Northwestern Area School District 56-7

221 3rd St
Mellette, SD 57461
(District boundaries shown in map)
8/
10
Top 30%

Top Rankings

Northwestern Area School District 56-7 ranks among the top 20% of public school district in South Dakota for:

Category
Attribute
Science Proficiency
Highest science proficiency (Top 20%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 6 public schools serving 359 students in Northwestern Area School District 56-7. This district's average testing ranking is 8/10, which is in the top 30% of public schools in South Dakota.
Public Schools in Northwestern Area School District 56-7 have an average math proficiency score of 50% (versus the South Dakota public school average of 43%), and reading proficiency score of 59% (versus the 51% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 7% of the student body (majority Hispanic and American Indian), which is less than the South Dakota public school average of 33% (majority American Indian).

Overview

This School District
This State (SD)
# Schools
6 Schools
734 Schools
# Students
359 Students
146,041 Students
# Teachers
25 Teachers
10,645 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
14:1
14:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Northwestern Area School District 56-7, which is ranked within the top 30% 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 50-59% has increased from 50% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (SD)
#40 out of 148 school districts
(Top 30%)
(22-23)
52%
42%
55-59%
51%
50-54%
42%
50-59%
82%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.13
0.53
% American Indian
1%
14%
% Asian
n/a
2%
% Hispanic
2%
8%
% Black
1%
3%
% White
93%
67%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
3%
6%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $11,515 in this school district is less than the state median of $13,121. The school district revenue/student has declined by 10% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $10,000 is less than the state median of $12,623. The school district spending/student has declined by 10% over four school years.
This School District
This State (SD)
Total Revenue
$4 MM
$1,916 MM
Spending
$4 MM
$1,844 MM
Revenue / Student
$11,515
$13,121
Spending / Student
$10,000
$12,623

Best Northwestern Area School District 56-7 Public Schools (2025)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Northwestern High School - 01
(Math: 40-59% | Reading: ≥80%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
221 3rd St
Mellette, SD 57461
(605) 887-3467
Grades: 9-12
| 88 students
Rank: #22.
Northwestern Middle School - 02
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
221 3rd St
Mellette, SD 57461
(605) 887-3467
Grades: 6-8
| 59 students
Rank: #33.
Isucceed - 92
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
221 3rd St
Mellette, SD 57461
(605) 887-3467
Grades: 9-12
| 64 students
Rank: #44.
Northwestern Elementary - 04
(Math: 50-59% | Reading: 40-49%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
221 3rd St
Mellette, SD 57461
(605) 887-3467
Grades: PK-5
| 124 students
Rank: n/an/a
14625 401st Ave
Stratford, SD 57474
(605) 396-7497
Grades: K-8
| 17 students
Rank: n/an/a
221 3rd St
Mellette, SD 57461
(605) 887-3467
Grades: 6-8
| 7 students

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools belong to Northwestern Area School District 56-7?
Northwestern Area School District 56-7 manages 6 public schools serving 359 students.
What is the rank of Northwestern Area School District 56-7?
Northwestern Area School District 56-7 is ranked #43 out of 146 school districts in South Dakota (top 30%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2022-2023 school year. This district ranks in the top 20% of South Dakota school districts for: Highest science proficiency (Top 20%)
What is the racial composition of students in Northwestern Area School District 56-7?
93% of Northwestern Area School District 56-7 students are White, 3% of students are Two or more races, 2% of students are Hispanic, 1% of students are American Indian, and 1% of students are Black.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Northwestern Area School District 56-7?
Northwestern Area School District 56-7 has a student/teacher ratio of 14:1, which is equal to the South Dakota state average of 14:1.
What is Northwestern Area School District 56-7's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $10,000 is less than the state median of $12,623. The school district spending/student has declined by 10% over four school years.

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Quick Stats (2025)

  • District size: 6 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 359 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 14:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 7%
  • : 50-59% (Btm 50% in SD)
  • : Top 30%
  • : 52% (Top 30%)
  • : 55-59% (Top 30%)
  • : 50-54% (Top 20%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), SD Dept. of Education

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