Top Rankings
Arlington School District 38-1 ranks among the top 20% of public school district in South Dakota for:
Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Highest overall rank (Top 5%)
Math Proficiency
Highest math proficiency (Top 10%)
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 5%)
For the 2026-27 school year, there is 1 public elementary school serving 152 students in Arlington School District 38-1. 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 School in Arlington School District 38-1 have an average math proficiency score of 67% (versus the South Dakota public elementary school average of 43%), and reading proficiency score of 77% (versus the 49% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 9% 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
4 Schools
494 Schools
# Students
292 Students
101,278 Students
# Teachers
25 Teachers
7,454 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
12:1
12:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Arlington School District 38-1, which is ranked within the top 5% 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
#3 out of 148 school districts
(Top 5%)
(Top 5%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
68%
42%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
75-79%
51%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
40-49%
42%
Graduation Rate
(21-22)≥80%
82%
Chronically Absent Students
(2022-23)7.1%
22.5%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.19
0.56
% American Indian
n/a
16%
% Asian
n/a
2%
% Hispanic
7%
9%
% Black
n/a
3%
% White
90%
64%
% Hawaiian
1%
n/a
% Two or more races
2%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $18,462 is higher than the state median of $14,736. The school district revenue/student has grown by 9% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $20,127 is higher than the state median of $15,173. The school district spending/student has grown by 30% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$5 MM
$2,163 MM
Spending
$6 MM
$2,227 MM
Revenue / Student
$18,462
$14,736
Spending / Student
$20,127
$15,173
Best Arlington School District 38-1 Public Elementary Schools (2026-27)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Arlington Elementary - 02
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
306 S Main St
Arlington, SD 57212
(605) 983-5741
Arlington, SD 57212
(605) 983-5741
Gr: K-6 | 152 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 9%
Recent Articles
When Your Child Gets a Teacher You Didn't Request
Learn what parents can do when a child is assigned to an unexpected teacher, including when to wait, communicate, document concerns, request support, and seek reassignment appropriately.
Before Accepting a Public School Seat: 15 Checks
Before accepting a public school seat, parents should verify enrollment terms, transportation, staffing, academics, safety, support services, schedules, attendance rules, extracurriculars, costs, and long-term placement details carefully.
Will This Public School Offer the Same Programs Next Year?
Learn how parents can determine whether public school programs will continue next year by checking budgets, enrollment, staffing, board documents, grants, course schedules, and district priorities before enrolling.
