Very Good
#184 of 574 schools in SD
Top 32% in state
Southwest Middle School - 38
Middle School · Rapid City Area School District 51-4 · Rapid City, SD
A Rapid City Area School District 51-4 middle school where students score 11 points above what's typical for similar communities.
4501 Park Dr, Rapid City, SD 57702
- Math 59% proficient (2022)
- Reading 70% proficient (2022)
- 18:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Southwest Middle School - 38 score 64% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 53%).
2022 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. SD average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 21 points across the 14-year record (2009–2022) and has held near 65% recently.
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 66% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 75% (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 28 test records from SD state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
11.1%
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 Southwest Middle School - 38 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 7Car-Dependent
- Bike 13Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High4,515/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Rapid City), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$85,700
Median home value
$341,400
Median rent
$1,209/mo
College educated
48%
Homeownership
72.6%
Poverty rate
5%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 57702; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Middle School - 37Enrollment path unverified | 5.1 | 6–8 | 2.5 mi | 603 | Compare → |
| St Thomas More Middle SchoolPrivate · tuition | 6.5private | 6–8 | 3.0 mi | 164 | Compare → |
| South Middle School - 36Enrollment path unverified | 3.4 | 6–8 | 3.5 mi | 502 | Compare → |
| Jefferson Building - 64Enrollment path unverified | 5.3 | PK–12 | 4.1 mi | 35 | 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.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Rapid City Area School District 51-4
- Schools in district
- 26
- Rank in district
- #2 of 24
- District spending per student
- $10,380NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 10.5%Census SAIPE · 2024
Southwest Middle School - 38 is listed in Rapid City Area School District 51-4; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Southwest Middle School - 38
Southwest Middle School - 38 is a public middle school in Rapid City, SD, part of Rapid City Area School District 51-4, serving approximately 665 students in grades 6th-8th with a 18:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.2 out of 10 and ranks #184 of 574 schools in SD. State assessment records show 66% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 75% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Southwest Middle School - 38
What grades does Southwest Middle School - 38 serve?
Southwest Middle School - 38 serves students in grades 6th through 8th.
How many students attend Southwest Middle School - 38?
Southwest Middle School - 38 has an enrollment of approximately 665 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Southwest Middle School - 38?
The student-teacher ratio at Southwest Middle School - 38 is 18:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Southwest Middle School - 38 rank in SD?
Southwest Middle School - 38 ranks #184 of 574 schools in SD.
What is Southwest Middle School - 38's MySchoolScout rating?
Southwest Middle School - 38 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 Southwest Middle School - 38?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Southwest Middle School - 38 has 66% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 75% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Is Southwest Middle School - 38 a charter school?
No, Southwest Middle School - 38 is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Southwest Middle School - 38 a Title I school?
No, Southwest Middle School - 38 is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Southwest Middle School - 38?
11.1% of students at Southwest Middle School - 38 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
- 6th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 665
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 18:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 37
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Pennington County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 14.0%
- Phone
- (605) 394-6792
- Area population (ZIP 57702)
- 35,771
- Area average commute
- 19.5 min
- Area median age
- 47.7
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 57702; 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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