Excellent

#15 of 574 schools in SD

Top 2% in state

Lake Preston Elementary - 02

Elementary School · Lake Preston School District 38-3

300 1st St NE, Lake Preston, SD 57249

Last updated: July 2026

Enrollment

104

Student-Teacher

10.4:1

Score

9.1

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Enrollment

104

Student-Teacher

10.4:1

Score

9.1

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage
2022-23

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

South Dakota schools

#15 of 574

In Lake Preston

#1 of 3

public schools

In district

#1 of 3

Lake Preston School District 38-3

Academic performance

10.0 / 10

Excellent

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

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About Lake Preston Elementary - 02

Lake Preston Elementary - 02 is a public elementary school in Lake Preston, SD, part of Lake Preston School District 38-3. Lake Preston Elementary - 02 serves approximately 104 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 10.4:1 student-teacher ratio. Lake Preston Elementary - 02 has a current MySchoolScout rating of 9.1 out of 10 and ranks #15 of 574 schools in SD.

Structured state assessment records for Lake Preston Elementary - 02 show 75% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 69% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

How it compares3.0 pts above SD schools

9.1

This school 9.1 · Excellent
SD avg 6.1

What Parents Should Know

At 104 students, Lake Preston 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.

Lake Preston 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 Progress8.2Excellent50%

Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.

View breakdown

Years of Data13

Annual Change-1.51 pts/yr

Data Period2009–2022

TrendDeclining

Academics10.0Excellent30%

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

View breakdown

Math Proficiency95% (2022 EdFacts)

Reading/ELA Proficiency84.5% (2022 EdFacts)

Overall Proficiency90% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)

Expected (poverty-adj.)43% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)

vs. Expected+46.5 pts

Adjusted Percentile100th

Resources & Environment9.9Excellent20%

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

View breakdown

Student-Teacher Ratio10.4:1

Per-Pupil Spending$17,235

Chronic Absenteeism1.9%

Lake Preston Elementary - 02 — Students at Lake Preston Elementary - 02 score 90% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 43%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

41.3%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores SD EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 74.7% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)

School

State

N/A

ELA Proficiency 69.1% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)

School

State

N/A

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

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

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

2009

Math

95%

ELA

84.5%

2010

Math

95%

ELA

84.5%

2011

Math

95%

ELA

84.5%

2012

Math

95%

ELA

84.5%

2014

Math

54.5%

ELA

44.5%

2015

Math

54.5%

ELA

54.5%

2016

Math

64.5%

ELA

54.5%

2017

Math

64.5%

ELA

64.5%

2018

Math

64.5%

ELA

64.5%

2019

Math

64.5%

ELA

64.5%

2020*

Math

64.5%

ELA

64.5%

2021*

Math

64.5%

ELA

64.5%

2022

Math

95%

ELA

84.5%

* 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: 8.2/10.

How Lake Preston Elementary - 02 Compares

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

Overall Score

9.1/10

98th percentile in SD

Academic

10.0/10

Excellent

Growth

8.2/10

Excellent

Environment

9.9/10

Excellent

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch

Students eligible for subsidized meals

41%

Teaching Staff

10:1 student-teacher ratio

10 teachers

Chronic Absenteeism

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

1.9%

Location

300 1st St NE, Lake Preston, SD 57249

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Lake Preston Elementary - 02 may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Arlington Elementary - 02 (rated 8.0/10, 11.7 miles away, in nearby Arlington), a more accessible option. Another option is Laura Ingalls Wilder Elementary - 02 (rated 6.9/10, 9.2 miles away, in nearby De Smet), a more accessible option. Additionally, Hamlin Elementary - 09 (rated 6.4/10, 20.8 miles away, in nearby Hayti), a more accessible option. For more schools in Lake Preston, see our Lake Preston schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 26.5 mi

School	Distance	Enrollment	Rating
Lake Preston High School - 01 Lake Preston	0.0 mi	51	7.7
Lake Preston Middle School - 03 Lake Preston	0.0 mi	33	6.6
De Smet High School - 01 De Smet	9.2 mi	90	7.7
De Smet Middle School - 03 De Smet	9.2 mi	86	4.5
Laura Ingalls Wilder Elementary - 02 De Smet	9.2 mi	178	6.9
Arlington Elementary - 02 Arlington	11.7 mi	161	8.0
Arlington High School - 01 Arlington	11.7 mi	86	7.4
Arlington Jr. High - 03 Arlington	11.7 mi	37	7.4
Arlington Preschool - 04 Arlington	11.7 mi	17	—
Hamlin Middle School - 02 Hayti	20.8 mi	182	4.5
Hamlin High School - 01 Hayti	20.8 mi	232	7.8
Hamlin Elementary - 09 Hayti	20.8 mi	467	6.4
Collins Colony Elementary - 06 Willow Lake	20.5 mi	16	—
Willow Lake Elementary - 02 Willow Lake	22.6 mi	150	6.4
Willow Lake High School - 01 Willow Lake	22.6 mi	56	7.9
Willow Lake Middle School - 03 Willow Lake	22.6 mi	63	6.4
Howard High School - 01 Howard	25.0 mi	98	9.3
Howard Jr. High - 05 Howard	25.0 mi	70	7.9
Howard Elementary - 02 Howard	25.3 mi	131	6.4
Shannon Colony Elementary - 08 Winfred	26.5 mi	29	—

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 57249 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$74,545

Median Home Value

$202,500

Median Rent

$535/mo

Population

1,007

College Educated

19.1%

Homeownership

80%

Poverty Rate

11.1%

Median Age

Similar Schools

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

School	Enrollment	Rating
Hanson Elementary - 06 Alexandria, SD	145	9.1
Kadoka Elementary - 02 Kadoka, SD	126	9.2
Whitewood Elementary - 04 Whitewood, SD	124	8.9
Valley Springs Elementary - 04 Valley Springs, SD	67	9.3
Corsica-Stickney Elementary - 02 Stickney, SD	136	8.7
Hoven Elementary - 02 Hoven, SD	77	8.7

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Lake Preston Elementary - 02

What grades does Lake Preston Elementary - 02 serve?

Lake Preston Elementary - 02 serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend Lake Preston Elementary - 02?

Lake Preston Elementary - 02 has an enrollment of approximately 104 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Lake Preston Elementary - 02?

The student-teacher ratio at Lake Preston Elementary - 02 is 10.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Lake Preston Elementary - 02 rank in SD?

Lake Preston Elementary - 02 ranks #15 of 574 schools in SD.

What is Lake Preston Elementary - 02's MySchoolScout rating?

Lake Preston Elementary - 02 has a current MySchoolScout rating of 9.1 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 Lake Preston Elementary - 02?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Lake Preston Elementary - 02 has 75% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 69% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is Lake Preston Elementary - 02 a charter school?

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

Is Lake Preston Elementary - 02 a Title I school?

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

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

41.3% of students at Lake Preston 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.