Average

#228 of 574 schools in SD

Top 40% in state

Hill City Elementary - 02

Elementary School · Hill City School District 51-2

PO Box 659, Hill City, SD 57745

Last updated: July 2026

Enrollment

236

Student-Teacher

13.9:1

Score

6.8

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Enrollment

236

Student-Teacher

13.9:1

Score

6.8

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage
2022-23

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

South Dakota schools

#228 of 574

In Hill City

#2 of 3

public schools

In district

#2 of 3

Hill City School District 51-2

Academic growth

7.4 / 10

Very Good

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Elementary School in Hill City · grades Pre-K – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

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About Hill City Elementary - 02

Hill City Elementary - 02 is a public elementary school in Hill City, SD, part of Hill City School District 51-2. Hill City Elementary - 02 serves approximately 236 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio. Hill City Elementary - 02 has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.8 out of 10 and ranks #228 of 574 schools in SD.

Structured state assessment records for Hill City Elementary - 02 show 59% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 58% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

How it compares0.7 pts above SD schools

6.8

This school 6.8 · Average
SD avg 6.1

What Parents Should Know

Hill City Elementary - 02 sits in a rural area, which can mean longer drives for some families. Rural schools are often community anchors with smaller classes, but check transportation, after-school options, and access to specialized services before you commit.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics

Student Progress7.4Very Good50%

Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.

View breakdown

Years of Data13

Annual Change-2.02 pts/yr

Data Period2009–2022

TrendDeclining

Academics5.7Average30%

Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.

View breakdown

Math Proficiency42% (2022 EdFacts)

Reading/ELA Proficiency47% (2022 EdFacts)

Overall Proficiency45% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)

Expected (poverty-adj.)47% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)

vs. Expected-2.4 pts

Adjusted Percentile40th

Resources & Environment7.1Very Good20%

Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.

View breakdown

Student-Teacher Ratio13.9:1

Per-Pupil Spending$12,450

Chronic Absenteeism15.3%

Hill City Elementary - 02 — Students at Hill City Elementary - 02 score 44% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 47%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

30.5%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores SD EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 59.3% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)

School

State

N/A

ELA Proficiency 58.2% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)

School

State

N/A

Based on 26 test records from SD state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009

Math

77%

ELA

72%

2010

Math

77%

ELA

72%

2011

Math

72%

ELA

67%

2012

Math

72%

ELA

77%

2014

Math

37%

ELA

47%

2015

Math

47%

ELA

47%

2016

Math

62%

ELA

57%

2017

Math

67%

ELA

62%

2018

Math

62%

ELA

62%

2019

Math

62%

ELA

62%

2020*

Math

47%

ELA

42%

2021*

Math

47%

ELA

42%

2022

Math

42%

ELA

47%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 7.4/10.

How Hill City Elementary - 02 Compares

See how Hill City Elementary - 02 performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score

6.8/10

61th percentile in SD

Academic

5.7/10

Average

Growth

7.4/10

Very Good

Environment

7.1/10

Very Good

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch

Students eligible for subsidized meals

31%

Teaching Staff

14:1 student-teacher ratio

17 teachers

Chronic Absenteeism

Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)

15.3%

Location

PO Box 659, Hill City, SD 57745

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Hill City Elementary - 02 may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. BLACK HILLS CHILDREN'S HOME (rated 8.2/10, 9.9 miles away, in nearby Rapid City), which scores notably higher. Another option is Pinedale Elementary - 11 (rated 7.6/10, 17.3 miles away, in nearby Rapid City), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Corral Drive Elementary - 21 (rated 6.9/10, 16.5 miles away, in nearby Rapid City), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Hill City, see our Hill City schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 18.1 mi

School	Distance	Enrollment	Rating
Hill City Middle School - 04 Hill City	0.1 mi	118	6.7
Hill City High School - 01 Hill City	0.1 mi	154	7.1
Custer High School - 01 Custer	11.4 mi	262	7.1
Custer Jr. High - 05 Custer	11.4 mi	103	7.3
Custer Elementary - 02 Custer	11.5 mi	293	6.4
BLACK HILLS CHILDREN'S HOME Rapid City	9.9 mi	36	8.2
Lead-Deadwood Career & Technical Education - 10 Nemo	19.4 mi	64	6.0
Southwest Middle School - 38 Rapid City	16.5 mi	665	7.2
Pinedale Elementary - 11 Rapid City	17.3 mi	363	7.6
Corral Drive Elementary - 21 Rapid City	16.5 mi	467	6.9
Stevens High School - 42 Rapid City	17.3 mi	1,763	6.2
ST ELIZABETH SETON SCHOOL Rapid City	18.1 mi	307	6.5
South Canyon Elementary - 15 Rapid City	17.9 mi	259	4.8
Canyon Lake Elementary - 04 Rapid City	17.8 mi	297	3.6
Meadowbrook Elementary - 10 Rapid City	17.7 mi	454	6.6
West Middle School - 37 Rapid City	17.9 mi	603	5.1
CHILDREN'S HOUSE MONTESSORI Rapid City	18.1 mi	34	4.7
Black Hawk Elementary - 03 Blackhawk	20.0 mi	340	2.7
CALVARY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Rapid City	17.9 mi	180	5.9
ZION LUTHERAN SCHOOL Rapid City	18.1 mi	129	5.6

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 57745 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$90,089

Median Home Value

$323,500

Median Rent

$1,016/mo

Population

1,784

College Educated

34.2%

Homeownership

82.9%

Avg Commute

23.4 min

Poverty Rate

6.2%

Median Age

45.5

Similar Schools

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

School	Enrollment	Rating
All City Elementary - 50 Sioux Falls, SD	145	6.7
Laura Ingalls Wilder Elementary - 02 De Smet, SD	178	6.9
McKinley Elementary - 06 Watertown, SD	255	6.9
Mountain View Elementary - 08 Spearfish, SD	166	6.9
Castlewood Elementary - 02 Castlewood, SD	144	7.0
IMACULATE CONCEPTION Watertown, SD	162	7.1

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Hill City Elementary - 02

What grades does Hill City Elementary - 02 serve?

Hill City Elementary - 02 serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend Hill City Elementary - 02?

Hill City Elementary - 02 has an enrollment of approximately 236 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Hill City Elementary - 02?

The student-teacher ratio at Hill City Elementary - 02 is 13.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Hill City Elementary - 02 rank in SD?

Hill City Elementary - 02 ranks #228 of 574 schools in SD.

What is Hill City Elementary - 02's MySchoolScout rating?

Hill City Elementary - 02 has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.8 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Hill City Elementary - 02?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Hill City Elementary - 02 has 59% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 58% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is Hill City Elementary - 02 a charter school?

No, Hill City Elementary - 02 is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Hill City Elementary - 02 a Title I school?

No, Hill City Elementary - 02 is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Hill City Elementary - 02?

30.5% of students at Hill City Elementary - 02 qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.