Average

#279 of 574 schools in SD

Top 48% in state

Willow Lake Elementary - 02

Elementary School · Willow Lake School District 12-3

PO Box 170, Willow Lake, SD 57278

Last updated: July 2026

Enrollment

150

Student-Teacher

15:1

Score

6.4

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Enrollment

150

Student-Teacher

15:1

Score

6.4

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage
2022-23

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

South Dakota schools

#279 of 574

In Willow Lake

#3 of 4

public schools

In district

#3 of 4

Willow Lake School District 12-3

Academic growth

7.1 / 10

Very Good

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

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About Willow Lake Elementary - 02

Willow Lake Elementary - 02 is a public elementary school in Willow Lake, SD, part of Willow Lake School District 12-3. Willow Lake Elementary - 02 serves approximately 150 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 15:1 student-teacher ratio. Willow Lake Elementary - 02 has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.4 out of 10 and ranks #279 of 574 schools in SD.

Structured state assessment records for Willow Lake Elementary - 02 show 55% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 57% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

How it comparesOn par with district

6.4

This school 6.4 · Average
District avg 6.7
SD avg 6.1

What Parents Should Know

At 150 students, Willow Lake 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.

Willow Lake 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 Progress7.1Very Good50%

Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.

View breakdown

Years of Data13

Annual Change-2.17 pts/yr

Data Period2009–2022

TrendDeclining

Academics5.0Average30%

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

View breakdown

Math Proficiency34.5% (2022 EdFacts)

Reading/ELA Proficiency44.5% (2022 EdFacts)

Overall Proficiency40% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)

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

vs. Expected-3.6 pts

Adjusted Percentile31th

Resources & Environment6.6Average20%

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

View breakdown

Student-Teacher Ratio15:1

Per-Pupil Spending$11,529

Chronic Absenteeism9.3%

Willow Lake Elementary - 02 — Students at Willow Lake Elementary - 02 score 40% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 43%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

42%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores SD EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 54.9% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)

School

State

N/A

ELA Proficiency 57.2% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)

School

State

N/A

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

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

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

2009

Math

54.5%

ELA

64.5%

2010

Math

54.5%

ELA

64.5%

2011

Math

84.5%

ELA

74.5%

2012

Math

90%

ELA

69.5%

2014

Math

44.5%

ELA

54.5%

2015

Math

64.5%

ELA

64.5%

2016

Math

54.5%

ELA

54.5%

2017

Math

54.5%

ELA

54.5%

2018

Math

54.5%

ELA

54.5%

2019

Math

54.5%

ELA

54.5%

2020*

Math

34.5%

ELA

44.5%

2021*

Math

34.5%

ELA

44.5%

2022

Math

34.5%

ELA

44.5%

* 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: 7.1/10.

How Willow Lake Elementary - 02 Compares

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

Overall Score

6.4/10

52th percentile in SD

Academic

5.0/10

Average

Growth

7.1/10

Very Good

Environment

6.6/10

Average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch

Students eligible for subsidized meals

42%

Teaching Staff

15:1 student-teacher ratio

10 teachers

Chronic Absenteeism

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

9.3%

Location

PO Box 170, Willow Lake, SD 57278

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Willow Lake Elementary - 02 may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Mayfield Colony Elementary - 04 (rated 6.9/10, 5.5 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Laura Ingalls Wilder Elementary - 02 (rated 6.9/10, 17.4 miles away, in nearby De Smet), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Clark Elementary - 02 (rated 5.7/10, 18.0 miles away, in nearby Clark), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Willow Lake, see our Willow Lake schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 21.0 mi

School	Distance	Enrollment	Rating
Willow Lake High School - 01 Willow Lake	0.0 mi	56	7.9
Willow Lake Middle School - 03 Willow Lake	0.0 mi	63	6.4
Mayfield Colony Elementary - 04 Willow Lake	5.5 mi	32	6.9
Collins Colony Elementary - 06 Willow Lake	6.4 mi	16	—
Silver Lake Colony - 07 Clark	16.5 mi	20	—
De Smet High School - 01 De Smet	17.3 mi	90	7.7
De Smet Middle School - 03 De Smet	17.3 mi	86	4.5
Laura Ingalls Wilder Elementary - 02 De Smet	17.4 mi	178	6.9
SUNNY PLAINS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Iroquois	15.0 mi	33	5.4
Clark Elementary - 02 Clark	18.0 mi	213	5.7
Clark High School - 01 Clark	18.1 mi	102	6.5
Clark Middle School - 03 Clark	18.1 mi	87	3.5
Fordham Colony Elementary - 04 Carpenter	16.4 mi	42	2.3
Henry Elementary - 02 Henry	19.5 mi	93	4.5
Henry High School - 01 Henry	19.5 mi	54	6.1
Henry Middle School - 03 Henry	19.5 mi	53	4.1
Hillcrest Colony Elementary - 05 Garden City	21.9 mi	32	3.0
Shamrock Colony Elementary - 05 Willow Lake	15.7 mi	21	—
Iroquois High School - 01 Iroquois	21.0 mi	49	5.9
Iroquois Middle School - 02 Iroquois	21.0 mi	44	4.4

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 57278 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$65,938

Median Home Value

$202,700

Median Rent

$745/mo

Population

1,082

College Educated

21.7%

Homeownership

78.7%

Poverty Rate

6.6%

Median Age

22.7

Similar Schools

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

School	Enrollment	Rating
Burke Elementary - 02 Burke, SD	97	6.4
Howard Elementary - 02 Howard, SD	131	6.4
Irene - Wakonda Elementary - 02 Wakonda, SD	161	6.5
White River Elementary - 02 White River, SD	164	6.5
Britton-Hecla Elementary - 02 Britton, SD	173	6.3
JOHN PAUL II ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Mitchell, SD	102	6.6

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Willow Lake Elementary - 02

What grades does Willow Lake Elementary - 02 serve?

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

How many students attend Willow Lake Elementary - 02?

Willow Lake Elementary - 02 has an enrollment of approximately 150 students.

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

The student-teacher ratio at Willow Lake Elementary - 02 is 15:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Willow Lake Elementary - 02 rank in SD?

Willow Lake Elementary - 02 ranks #279 of 574 schools in SD.

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

Willow Lake Elementary - 02 has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.4 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 Willow Lake Elementary - 02?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Willow Lake Elementary - 02 has 55% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 57% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is Willow Lake Elementary - 02 a charter school?

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

Is Willow Lake Elementary - 02 a Title I school?

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

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

42.0% of students at Willow Lake 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.