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 2026 school year, there is 1 public high school serving 173 students in Northwestern Area School District 56-7. This district's average high testing ranking is 7/10, which is in the top 50% of public high schools in South Dakota.
Public High Schools in Northwestern Area School District 56-7 have an average math proficiency score of 33% (versus the South Dakota public high school average of 40%), and reading proficiency score of 80% (versus the 63% statewide average).
Public High School in Northwestern Area School District 56-7 have a Graduation Rate of 68%, which is less than the South Dakota average of 82%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Northwestern High School - 01, with ≥80% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in South Dakota or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 12% of the student body (majority Hispanic and American Indian), which is less than the South Dakota public high school average of 36% (majority American Indian).
Overview
This School District
This State (SD)
# Schools
6 Schools
216 Schools
# Students
387 Students
47,253 Students
# Teachers
26 Teachers
3,334 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
15:1
15:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Northwestern Area School District 56-7, which is ranked within the top 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 50-59% has increased from 50% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#42 out of 148 school districts
(Top 30%)
(Top 30%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
52%
42%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
55-59%
51%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
50-54%
42%
Graduation Rate
(21-22)50-59%
82%
Chronically Absent Students
(2022-23)28.6%
22.5%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.20
0.55
% American Indian
2%
19%
% Asian
n/a
1%
% Hispanic
4%
8%
% Black
1%
3%
% White
89%
64%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
4%
5%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $10,682 in this school district is less than the state median of $13,055. The school district revenue/student has declined by 12% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $9,276 is less than the state median of $12,560. The school district spending/student has declined by 12% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$4 MM
$1,916 MM
Spending
$4 MM
$1,844 MM
Revenue / Student
$10,682
$13,055
Spending / Student
$9,276
$12,560
Best Northwestern Area School District 56-7 Public High Schools (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Northwestern High School - 01
(Math: 40-59% | Reading: ≥80%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
221 3rd St
Mellette, SD 57461
(605) 887-3467
Mellette, SD 57461
(605) 887-3467
Gr: 9-12 | 91 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 4%
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