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 is 1 public high school serving 41 students in Lake Preston School District 38-3. This district's average high testing ranking is 8/10, which is in the top 30% of public high schools in South Dakota.
Public High School in Lake Preston School District 38-3 have an average math proficiency score of 50% (versus the South Dakota public high school average of 40%), and reading proficiency score of 50% (versus the 63% statewide average).
Public High School in Lake Preston School District 38-3 have a Graduation Rate of 50%, which is less than the South Dakota average of 82%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Lake Preston High School - 01, with ≥50% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in South Dakota or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 7% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the South Dakota public high school average of 36% (majority American Indian).
Overview
This School District
This State (SD)
# Schools
3 Schools
216 Schools
# Students
170 Students
47,253 Students
# Teachers
22 Teachers
3,334 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
0.55
Showing 2014–2023. Full 31-year historical data available below ↓
% American Indian
1%
19%
% Asian
n/a
1%
% Hispanic
2%
8%
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%
5%
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 High Schools (2026-27)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Lake Preston High School - 01
(Math: <50% | Reading: ≥50%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
300 1st St Ne
Lake Preston, SD 57249
(605) 847-4455
Lake Preston, SD 57249
(605) 847-4455
Gr: 9-12 | 41 students Student-teacher ratio: 6:1 Minority enrollment: 7%
Recent Articles
Does Your Public School Have Enough Nurses?
Learn whether your public school has enough nurses, how staffing affects student safety, chronic illness management, emergency care, and what parents should ask about available school health services today.
When Your Child Falls Behind Without Special Education
Learn what happens when your child falls behind academically but doesn't qualify for special education, including available school interventions, parent rights, tutoring options, and practical strategies for securing support.
When Your Child Finishes Classwork Faster Than Others
Discover why some children finish classwork faster than classmates, how teachers manage early finishers, and what parents can do to ensure meaningful learning, appropriate challenges, and continued academic growth.
