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Public School Review - Established 2003

Best Public Schools in South Dakota (2026)

The top-ranked public schools in South Dakota are Challenge Center - 51, Adventure Elementary - 10 and Warner Elementary - 02. The cities and towns with the highest concentration of top-ranked public schools are Brandon, Warner and Ethan.
A school's overall testing rank is based on a it's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking. The average percentage of students achieving math proficiency in South Dakota is 43%. The percentage of students achieving reading proficiency is 51%.

Top-Ranked Public Schools in South Dakota (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Student Proficiency
Grades
Location
Rank: #11.
Challenge Center - 51
(Math: ≥95% | Reading: ≥95%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: ≥95% (Top 1%)
Reading: ≥95% (Top 1%)
Grades: 2-5
3101 S 4th Ave
Sioux Falls, SD 57105
(605) 367-6170
Rank: #22.
Adventure Elementary - 10
(Math: 86% | Reading: 85%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: 86% (Top 1%)
Reading: 85% (Top 1%)
Grades: K-5
27220 472nd Ave
Sioux Falls, SD 57108
(605) 432-2567
Rank: #33.
Warner Elementary - 02
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: 80-84% (Top 5%)
Reading: 85-89% (Top 1%)
Grades: K-5
110 1st Ave Sw
Warner, SD 57479
(605) 225-6194
Rank: #44.
Fred Assam Elementary - 06
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: 85-89% (Top 1%)
Reading: 80-84% (Top 5%)
Grades: K-4
7700 E Willowwood St
Sioux Falls, SD 57110
(605) 582-1500
Rank: #55.
Lake Preston Elementary - 02
(Math: 70-79% | Reading: 80-89%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: 70-79% (Top 5%)
Reading: 80-89% (Top 1%)
Grades: PK-5
300 1st St Ne
Lake Preston, SD 57249
(605) 847-4464
Rank: #66.
Howard High School - 01
(Math: 60-79% | Reading: 80-89%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: 60-79% (Top 5%)
Reading: 80-89% (Top 1%)
Grades: 9-12
500 N Section Line
Howard, SD 57349
(605) 772-5515
Rank: #7 - 97. - 9.
Arlington Jr. High - 03
(Math: 80-89% | Reading: 70-79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: 80-89% (Top 1%)
Reading: 70-79% (Top 10%)
Grades: 7-8
306 S Main St
Arlington, SD 57212
(605) 983-5598
Rank: #7 - 97. - 9.
Faulkton Elementary - 02
(Math: 80-89% | Reading: 70-79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: 80-89% (Top 1%)
Reading: 70-79% (Top 10%)
Grades: PK-5
1114 Court St
Faulkton, SD 57438
(605) 598-6266
Rank: #7 - 97. - 9.
Whitewood Elementary - 04
(Math: 80-89% | Reading: 70-79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: 80-89% (Top 1%)
Reading: 70-79% (Top 10%)
Grades: PK-5
603 Garfield St
Whitewood, SD 57793
(605) 269-2264
Rank: #1010.
Warner Middle School - 03
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: 75-79% (Top 5%)
Reading: 75-79% (Top 5%)
Grades: 6-8
110 1st Ave Sw
Warner, SD 57479
(605) 225-6194
Rank: #11 - 1311. - 13.
Ethan High School - 01
(Math: 60-79% | Reading: ≥80%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: 60-79% (Top 5%)
Reading: ≥80% (Top 5%)
Grades: 9-12
320 S 2nd St
Ethan, SD 57334
(605) 227-4211
Rank: #11 - 1311. - 13.
Leola Elementary - 02
(Math: 60-79% | Reading: ≥80%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: 60-79% (Top 5%)
Reading: ≥80% (Top 5%)
Grades: PK-5
820 Leola Ave
Leola, SD 57456
(605) 439-3477
Rank: #11 - 1311. - 13.
Timber Lake High School - 01
(Math: 60-79% | Reading: ≥80%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: 60-79% (Top 5%)
Reading: ≥80% (Top 5%)
Grades: 9-12
500 Main St
Timber Lake, SD 57656
(605) 865-3654
Rank: #1414.
Hanson Elementary - 06
(Math: 80-89% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: 80-89% (Top 1%)
Reading: 70-74% (Top 10%)
Grades: PK-5
230 6th St
Alexandria, SD 57311
(605) 239-4387
Rank: #15 - 1615. - 16.
Ethan Elementary - 02
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: 80-84% (Top 5%)
Reading: 70-74% (Top 10%)
Grades: PK-6
320 S 2nd St
Ethan, SD 57334
(605) 227-4211
Rank: #15 - 1615. - 16.
Lennox Elementary - 02
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: 80-84% (Top 5%)
Reading: 70-74% (Top 10%)
Grades: PK-4
305 W 5th Ave
Lennox, SD 57039
(605) 647-2203
Rank: #17 - 1817. - 18.
Lennox Intermediate - 09
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: 75-79% (Top 5%)
Reading: 70-74% (Top 10%)
Grades: 5-6
208 W 5th Ave
Lennox, SD 57039
(605) 647-2203
Rank: #17 - 1817. - 18.
Lincoln Elementary - 05
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: 75-79% (Top 5%)
Reading: 70-74% (Top 10%)
Grades: 1-4
1100 13th St Ne
Watertown, SD 57201
(605) 882-6340
Rank: #1919.
Hanson High School - 01
(Math: 60-79% | Reading: 70-79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: 60-79% (Top 5%)
Reading: 70-79% (Top 10%)
Grades: 9-12
230 6th St
Alexandria, SD 57311
(605) 239-4387
Rank: #2020.
C C Lee Elementary - 05
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: 70-74% (Top 5%)
Reading: 70-74% (Top 10%)
Grades: K-5
1900 N State St
Aberdeen, SD 57401
(605) 725-7500
Rank: #21 - 2421. - 24.
Big Stone City Elementary - 01
(Math: ≥80% | Reading: 60-79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: ≥80% (Top 5%)
Reading: 60-79% (Top 20%)
Grades: PK-5
655 Walnut St
Big Stone City, SD 57216
(605) 862-8108
Rank: #21 - 2421. - 24.
Brandon Valley High School - 01
(Math: 65% | Reading: 82%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: 65% (Top 20%)
Reading: 82% (Top 5%)
Grades: 9-12
301 S Splitrock Blvd
Brandon, SD 57005
(605) 582-3211
Rank: #21 - 2421. - 24.
Cedar Grove Colony Elementary - 14
(Math: ≥80% | Reading: 60-79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: ≥80% (Top 5%)
Reading: 60-79% (Top 20%)
Grades: K-8
36926 266th St
Platte, SD 57369
(605) 337-2468
Rank: #21 - 2421. - 24.
Warner High School - 01
(Math: ≥80% | Reading: 60-79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: ≥80% (Top 5%)
Reading: 60-79% (Top 20%)
Grades: 9-12
110 1st Ave Sw
Warner, SD 57479
(605) 225-6194
Rank: #25 - 2625. - 26.
Arlington Elementary - 02
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: 65-69% (Top 10%)
Reading: 75-79% (Top 5%)
Grades: K-6
306 S Main St
Arlington, SD 57212
(605) 983-5741
Rank: #25 - 2625. - 26.
Inspiration Elementary - 08
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: 65-69% (Top 10%)
Reading: 75-79% (Top 5%)
Grades: K-4
3401 S Sparta Ave
Sioux Falls, SD 57110
(605) 582-5890
Rank: #2727.
Robert Bennis Elementary - 05
(Math: 72% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: 72% (Top 5%)
Reading: 71% (Top 10%)
Grades: K-4
2001 S Sioux Blvd
Brandon, SD 57005
(605) 582-8010
Rank: #28 - 2928. - 29.
Big Stone City Middle School - 03
(Math: 60-79% | Reading: 60-79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: 60-79% (Top 5%)
Reading: 60-79% (Top 20%)
Grades: 6-8
655 Walnut St
Big Stone City, SD 57216
(605) 862-8108
Rank: #28 - 2928. - 29.
Wolf Creek Colony Elementary - 04
(Math: 60-79% | Reading: 60-79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: 60-79% (Top 5%)
Reading: 60-79% (Top 20%)
Grades: K-8
42906 Colony Rd
Freeman, SD 57029
(605) 925-4216
Rank: #3030.
Sonia Sotomayor Elementary - 65
(Math: 68% | Reading: 74%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
Math: 68% (Top 10%)
Reading: 74% (Top 10%)
Grades: PK-5
1510 S Lake Ave
Sioux Falls, SD 57105
(605) 367-4655
Rank: #3131.
Ethan Jr. High - 03
(Math: 60-69% | Reading: 70-79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
Math: 60-69% (Top 20%)
Reading: 70-79% (Top 10%)
Grades: 7-8
320 S 2nd St
Ethan, SD 57334
(605) 227-4211
Rank: #3232.
Miller Elementary - 02
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
Math: 65-69% (Top 10%)
Reading: 70-74% (Top 10%)
Grades: K-6
623 E 4th St
Miller, SD 57362
(605) 853-2711
Rank: #3333.
Platte - Geddes Elementary - 02
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
Math: 75-79% (Top 5%)
Reading: 65-69% (Top 20%)
Grades: K-5
401 S Iowa Av
Platte, SD 57369
(605) 337-2468
Rank: #3434.
Centerville Elementary - 02
(Math: 70-79% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
Math: 70-79% (Top 5%)
Reading: 65-69% (Top 20%)
Grades: PK-5
610 Lincoln St
Centerville, SD 57014
(605) 563-2291
Rank: #3535.
Dell Rapids Elementary - 02
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
Math: 70-74% (Top 5%)
Reading: 65-69% (Top 20%)
Grades: K-4
309 W 15th St
Dell Rapids, SD 57022
(605) 428-5473
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