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Excellent

#3 of 56 private schools in SD

Top 4% of private schools

Black Hills Children's Home

Elementary School

24100 S ROCKERVILLE RD, Rapid City, SD 57702

Private Estimated Score

Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on 22 schools in Rapid City. Learn more

Enrollment

36

Student-Teacher

6.4:1

Score

8.2

Grades

Kindergarten – 8th

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

In Rapid City

#1 of 9

public schools

South Dakota elementary schools

#1 of 33

About Black Hills Children's Home

Black Hills Children's Home serves 36 students from kindergarten through eighth grade in a unique educational setting along South Rockerville Road in Rapid City. This regular public elementary school maintains an exceptionally small learning environment with just 6 full-time equivalent teachers, creating an intimate 6.4:1 student-teacher ratio that allows for highly individualized attention. The school has earned recognition for its educational quality, receiving a 7.4 out of 10 rating from MySchoolScout and ranking 19th among South Dakota's 56 elementary schools, placing it in the 68th percentile statewide.

This strong performance reflects the benefits of the school's personalized approach to education, where each student can receive focused support and guidance. The school draws from a well-educated community in the 57702 area, where 47% of residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher and the median household income reaches $81,537. With a low poverty rate of just 5.1% and median home values of $320,300, the surrounding neighborhood provides a stable foundation for families.

Black Hills Children's Home operates in a rural setting that offers students a peaceful learning environment away from urban distractions, fostering close-knit relationships between students, teachers, and families in the greater Rapid City area.

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 36 students, Black Hills Children's Home is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.

With a student-teacher ratio of 6.4:1, Black Hills Children's Home offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.

As a private school, Black Hills Children's Home operates independently from the local public school district. Families considering this school should inquire about tuition costs, financial aid availability, and the admissions process. Private schools are not required to follow the same curriculum standards as public schools, which can be either an advantage or a consideration depending on your priorities.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How Black Hills Children's Home compares to 21 public schools serving similar grades in Rapid City, SD

Student-Teacher Ratio
6.4:1
This School
vs
14.5:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
36
This School
vs
391
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
8.2
This School
vs
5.2
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 27.8% vs 0%
Black 8.3% vs 0%
Black Hills Children's Home Rapid City Public Avg

Nearby Elementary Schools

School Rating
Black Hills Children's Home (this school) 8.2
Corral Drive Elementary - 21 5.1
Southwest Middle School - 38 6.2
Meadowbrook Elementary - 10 5.5
Canyon Lake Elementary - 04 4.6
West Middle School - 37 5.2
Pinedale Elementary - 11 5.7
Grandview Elementary - 06 4.9
South Canyon Elementary - 15 4.6
South Park Elementary - 16 5.0
Woodrow Wilson Elementary - 17 4.7
South Middle School - 36 6.4
Robbinsdale Elementary - 14 4.6
Jefferson Building - 64 6.9
Wellfully - 65
Horace Mann Elementary - 07 3.8
General Beadle Elementary - 01 4.5
North Middle School - 35 5.8
Rapid Valley Elementary - 12 5.6
Knollwood Heights Elementary - 08 4.8
Valley View Elementary - 13 3.9

Showing 20 of 21 schools. View all schools in Rapid City

Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.

Score Breakdown

What This Rating Measures

This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in SD.

Classroom Attention
? Student-teacher ratio calibrated against other private schools. Lower ratios mean more individual attention. (30% of overall score)
A 9.3 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 6.4:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
A+ 9.8 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 6 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,434
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
A 9.1 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 35%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
C 3.0 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 36
View data sources

Score basis: Private school model

Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data

Components scored: 4 of 5

Ranking pool: Private schools in SD

Test Scores

Test score data not yet available for this school.

Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Native American 63.9%
White 27.8%
Black 8.3%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

24100 S ROCKERVILLE RD, Rapid City, SD 57702

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Black Hills Children's Home may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. ST ELIZABETH SETON SCHOOL (rated 6.5/10, 14.1 miles away), a more accessible option. Another option is CALVARY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL (rated 5.9/10, 11.0 miles away), a more accessible option. Additionally, Pinedale Elementary - 11 (rated 5.7/10, 12.7 miles away), a more accessible option. For more schools in Rapid City, see our Rapid City schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 13.2 mi
School Distance Rating
Corral Drive Elementary - 21 Rapid City 10.2 mi 5.1
Southwest Middle School - 38 Rapid City 10.3 mi 6.2
RAPID CITY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Rapid City 8.7 mi 5.0
CALVARY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Rapid City 11.0 mi 5.9
ZION LUTHERAN SCHOOL Rapid City 11.2 mi 5.6
Stevens High School - 42 Rapid City 12.2 mi 4.8
Meadowbrook Elementary - 10 Rapid City 11.9 mi 5.5
Canyon Lake Elementary - 04 Rapid City 12.3 mi 4.6
Pinedale Elementary - 11 Rapid City 12.7 mi 5.7
Hermosa Elementary - 04 Hermosa 10.3 mi 5.3
West Middle School - 37 Rapid City 12.6 mi 5.2
South Canyon Elementary - 15 Rapid City 12.9 mi 4.6
Hill City Middle School - 04 Hill City 9.9 mi 6.7
Hill City Elementary - 02 Hill City 9.9 mi 4.2
Hill City High School - 01 Hill City 10.0 mi 4.3
CHILDREN'S HOUSE MONTESSORI Rapid City 13.0 mi 4.7
ST ELIZABETH SETON SCHOOL Rapid City 14.1 mi 6.5
ST THOMAS MORE MIDDLE SCHOOL Rapid City 12.8 mi 6.5
Grandview Elementary - 06 Rapid City 12.8 mi 4.9
Woodrow Wilson Elementary - 17 Rapid City 13.2 mi 4.7

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 57702 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$85,700

Median Home Value

$341,400

Median Rent

$1,209/mo

Population

35,771

College Educated

48%

Homeownership

72.6%

Avg Commute

19.5 min

Poverty Rate

5%

Median Age

47.7

Community Profile

The community surrounding Black Hills Children's Home has a median household income of $85,700. It is a well-educated community where 48% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $341,400, with a median rent of $1,209/month. The local poverty rate of 5.0% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 20 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Blumengard Colony Elementary - 06 Faulkton, SD 8.2
Hutterische Colony Elementary - 18 Tabor, SD 8.1
Pembrook Colony Elementary - 06 Ipswich, SD 8.1
SAPA UN CATHOLIC ACADEMY ELEMENTARY Saint Francis, SD 8.1
Thunderbird Colony Elementary - 10 Faulkton, SD 8.3
Springfield Elementary - 03 Springfield, SD 8.0

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Black Hills Children's Home

What grades does Black Hills Children's Home serve?

Black Hills Children's Home serves students in grades Kindergarten through 8th.

How many students attend Black Hills Children's Home?

Black Hills Children's Home has an enrollment of approximately 36 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Black Hills Children's Home?

The student-teacher ratio at Black Hills Children's Home is 6.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does Black Hills Children's Home rank in SD?

Black Hills Children's Home is ranked #3 out of 56 private schools in SD.

What is Black Hills Children's Home's MySchoolScout rating?

Black Hills Children's Home has a composite rating of 8.2 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

Is Black Hills Children's Home a private school?

Yes, Black Hills Children's Home is a private coeducational school with a Nonsectarian affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is Black Hills Children's Home a religious school?

No, Black Hills Children's Home is a nonsectarian (non-religious) private school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
3 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
8 Somewhat Bikeable
City Safety
High (4,515/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Rapid City). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
Kindergarten – 8th
Enrollment
36
Gender Split
81% M / 19% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
6.4:1
Teachers (FTE)
6
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Nonsectarian
School Day
6 hours
Days Per Year
239 days
Setting
Distant Rural
County
PENNINGTON
Data Year
2022–2023

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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