For the 2026-27 school year, there are 2 public elementary schools serving 188 students in New Underwood School District 51-3. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 3/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public elementary schools in South Dakota.
Public Elementary Schools in New Underwood School District 51-3 have an average math proficiency score of 37% (versus the South Dakota public elementary school average of 43%), and reading proficiency score of 42% (versus the 49% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 18% 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
280 Students
101,278 Students
# Teachers
20 Teachers
7,454 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
14:1
14:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
New Underwood School District 51-3, which is ranked within the bottom 50% 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
#118 out of 148 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
36%
42%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
40-44%
51%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
40-44%
42%
Graduation Rate
(21-22)≥80%
82%
Chronically Absent Students
(2022-23)18.2%
22.5%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.31
0.56
% American Indian
3%
16%
% Asian
n/a
2%
% Hispanic
3%
9%
% Black
n/a
3%
% White
83%
64%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
11%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $15,904 is higher than the state median of $13,055. The school district revenue/student has grown by 41% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $13,775 is higher than the state median of $12,560. The school district spending/student has grown by 45% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$5 MM
$1,916 MM
Spending
$4 MM
$1,844 MM
Revenue / Student
$15,904
$13,055
Spending / Student
$13,775
$12,560
Best New Underwood School District 51-3 Public Elementary Schools (2026-27)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
New Underwood Elementary - 02
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
300 E Ash St
New Underwood, SD 57761
(605) 754-6485
New Underwood, SD 57761
(605) 754-6485
Gr: K-5 | 113 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 14%
Rank: #22.
New Underwood Middle School - 04
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
300 E Ash St
New Underwood, SD 57761
(605) 754-6485
New Underwood, SD 57761
(605) 754-6485
Gr: 6-8 | 75 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 24%
Recent Articles
What Makes an Elementary School Feel Supportive?
Discover what makes one elementary school more supportive than another, from teacher relationships and family communication to classroom attention, belonging, student services, leadership, routines, and responsive academic support systems.
Second School Tour: Questions Parents Forget to Ask
A second school tour can reveal what families miss initially. Learn which questions to ask about teachers, support, schedules, safety, communication, programs, and everyday student life before enrolling.
Attendance Policies Are Changing: Parent Guide 2026
Attendance policies are changing across public schools. Learn what parents should examine about absences, tardiness, interventions, flexibility, communication, and student support before choosing a school for their child today.
