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Average

#24 of 56 private schools in SD

Top 41% of private schools

James Valley Christian School

School

1550 DAKOTA AVE N, Huron, SD 57350

Private Estimated Score

Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on SD statewide data. Learn more

Enrollment

185

Student-Teacher

9.8:1

Score

6.8

Grades

Pre-K – 12th

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

In Huron

#1 of 2

public schools

South Dakota schools

#10 of 16

About James Valley Christian School

James Valley Christian School serves 185 students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade in Huron, South Dakota. With 19 full-time equivalent teachers, the school maintains an excellent student-teacher ratio of 9.8:1, providing students with personalized attention in smaller classroom settings. The school earns a MySchoolScout rating of 7.4 out of 10 and ranks 42nd among South Dakota's 56 schools.

This solid performance reflects the school's commitment to student development and educational excellence within the state's academic landscape. Located on Dakota Avenue North, James Valley Christian School sits in a stable community where the median household income reaches $61,444 and median home values average $153,200. The surrounding ZIP code area is home to nearly 16,000 residents, with 26% holding bachelor's degrees or higher and a relatively low poverty rate of 10.1%.

The comprehensive grade structure allows families to keep their children in one educational community throughout their entire K-12 journey, fostering long-term relationships and consistent academic support. The intimate enrollment size creates opportunities for students to participate in various activities and receive individualized guidance from faculty. James Valley Christian School operates in a rural setting near town, offering students the benefits of both small-town community values and access to broader educational and cultural opportunities.

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 185 students, James Valley Christian School 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 9.8:1, James Valley Christian School 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, James Valley Christian School 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.

Financial Overview

Source: IRS Form 990 (2023 filing)

Per-Pupil Spending
Total expenses ÷ enrollment
$12,092
Per-Pupil Revenue
Total revenue ÷ enrollment
$10,794
Financial Health
Revenue-to-expense ratio (>1.0 = surplus)
0.89x — At Risk
Tuition Dependency
Share of revenue from program services (tuition, fees)
43%
Total Assets
End-of-year total assets from IRS filing
$8.1M

Financial data from IRS Form 990 filings via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Per-pupil figures based on current enrollment of 185 students. Not all private schools file Form 990.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How James Valley Christian School compares to 9 public schools serving similar grades in Huron, SD

Student-Teacher Ratio
9.8:1
This School
vs
15.3:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
185
This School
vs
327
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
6.8
This School
vs
5.3
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 90.8% vs 0%
Hispanic 3.2% vs 0%
Black 2.7% vs 0%
Asian 1.6% vs 0%
James Valley Christian School Huron Public Avg

Nearby Other Schools

School Rating
James Valley Christian School (this school) 6.8
Buchanan K-1 Center - 18 5.6
Washington 4-5 Center - 20 5.5
Madison 2-3 Center - 19 4.1
Huron High School - 01 5.9
Huron Middle School - 02 5.2
Our Home ASAP - 12
Our Home Rediscovery - 77
Riverside Colony Elementary - 15
Huron Colony Elementary - 13

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)
B+ 6.5 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 9.8:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
B+ 6.7 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 7.2 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,224
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
B 6.0 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 14%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
A- 8.3 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 185
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)

White 90.8%
Hispanic 3.2%
Black 2.7%
Asian 1.6%
Native American 1.6%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

1550 DAKOTA AVE N, Huron, SD 57350

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering James Valley Christian School may also want to explore other schools in the area. Woonsocket High School - 01 (rated 9.2/10, 23.2 miles away, in nearby Woonsocket), which scores notably higher. Another option is Hitchcock-Tulare Elementary - 05 (rated 8.9/10, 19.6 miles away, in nearby Hitchcock), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Wolsey Wessington High School - 01 (rated 7.0/10, 12.8 miles away, in nearby Wolsey), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Huron, see our Huron schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 17.8 mi
School Distance Rating
Buchanan K-1 Center - 18 Huron 2.2 mi 5.6
Washington 4-5 Center - 20 Huron 2.6 mi 5.5
Madison 2-3 Center - 19 Huron 2.7 mi 4.1
Huron High School - 01 Huron 2.9 mi 5.9
Huron Middle School - 02 Huron 2.9 mi 5.2
HOLY TRINITY CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Huron 3.1 mi 5.5
Our Home ASAP - 12 Huron 4.6 mi
Our Home Rediscovery - 77 Huron 4.6 mi
Riverside Colony Elementary - 15 Huron 7.8 mi
Huron Colony Elementary - 13 Huron 12.3 mi
Wolsey Wessington Middle School - 03 Wolsey 12.8 mi 5.9
Wolsey Wessington Elementary - 02 Wolsey 12.8 mi 5.7
Wolsey Wessington High School - 01 Wolsey 12.8 mi 7.0
Pearl Creek Colony Elementary - 05 Iroquois 15.2 mi
Hitchcock-Tulare Elementary - 05 Hitchcock 19.6 mi 8.9
Woonsocket Elementary - 03 Woonsocket 23.2 mi 6.3
Woonsocket High School - 01 Woonsocket 23.2 mi 9.2
Shamrock Colony Elementary - 05 Willow Lake 20.5 mi
Iroquois High School - 01 Iroquois 17.8 mi 7.0
Iroquois Middle School - 02 Iroquois 17.8 mi 5.3

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 57350 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$60,351

Median Home Value

$180,400

Median Rent

$840/mo

Population

16,148

College Educated

27.3%

Homeownership

68.2%

Avg Commute

12.8 min

Poverty Rate

14.7%

Median Age

36.6

Community Profile

The community surrounding James Valley Christian School has a median household income of $60,351. It is an area where 27% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $180,400, with a median rent of $840/month. The area has a poverty rate of 14.7%. Residents enjoy a short average commute of 13 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
BLACK HILLS CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Spearfish, SD 6.7
ABERDEEN CHRISTIAN SCHOOL, INC Aberdeen, SD 7.0
SIOUX FALLS LUTHERAN SCHOOL Sioux Falls, SD 7.1
MITCHELL CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Mitchell, SD 7.4
SIOUX FALLS LUTHERAN SCHOOL Sioux Falls, SD 7.5
Marty Indian School Marty, SD

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about James Valley Christian School

What grades does James Valley Christian School serve?

James Valley Christian School serves students in grades Pre-K through 12th.

How many students attend James Valley Christian School?

James Valley Christian School has an enrollment of approximately 185 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at James Valley Christian School?

The student-teacher ratio at James Valley Christian School is 9.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does James Valley Christian School rank in SD?

James Valley Christian School is ranked #24 out of 56 private schools in SD.

What is James Valley Christian School's MySchoolScout rating?

James Valley Christian School has a composite rating of 6.8 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 James Valley Christian School a private school?

Yes, James Valley Christian School is a private coeducational school with a Christian, no specific denomination affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is James Valley Christian School a religious school?

James Valley Christian School has a Christian, no specific denomination religious affiliation.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

City Safety
High (1,805/100K)

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

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
Pre-K – 12th
Enrollment
185
Gender Split
40% M / 60% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
9.8:1
Teachers (FTE)
19
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Christian, no specific denomination
School Day
7.2 hours
Days Per Year
170 days
Setting
Fringe Rural
County
BEADLE
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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