Skip to main content

Average

#32 of 56 private schools in SD

Lakota Waldorf School

Elementary School

3 MILE CREEK RD, Kyle, SD 57752

Private Estimated Score

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

Enrollment

31

Student-Teacher

3.9:1

Score

6.1

Grades

Kindergarten – 8th

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

South Dakota elementary schools

#15 of 33

About Lakota Waldorf School

Lakota Waldorf School serves 31 students from kindergarten through eighth grade in Kyle, South Dakota, within the Oglala Lakota community. This small elementary school maintains an exceptionally low student-teacher ratio of 3.9:1 with 8 full-time equivalent teachers, allowing for highly individualized attention and instruction. The school earns a solid 7.4 out of 10 rating from MySchoolScout and ranks 30th among South Dakota's 56 elementary schools, placing it in the 48th percentile statewide.

This performance reflects the school's commitment to serving its students in a challenging socioeconomic environment, where the surrounding community faces significant economic hardships with a 56.7% poverty rate and only 9% of residents holding bachelor's degrees or higher. The intimate school environment, with fewer than three dozen students total, creates opportunities for close mentoring relationships and personalized learning experiences that larger schools cannot provide. Teachers can focus intensively on each child's academic and personal development within this supportive educational community.

Lakota Waldorf School operates in a remote rural setting along 3 Mile Creek Road, serving families throughout the sparsely populated ZIP code area of 2,439 residents in the heart of Oglala Lakota territory.

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 31 students, Lakota Waldorf 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 3.9:1, Lakota Waldorf 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, Lakota Waldorf 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.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How Lakota Waldorf School compares to the 1 public school in Kyle, SD

Student-Teacher Ratio
3.9:1
This School
vs
11.6:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
31
This School
vs
766
Public Avg

All Schools in Kyle

School Rating
Lakota Waldorf School (this school) 6.1
Little Wound School

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)
A+ 9.9 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 3.9:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
A- 7.5 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 7 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,253
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
C- 2.4 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 0%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
C- 1.9 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 31
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)

Native American 100.0%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

3 MILE CREEK RD, Kyle, SD 57752

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Lakota Waldorf School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. OUR LADY OF LOURDES ELEMENTARY (rated 5.9/10, 9.1 miles away, in nearby Porcupine), with a very similar rating. Another option is Batesland School - 01 (rated 4.7/10, 18.1 miles away, in nearby Batesland), a more accessible option. Additionally, Pahin Sinte Owayawa (rated 4.6/10, 8.6 miles away, in nearby Porcupine), a more accessible option. For more schools in Kyle, see our Kyle schools guide .

Nearby Schools

13 within 28.2 mi
School Distance Rating
Little Wound School Kyle 6.1 mi
Pahin Sinte Owayawa Porcupine 8.6 mi 4.6
OUR LADY OF LOURDES ELEMENTARY Porcupine 9.1 mi 5.9
Wounded Knee District School Manderson 13.8 mi 4.0
Rockyford School - 03 Porcupine 14.2 mi 4.3
Batesland School - 01 Batesland 18.1 mi 4.7
Oglala Lakota County Virtual High School - 92 Batesland 18.1 mi 4.2
American Horse School Allen 17.7 mi 4.1
Wolf Creek School - 02 Pine Ridge 23.9 mi 3.9
Lakota Tech High School - 10 Batesland 24.0 mi 3.1
RED CLOUD INDIAN SCHOOL Pine Ridge 25.5 mi 7.9
Interior Elementary - 09 Kadoka 28.8 mi
Pine Ridge School Pine Ridge 28.2 mi

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 57752 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$30,304

Median Rent

$578/mo

Population

2,539

College Educated

9%

Homeownership

36.8%

Poverty Rate

61.6%

Median Age

23

Community Profile

The community surrounding Lakota Waldorf School has a median household income of $30,304. It is a community where 9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The area has a poverty rate of 61.6%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Oaklane Colony Elementary - 05 Alexandria, SD 6.0
Old Elm Spring Colony Elementary - 03 Parkston, SD 6.2
ST THOMAS SCHOOL Madison, SD 6.3
ST MARY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Salem, SD 6.6
Rustic Acres Elementary - 04 Chester, SD 5.5
SUNNY PLAINS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Iroquois, SD 5.4

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Lakota Waldorf School

What grades does Lakota Waldorf School serve?

Lakota Waldorf School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 8th.

How many students attend Lakota Waldorf School?

Lakota Waldorf School has an enrollment of approximately 31 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Lakota Waldorf School?

The student-teacher ratio at Lakota Waldorf School is 3.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does Lakota Waldorf School rank in SD?

Lakota Waldorf School is ranked #32 out of 56 private schools in SD.

What is Lakota Waldorf School's MySchoolScout rating?

Lakota Waldorf School has a composite rating of 6.1 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 Lakota Waldorf School a private school?

Yes, Lakota Waldorf School is a private coeducational school with a Nonsectarian affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is Lakota Waldorf School a religious school?

No, Lakota Waldorf School is a nonsectarian (non-religious) private school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
Kindergarten – 8th
Enrollment
31
Gender Split
48% M / 52% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
3.9:1
Teachers (FTE)
8
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Nonsectarian
School Day
7 hours
Days Per Year
179 days
Setting
Remote Rural
County
OGLALA LAKOTA
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

Get school insights in your inbox

New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.