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 20%)
Math Proficiency
Highest math proficiency (Top 20%)
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 2026-27 school year, there are 2 public elementary schools serving 129 students in Lake Preston School District 38-3. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 9/10, which is in the top 20% of public elementary schools in South Dakota.
Public Elementary Schools in Lake Preston School District 38-3 have an average math proficiency score of 55% (versus the South Dakota public elementary school average of 43%), and reading proficiency score of 65% (versus the 49% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 9% of the student body (majority Hispanic and 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
494 Schools
# Students
170 Students
101,278 Students
# Teachers
22 Teachers
7,454 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
8:1
8:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Lake Preston School District 38-3, which is ranked within the top 20% 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 increased from 50% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#16 out of 148 school districts
(Top 20%)
(Top 20%)
Showing 2012–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
55%
42%
Showing 2012–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
65-69%
51%
Showing 2011–2022. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
60-69%
42%
Graduation Rate
(21-22)≥80%
82%
Showing 2013–2022. Full 12-year historical data available below ↓
Chronically Absent Students
(2022-23)12.2%
22.5%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.16
0.56
Showing 2014–2023. Full 31-year historical data available below ↓
% American Indian
1%
16%
% Asian
n/a
2%
% Hispanic
2%
9%
Showing 2013–2023. Full 20-year historical data available below ↓
% Black
n/a
3%
% White
92%
64%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 31-year historical data available below ↓
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
5%
6%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 12-year historical data available below ↓
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $20,882 is higher than the state median of $14,736. The school district revenue/student has grown by 20% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $22,112 is higher than the state median of $15,173. The school district spending/student has grown by 29% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$4 MM
$2,163 MM
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Spending
$4 MM
$2,227 MM
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Revenue / Student
$20,882
$14,736
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Spending / Student
$22,112
$15,173
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Best Lake Preston School District 38-3 Public Elementary Schools (2026-27)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Lake Preston Elementary - 02
(Math: 70-79% | 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
Gr: PK-5 | 96 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 7%
Rank: #22.
Lake Preston Middle School - 03
(Math: 30-39% | Reading: 40-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
300 1st St Ne
Lake Preston, SD 57249
(605) 847-4455
Lake Preston, SD 57249
(605) 847-4455
Gr: 6-8 | 33 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 12%
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