Average

#266 of 574 schools in SD

Top 46% in state

Howard Elementary - 02

Elementary School · Howard School District 48-3

201 N Minnie St, Howard, SD 57349

Last updated: July 2026

Enrollment

131

Student-Teacher

11.9:1

Score

6.4

Grades

Kindergarten – 5th

Enrollment

131

Student-Teacher

11.9:1

Score

6.4

Grades

Kindergarten – 5th

Data vintage
2022-23

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

South Dakota schools

#266 of 574

In Howard

#3 of 3

public schools

In district

#3 of 3

Howard School District 48-3

School environment

9.5 / 10

Excellent

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Elementary School in Howard · grades Kindergarten – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

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About Howard Elementary - 02

Howard Elementary - 02 is a public elementary school in Howard, SD, part of Howard School District 48-3. Howard Elementary - 02 serves approximately 131 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-5th, and has a 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio. Howard Elementary - 02 has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.4 out of 10 and ranks #266 of 574 schools in SD.

Structured state assessment records for Howard Elementary - 02 show 60% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 69% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

How it comparesOn par with SD schools

6.4

This school 6.4 · Average
SD avg 6.1

What Parents Should Know

At 131 students, Howard Elementary - 02 is on the smaller side. That usually buys more individual attention and teachers who know every kid by name, with the trade-off of fewer electives and extracurriculars than a larger school can staff. Ask what activities it actually offers.

Howard 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 Progress4.2Below Average50%

Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.

View breakdown

Years of Data13

Annual Change-3.31 pts/yr

Data Period2009–2022

TrendDeclining

Academics8.0Excellent30%

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

View breakdown

Math Proficiency52% (2022 EdFacts)

Reading/ELA Proficiency62% (2022 EdFacts)

Overall Proficiency57% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)

Expected (poverty-adj.)49% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)

vs. Expected+7.6 pts

Adjusted Percentile70th

Resources & Environment9.5Excellent20%

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

View breakdown

Student-Teacher Ratio11.9:1

Per-Pupil Spending$14,128

Chronic Absenteeism8.4%

Howard Elementary - 02 — Students at Howard Elementary - 02 score 57% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 49%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

22.9%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores SD EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 60.1% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)

School

State

N/A

ELA Proficiency 69.3% (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

87%

ELA

82%

2010

Math

92%

ELA

87%

2011

Math

87%

ELA

87%

2012

Math

92%

ELA

87%

2014

Math

52%

ELA

62%

2015

Math

47%

ELA

67%

2016

Math

52%

ELA

62%

2017

Math

52%

ELA

67%

2018

Math

42%

ELA

62%

2019

Math

42%

ELA

62%

2020*

Math

42%

ELA

57%

2021*

Math

42%

ELA

57%

2022

Math

52%

ELA

62%

* 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: 4.2/10.

How Howard Elementary - 02 Compares

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

Overall Score

6.4/10

54th percentile in SD

Academic

8.0/10

Excellent

Growth

4.2/10

Below Average

Environment

9.5/10

Excellent

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch

Students eligible for subsidized meals

23%

Teaching Staff

12:1 student-teacher ratio

11 teachers

Chronic Absenteeism

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

8.4%

Location

201 N Minnie St, Howard, SD 57349

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Howard Elementary - 02 may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Lake Preston Elementary - 02 (rated 9.1/10, 25.3 miles away, in nearby Lake Preston), which scores notably higher. Another option is Laura Ingalls Wilder Elementary - 02 (rated 6.9/10, 25.6 miles away, in nearby De Smet), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, ST MARY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (rated 6.6/10, 20.9 miles away, in nearby Salem), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Howard, see our Howard schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 28.7 mi

School	Distance	Enrollment	Rating
Howard High School - 01 Howard	0.3 mi	98	9.3
Howard Jr. High - 05 Howard	0.3 mi	70	7.9
Shannon Colony Elementary - 08 Winfred	5.7 mi	29	—
Graceville Colony - 07 Winfred	13.5 mi	21	—
ST MARY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Salem	20.9 mi	40	6.6
McCook Central Elementary - 02 Salem	21.0 mi	208	3.6
McCook Central High School - 01 Salem	21.0 mi	121	5.0
McCook Central Middle School - 03 Salem	21.0 mi	115	4.3
Goldenview Colony School - 04 Salem	22.7 mi	28	—
Laura Ingalls Wilder Elementary - 02 De Smet	25.6 mi	178	6.9
De Smet High School - 01 De Smet	25.7 mi	90	7.7
De Smet Middle School - 03 De Smet	25.7 mi	86	4.5
Orland Colony Elementary - 04 Montrose	21.1 mi	39	3.7
Lake Preston Elementary - 02 Lake Preston	25.3 mi	104	9.1
Lake Preston High School - 01 Lake Preston	25.3 mi	51	7.7
Lake Preston Middle School - 03 Lake Preston	25.3 mi	33	6.6
MADISON CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Madison	19.5 mi	5	—
Madison Elementary - 07 Madison	20.2 mi	507	6.1
ST THOMAS SCHOOL Madison	20.6 mi	35	6.3
Bridgewater-Emery High School - 01 Emery	28.7 mi	108	6.0

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 57349 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$70,365

Median Home Value

$116,000

Median Rent

$550/mo

Population

1,450

College Educated

12.2%

Homeownership

79.7%

Poverty Rate

13.2%

Median Age

47.9

Similar Schools

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

School	Enrollment	Rating
Burke Elementary - 02 Burke, SD	97	6.4
Willow Lake Elementary - 02 Willow Lake, SD	150	6.4
Irene - Wakonda Elementary - 02 Wakonda, SD	161	6.5
White River Elementary - 02 White River, SD	164	6.5
Britton-Hecla Elementary - 02 Britton, SD	173	6.3
JOHN PAUL II ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Mitchell, SD	102	6.6

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Howard Elementary - 02

What grades does Howard Elementary - 02 serve?

Howard Elementary - 02 serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.

How many students attend Howard Elementary - 02?

Howard Elementary - 02 has an enrollment of approximately 131 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Howard Elementary - 02?

The student-teacher ratio at Howard Elementary - 02 is 11.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Howard Elementary - 02 rank in SD?

Howard Elementary - 02 ranks #266 of 574 schools in SD.

What is Howard Elementary - 02's MySchoolScout rating?

Howard Elementary - 02 has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.4 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 Howard Elementary - 02?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Howard Elementary - 02 has 60% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 69% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is Howard Elementary - 02 a charter school?

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

Is Howard Elementary - 02 a Title I school?

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

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

22.9% of students at Howard 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.