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Very Good

#117 of 574 schools in SD

Top 20% in state

Lake Preston High School - 01

High School · Lake Preston School District 38-3

300 1st St NE, Lake Preston, SD 57249

Enrollment

51

Student-Teacher

7.3:1

Score

7.7

Grades

9th – 12th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Lake Preston

#3 of 3

public schools

South Dakota high schools

#32 of 156

In district

#3 of 3

Lake Preston School District 38-3

School environment

9.1 / 10

Exceptional

About Lake Preston High School - 01

Lake Preston High School - 01 is a regular public high school located in the remote rural area of Lake Preston, South Dakota. The school serves students from ninth through twelfth grade and has an enrollment of 51 students. With a student-teacher ratio of 7.3:1, the school provides personalized attention to each student.

There are seven full-time equivalent teachers dedicated to supporting their academic needs. Lake Preston High School's MySchoolScout rating is 6.2 out of 10, placing it in the 66th percentile among South Dakota schools. Students perform well in ELA/Reading with 78% scoring proficient or above, while proficiency rates in Math are lower at 28%.

The school focuses on student development and offers a supportive learning environment. Lake Preston High School is situated in a quiet rural setting where the community values close-knit relationships and support for local education.

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 51 students, Lake Preston High School - 01 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 7.3:1, Lake Preston High School - 01 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.

Located in a rural area, Lake Preston High School - 01 may involve longer commutes for some families. Rural schools often serve as community anchors and may have smaller class sizes, but parents should consider transportation logistics, after-school program availability, and access to specialized services.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress7.9Very Good25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change+0.52 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2022
TrendStable
Academics6.7Above Average25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency25%
Reading/ELA Proficiency75%
Overall Proficiency50%
Expected (poverty-adj.)51%
vs. Expected-0.7 pts
Adjusted Percentile52th
College Readiness7.3Very Good30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment9.1Exceptional20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio7.3:1
Per-Pupil Spending$15,332

Lake Preston High School - 01 — Students at Lake Preston High School - 01 score 50% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 51%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

19.6%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores SD EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 28.3%
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 78.2%
School
State
N/A

Based on 6 test records from SD state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

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

2019
Math
30%
ELA
69.5%
2021*
Math
30%
ELA
90%
2022
Math
25%
ELA
75%

* 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: 7.9/10.

How Lake Preston High School - 01 Compares

See how Lake Preston High School - 01 performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
7.7/10
80th percentile in SD
Academic
6.7/10
6.7/10
Growth
7.9/10
Above average
Environment
9.1/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
20%
Teaching Staff
7:1 student-teacher ratio
7 teachers

Location

300 1st St NE, Lake Preston, SD 57249

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Lake Preston High School - 01 may also want to explore other high schools in the area. Howard High School - 01 (rated 8.3/10, 25.0 miles away, in nearby Howard), which scores slightly higher. Another option is De Smet High School - 01 (rated 7.6/10, 9.2 miles away, in nearby De Smet), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Arlington High School - 01 (rated 6.0/10, 11.7 miles away, in nearby Arlington), 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 Rating
Lake Preston Elementary - 02 Lake Preston 0.0 mi 9.7
Lake Preston Middle School - 03 Lake Preston 0.0 mi 8.3
De Smet High School - 01 De Smet 9.2 mi 7.6
De Smet Middle School - 03 De Smet 9.2 mi 3.2
Laura Ingalls Wilder Elementary - 02 De Smet 9.2 mi 5.5
Arlington Elementary - 02 Arlington 11.7 mi 7.2
Arlington High School - 01 Arlington 11.7 mi 6.0
Arlington Jr. High - 03 Arlington 11.7 mi 8.1
Arlington Preschool - 04 Arlington 11.7 mi
Hamlin Middle School - 02 Hayti 20.8 mi 4.7
Hamlin High School - 01 Hayti 20.8 mi 5.0
Hamlin Elementary - 09 Hayti 20.8 mi 7.5
Collins Colony Elementary - 06 Willow Lake 20.5 mi
Willow Lake Elementary - 02 Willow Lake 22.6 mi 4.0
Willow Lake High School - 01 Willow Lake 22.6 mi 5.8
Willow Lake Middle School - 03 Willow Lake 22.6 mi 6.4
Howard High School - 01 Howard 25.0 mi 8.3
Howard Jr. High - 05 Howard 25.0 mi 8.1
Howard Elementary - 02 Howard 25.3 mi 8.3
Shannon Colony Elementary - 08 Winfred 26.5 mi

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

51

Community Profile

The community surrounding Lake Preston High School - 01 has a median household income of $74,545. It is a community where 19% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $202,500, with a median rent of $535/month. The area has a poverty rate of 11.1%. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Eureka High School - 01 Eureka, SD 7.7
Frederick High School - 01 Frederick, SD 7.8
Langford Area High School - 01 Langford, SD 7.8
Summit High School - 01 Summit, SD 7.6
Rosholt High School - 01 Rosholt, SD 7.5
Kadoka Area High School - 01 Kadoka, SD 8.1

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Lake Preston High School - 01

What grades does Lake Preston High School - 01 serve?

Lake Preston High School - 01 serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Lake Preston High School - 01?

Lake Preston High School - 01 has an enrollment of approximately 51 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Lake Preston High School - 01?

The student-teacher ratio at Lake Preston High School - 01 is 7.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Lake Preston High School - 01 rank in SD?

Lake Preston High School - 01 is ranked #117 out of 574 schools in SD.

What is Lake Preston High School - 01's MySchoolScout rating?

Lake Preston High School - 01 has a composite rating of 7.7 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.

What are the test scores at Lake Preston High School - 01?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Lake Preston High School - 01 has 28.3% math proficiency and 78.2% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Lake Preston High School - 01 a charter school?

No, Lake Preston High School - 01 is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Lake Preston High School - 01 a Title I school?

No, Lake Preston High School - 01 is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Lake Preston High School - 01?

19.6% of students at Lake Preston High School - 01 qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
33 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
34 Somewhat Bikeable
County Safety
Low (173/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. County-level only. Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
51
Student-Teacher Ratio
7.3:1
Teachers (FTE)
7
Free/Reduced Lunch
19.6%
Type
regular
Setting
Remote Rural
County
Kingsbury County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Lake Preston School District 38-3
District Enrollment
188
Schools in District
3
Per-Pupil Spending
$17,235
District Rank
#3 of 3

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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