Timber Lake School District 20-3

500 Main St
Timber Lake, SD 57656
(District boundaries shown in map)
9/
10
Top 20%

Top Rankings

Timber Lake School District 20-3 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%)
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 1%)
Student Attention
Lowest student:teacher ratio (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 2 public elementary schools serving 279 students in Timber Lake School District 20-3. 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 Timber Lake School District 20-3 have an average math proficiency score of 58% (versus the South Dakota public elementary school average of 43%), and reading proficiency score of 65% (versus the 49% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 60% of the student body (majority American Indian), which is more than the South Dakota public elementary school average of 36% (majority American Indian).

Overview

This School District
This State (SD)
# Schools
3 Schools
497 Schools
# Students
389 Students
101,009 Students
# Teachers
39 Teachers
7,507 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
10:1
10:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Timber Lake School District 20-3, which is ranked within the top 10% of all 146 school districts in South Dakota (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 80% has increased from 50% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (SD)
#15 out of 148 school districts
(Top 20%)
55-59%
42%
65-69%
51%
45-49%
42%
≥80%
82%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.53
0.55
% American Indian
54%
17%
% Asian
n/a
2%
% Hispanic
2%
8%
% Black
n/a
3%
% White
43%
64%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
1%
6%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $13,671 is higher than the state median of $13,121. The school district revenue/student has declined by 8% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $15,599 is higher than the state median of $12,623. The school district spending/student has declined by 8% over four school years.
This School District
This State (SD)
Total Revenue
$5 MM
$1,916 MM
Spending
$6 MM
$1,844 MM
Revenue / Student
$13,671
$13,121
Spending / Student
$15,599
$12,623

Best Timber Lake School District 20-3 Public Elementary Schools (2025)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Timber Lake Elementary - 02
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
500 Main St
Timber Lake, SD 57656
(605) 865-3654
Grades: PK-5
| 198 students
Rank: #22.
Timber Lake Middle School - 03
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
500 Main St
Timber Lake, SD 57656
(605) 865-3654
Grades: 6-8
| 81 students

Recent Articles

Texas Schools: The Voucher/School Choice Debate
Texas Schools: The Voucher/School Choice Debate
The issue of school choice and a voucher system is currently being revisited in Houston and across the state of Texas, with strong opinions on both sides of the debate.
Fuel Up to Play 60 Focuses on Integrating Fitness and Wellness into the School Day
Fuel Up to Play 60 Focuses on Integrating Fitness and Wellness into the School Day
What if NFL players came to your school? With the Fuel Up to Play 60 program, sponsored by the National Dairy Council and the NFL, nutrition and exercise are promoted during the school day. NFL players participate in the program by coming to schools and talking to students about fitness. Learn more about the program and some of the schools that are implementing it.
What Parents Need to Know About Lunch Shaming
What Parents Need to Know About Lunch Shaming
Students all over the nation go hungry every day not because their schools don’t offer lunch, but because they refuse them to children with outstanding debts. Read on to learn about the horror that is lunch shaming and what can be done about it.

Quick Stats (2025)

  • District size: 3 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 389 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 10:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 57%
  • : ≥80% (Top 30% in SD)
  • : Top 20%
  • : 55-59% (Top 20%)
  • : 65-69% (Top 10%)
  • : 45-49% (Top 30%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), SD Dept. of Education

Quick Links