Very Good
#182 of 574 schools in SD
Top 32% in state
Northwestern Elementary - 04
Elementary School · Northwestern Area School District 56-7 · Mellette, SD
A Northwestern Area School District 56-7 elementary school serving grades Pre-K – 5th.
221 3rd St, Mellette, SD 57461
- Math 55% proficient (2022)
- Reading 45% proficient (2022)
- 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Northwestern Elementary - 04 score 50% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 52%).
2022 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. SD average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 5 points since 2019, to 50% in 2022, across a 14-year record (2009–2022).
Show all 13 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 60% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 61% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 26 test records from SD state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
15.3%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where Northwestern Elementary - 04 sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 20Car-Dependent
- Bike 34Somewhat Bikeable
- County Safety: Average302/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · county context, not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. A newer release may be available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$105,625
Median home value
$161,100
College educated
27.8%
Homeownership
87.4%
Poverty rate
6.3%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 57461; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
1 in Northwestern Area School District 56-7
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hutterville Colony Elementary - 06Enrollment path unverified | Not rated | K–8 | Not available | 17 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Northwestern Area School District 56-7
- Schools in district
- 6
- Rank in district
- #1 of 4
- District spending per student
- $12,473NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 21.9%Census SAIPE · 2024
Northwestern Elementary - 04 is listed in Northwestern Area School District 56-7; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Northwestern Elementary - 04
Northwestern Elementary - 04 is a public elementary school in Mellette, SD, part of Northwestern Area School District 56-7, serving approximately 124 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.2 out of 10 and ranks #182 of 574 schools in SD. State assessment records show 60% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 61% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Northwestern Elementary - 04
What grades does Northwestern Elementary - 04 serve?
Northwestern Elementary - 04 serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Northwestern Elementary - 04?
Northwestern Elementary - 04 has an enrollment of approximately 124 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Northwestern Elementary - 04?
The student-teacher ratio at Northwestern Elementary - 04 is 13.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Northwestern Elementary - 04 rank in SD?
Northwestern Elementary - 04 ranks #182 of 574 schools in SD.
What is Northwestern Elementary - 04's MySchoolScout rating?
Northwestern Elementary - 04 has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.2 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 Northwestern Elementary - 04?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Northwestern Elementary - 04 has 60% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 61% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Is Northwestern Elementary - 04 a charter school?
No, Northwestern Elementary - 04 is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Northwestern Elementary - 04 a Title I school?
No, Northwestern Elementary - 04 is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Northwestern Elementary - 04?
15.3% of students at Northwestern Elementary - 04 qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 124
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 13.8:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 9
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Remote Rural
- County
- Spink County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 3.2%
- Phone
- (605) 887-3467
- Area population (ZIP 57461)
- 286
- Area median age
- 53.4
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 57461; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2022; directory SY 2023–24
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