Top 10 Best South Dakota Blue Ribbon Public Schools (2024)

For the 2024 school year, there are 44 blue ribbon public schools serving 8,238 students in South Dakota.
Blue ribbon schools have been recognized by the Department of Education for achieving superior standards of academic excellence. Read more about this national school awards program and how blue ribbon schools work.
The top ranked blue ribbon public schools in South Dakota are Challenge Center - 51, Warner Elementary - 02 and Tabor Elementary - 05. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
South Dakota blue ribbon public schools have an average math proficiency score of 60% (versus the South Dakota public school average of 43%), and reading proficiency score of 63% (versus the 52% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 18% of the student body (majority Hispanic and American Indian), which is less than the South Dakota public school average of 31% (majority American Indian).

Best South Dakota Blue Ribbon Public Schools (2024)

School (Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Challenge Center - 51
Math: ≥95% | Reading: ≥95%
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
3101 S 4th Ave
Sioux Falls, SD 57105
(605) 367-6170
Grades: 2-5
| 166 students
Rank: #22.
Warner Elementary - 02
Math: 85-89% | Reading: 90-94%
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
110 1st Ave Sw
Warner, SD 57479
(605) 225-6194
Grades: K-5
| 164 students
Rank: #33.
Tabor Elementary - 05
Math: ≥80% | Reading: ≥80%
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
227 N Lidice St
Tabor, SD 57063
(605) 463-2271
Grades: K-5
| 34 students
Rank: #44.
Dell Rapids Elementary - 02
Math: 80-84% | Reading: 75-79%
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
309 W 15th St
Dell Rapids, SD 57022
(605) 428-5473
Grades: K-4
| 395 students
Rank: #55.
Ethan High School - 01
Math: 60-79% | Reading: ≥80%
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
320 S 2nd St
Ethan, SD 57334
(605) 227-4211
Grades: 9-12
| 82 students
Rank: #66.
Faulkton Elementary - 02
Math: 75-79% | Reading: 70-74%
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
1114 Court St
Faulkton, SD 57438
(605) 598-6266
Grades: PK-5
| 161 students
Rank: #77.
Corsica-stickney Elementary - 02
Math: 70-74% | Reading: 70-74%
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
506 Main St
Stickney, SD 57375
(605) 732-4221
Grades: PK-6
| 177 students
Rank: #88.
All City Elementary - 50
Math: 65-69% | Reading: 75-79%
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
2511 W Brookings St
Sioux Falls, SD 57104
(605) 367-6120
Grades: K-5
| 138 students
Rank: #99.
Sonia Sotomayor Elementary - 65
Math: 67% | Reading: 72%
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
1510 S Lake Ave
Sioux Falls, SD 57105
(605) 367-4655
Grades: PK-5
| 689 students
Rank: #1010.
Timber Lake Middle School - 03
Math: 55-59% | Reading: 70-74%
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
500 Main St
Timber Lake, SD 57656
(605) 865-3654
Grades: 6-8
| 90 students
Rank: #1111.
Canistota Elementary - 02
Math: 70-79% | Reading: 60-69%
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
431 4th Ave
Canistota, SD 57012
(605) 296-3458
Grades: PK-5
| 127 students
Rank: #1212.
Robert Bennis Elementary - 05
Math: 64% | Reading: 68%
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
2001 S Sioux Blvd
Brandon, SD 57005
(605) 582-8010
Grades: K-4
| 575 students
Rank: #13 - 1413. - 14.
Pinedale Elementary - 11
Math: 60-64% | Reading: 65-69%
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
4901 W Chicago St
Rapid City, SD 57702
(605) 394-1805
Grades: K-5
| 366 students
Rank: #13 - 1413. - 14.
Webster Area Elementary - 03
Math: 60-64% | Reading: 65-69%
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
102 E Ninth Ave
Webster, SD 57274
(605) 345-4651
Grades: PK-5
| 266 students
Rank: #1515.
Ethan Elementary - 02
Math: 70-74% | Reading: 60-64%
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
320 S 2nd St
Ethan, SD 57334
(605) 227-4211
Grades: PK-6
| 161 students
Rank: #1616.
Gettysburg Middle School - 03
Math: 60-69% | Reading: 60-69%
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
100 E King Ave
Gettysburg, SD 57442
(605) 765-2436
Grades: 6-8
| 51 students
Rank: #1717.
Timber Lake Elementary - 02
Math: 65-69% | Reading: 60-64%
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
500 Main St
Timber Lake, SD 57656
(605) 865-3654
Grades: PK-5
| 156 students
Rank: #18 - 1918. - 19.
Frederick Elementary - 02
Math: 50-59% | Reading: 60-69%
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
202 E Main St
Frederick, SD 57441
(605) 329-2145
Grades: K-6
| 80 students
Rank: #18 - 1918. - 19.
Whitewood Elementary - 04
Math: 50-59% | Reading: 60-69%
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
603 Garfield St
Whitewood, SD 57793
(605) 269-2264
Grades: PK-5
| 128 students
Rank: #2020.
Kimball Elementary - 02
Math: 70-79% | Reading: 50-59%
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
300 S East St
Kimball, SD 57355
(605) 778-6231
Grades: PK-4
| 120 students
Rank: #21 - 2221. - 22.
Baltic Elementary - 02
Math: 55-59% | Reading: 55-59%
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
1 Bulldog Ave
Baltic, SD 57003
(605) 529-5464
Grades: PK-5
| 303 students
Rank: #21 - 2221. - 22.
Groton Area Elementary - 02
Math: 55-59% | Reading: 55-59%
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
810 N 1st St
Groton, SD 57445
(605) 397-2317
Grades: PK-5
| 286 students
Rank: #2323.
Corral Drive Elementary - 21
Math: 53% | Reading: 62%
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
3736 Corral Dr
Rapid City, SD 57702
(605) 394-6789
Grades: K-5
| 483 students
Rank: #2424.
Harvey Dunn Elementary - 54
Math: 53% | Reading: 57%
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
2400 S Bahnson Ave
Sioux Falls, SD 57103
(605) 371-4120
Grades: PK-5
| 663 students
Rank: #25 - 2725. - 27.
Armour High School - 01
Math: 40-59% | Reading: 60-79%
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
604 3rd St
Armour, SD 57313
(605) 724-2153
Grades: 9-12
| 52 students
Rank: #25 - 2725. - 27.
Castlewood High School - 01
Math: 40-59% | Reading: 60-79%
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
310 E Harry St
Castlewood, SD 57223
(605) 793-2497
Grades: 9-12
| 92 students
Rank: #25 - 2725. - 27.
Timber Lake High School - 01
Math: 40-59% | Reading: 60-79%
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
500 Main St
Timber Lake, SD 57656
(605) 865-3654
Grades: 9-12
| 105 students
Rank: #2828.
Gertie Belle Rogers Elementary - 04
Math: 50-54% | Reading: 50-54%
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
1301 N Kimball St
Mitchell, SD 57301
(605) 995-3091
Grades: K-5
| 410 students
Rank: #2929.
Blunt Elementary - 03
Math: ≥50% | Reading: ≥50%
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
202 W Butte St
Blunt, SD 57522
(605) 258-2617
Grades: PK-4
| 25 students
Rank: #30 - 3130. - 31.
Harding County High School - 01
Math: <50% | Reading: ≥50%
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
12474 Tipperary St
Buffalo, SD 57720
(605) 375-3241
Grades: 9-12
| 59 students
Rank: #30 - 3130. - 31.
White Lake High School - 01
Math: <50% | Reading: ≥50%
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
410 E 4th St
White Lake, SD 57383
(605) 249-2251
Grades: 9-12
| 42 students
Rank: #3232.
Medary Elementary - 05
Math: 55-59% | Reading: 45-49%
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
718 5th St S
Brookings, SD 57006
(605) 696-4300
Grades: K-3
| 328 students
Rank: #3333.
Burke High School - 01
Math: 21-39% | Reading: 60-79%
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
900 Washington St
Burke, SD 57523
(605) 775-2645
Grades: 9-12
| 88 students
Rank: #3434.
Howard Elementary - 02
Math: 40-44% | Reading: 55-59%
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
201 N Minnie St
Howard, SD 57349
(605) 772-4443
Grades: K-6
| 159 students
Rank: #35 - 3635. - 36.
Avon Elementary - 02
Math: 35-39% | Reading: 50-54%
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
210 Pine St
Avon, SD 57315
(605) 286-3291
Grades: K-4
| 77 students
Show 9 more public schools in South Dakota (out of 44 total schools)
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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top ranked blue ribbon public schools in South Dakota?
The top ranked blue ribbon public schools in South Dakota include Challenge Center - 51, Warner Elementary - 02 and Tabor Elementary - 05.
How many blue ribbon public schools are located in South Dakota?
44 blue ribbon public schools are located in South Dakota.
What is the racial composition of students in South Dakota?
South Dakota blue ribbon public schools minority enrollment is 18% of the student body (majority Hispanic and American Indian), which is less than the South Dakota public schools average of 31% (majority American Indian).

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