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4.5avg / 10

Douglas School District 51-1

School District · Box Elder, South Dakota

Students: 2,753
Teachers (FTE): 176

Avg Rating

4.5

out of 10

Schools

4

2 elem, 1 mid, 1 high

Enrollment

2,753

Student-Teacher Ratio

15.6:1

How this district compares

South Dakota rank

#140 of 142

districts by avg. composite

Vs. state average

-1.9

below South Dakota avg

Per-pupil spending

$11,597

$1,073 vs South Dakota median

District size

2,753 students

Much larger than South Dakota median

The short answer

Douglas School District 51-1 ranks #140 of 142 South Dakota districts by overall school rating. Douglas School District 51-1's schools with real test data average 4.5/10 across 4 schools. Its top-rated schools are Douglas High School - 03 (5.5/10), Douglas Middle School - 01 (4.6/10), and Vandenberg Elementary - 02 (3.9/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.

Most improved · 2022 → 2024
Vandenberg Elementary - 02

STAAR proficiency rose +4.8 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Douglas School District 51-1 schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.

Top-Rated Schools in Douglas School District 51-1

Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (4 of 4). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.

#SchoolRating
1Douglas High School - 035.5 / 10
2Douglas Middle School - 014.6 / 10
3Vandenberg Elementary - 023.9 / 10
4Patriot Elementary -063.8 / 10

See all 4 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.

About Douglas School District 51-1

Douglas School District 51-1 is a Box Elder, South Dakota school district serving 4 schools.The district educates 2,753 students with a student-teacher ratio of 15.6:1. District-level spending was $11,597 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).

With an average rating of 4.5/10, Douglas School District 51-1 demonstrates solid academic performance.

The highest-rated school in the district is Douglas High School - 03, which has a composite score of 5.5/10.

In standardized testing, Douglas School District 51-1 students show an average math proficiency of 48.4% and ELA proficiency of 54.6%.

The district includes 2 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 1 high school.

District Map

Schools in Douglas School District 51-1, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.

District Average Test Scores

Math Proficiency48.4%
School
State
Not reported
ELA Proficiency54.6%
School
State
Not reported

Average proficiency across all schools in Douglas School District 51-1 with test data.

Schools in Douglas School District 51-1

4 schools

District Details

State
South Dakota
City
Box Elder
Total Enrollment
2,753
Teachers (FTE)
176
District spending per student
$11,597NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
Child poverty rate
9.0%Census SAIPE · 2024
District directory year
2023

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Douglas School District 51-1?

Douglas School District 51-1 has 4 schools in total — 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.

What is the average rating for Douglas School District 51-1?

The average composite rating for Douglas School District 51-1 is 4.5/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.

What is the district spending per student in Douglas School District 51-1?

Douglas School District 51-1's district-level spending was $11,597 per student in fiscal year 2023, according to NCES F-33. This is district context, not an individual-school expense.

What is the student-teacher ratio in Douglas School District 51-1?

The average student-teacher ratio in Douglas School District 51-1 is 15.6:1.

What is the top-rated school in Douglas School District 51-1?

Douglas High School - 03 is the highest-rated school in Douglas School District 51-1 with a composite score of 5.5/10.

What are the test scores in Douglas School District 51-1?

Across schools in Douglas School District 51-1 with test data, the average math proficiency is 48.4% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 54.6%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.

How does Douglas School District 51-1 compare to other districts in South Dakota?

Douglas School District 51-1 has an average school rating of 4.5/10 across 4 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in South Dakota by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.

How does MySchoolScout rate schools?

MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.

District Averages

Overall Rating
4.5/10
Math Proficiency
48.4%
ELA Proficiency
54.6%

How we rate schools

A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.

See how we rate

Other School Districts in SD

Compare Douglas School District 51-1 with neighboring districts in the state.

See all districts in SD →

Data from NCES Common Core of Data, South Dakota Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.

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