Students
1%
5%
# White Students
335 Students
20,183 Students
% White Students
93%
66%
# Hawaiian Students
n/a
34 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
9 Students
1,771 Students
% of Two or more races Students
3%
6%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
13
3,169
# Students in K Grade:
28
5,257
# Students in 1st Grade:
26
4,537
# Students in 2nd Grade:
12
4,500
# Students in 3rd Grade:
25
4,204
# Students in 4th Grade:
14
4,421
# Students in 5th Grade:
15
3,746
# Students in 6th Grade:
28
451
# Students in 7th Grade:
20
182
# Students in 8th Grade:
26
206
# Students in 9th Grade:
29
-
# Students in 10th Grade:
36
-
# Students in 11th Grade:
41
-
# Students in 12th Grade:
46
-
# Ungraded Students:
-
-
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $11,515 in this school district is less than the state median of $13,121. The school district revenue/student has declined by 10% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $10,000 is less than the state median of $12,623. The school district spending/student has declined by 10% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$4 MM
$1,916 MM
Spending
$4 MM
$1,844 MM
Revenue / Student
$11,515
$13,121
Spending / Student
$10,000
$12,623
Best Northwestern Area School District 56-7 Public Preschools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Northwestern Elementary - 04
(Math: 50-59% | Reading: 40-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
221 3rd St
Mellette, SD 57461
(605) 887-3467
Mellette, SD 57461
(605) 887-3467
Grades: PK-5
| 124 students
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