B+
Lake Preston School District 38-3
Public school districtGrades PK–12Regional · 8 towns
Serves Lake Preston, Hartland, Badger, Baker, Denver, Erwin, Whitewood and Hetland, and parts of De Smet, Spirit Lake and Spring Lake.
Students
170
Schools
3
Spent per student
$18,122
SD $13,040
Students per teacher
8:1
Free or reduced lunch
35%
What stands out about Lake Preston School District 38-3
- School Grade B+: better than 71% of South Dakota districts
- Math proficiency 10 pts above the state
- Graduation rate (4-year) 6 pts above the state
- Spends 39% more per student than the SD average
- 8 students per teacher
- Enrollment down 8.1% since 2020
Where would my kid go?
The school path for Preston.
K–5Sioux Valley Elementary - 02Sioux Valley School District 05-5
6–8Sioux Valley Middle School - 04Sioux Valley School District 05-5
9–12Sioux Valley High School - 01Sioux Valley School District 05-5
Test scores vs. SD
2020–21Math proficiency52%
State average 42.2%
Graduation rate (4-year)90%
State average 84.5% · small group: the state reports 80–100%
Where the money goes
fiscal 2024$18,122 per student · 39% above SD
Spending
Classroom instruction 54%Support & administration 42%Other 4%
Paid for by
Local (mostly property tax) 68%State 24%Federal 8%
U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances.
Enrollment over time
185’20
184’21
187’22
188’23
170’24
Down 8.1% since 2020.
Students
White 92%Two or more races 5%Hispanic 2%American Indian/Alaska Native 1%
Schools in the district
3 public schools.
Towns served
Nearby districts
Compare spending and schools next door.
De Smet School District 38-2Le Sueur, Manchester, Mathews
$13,958per student
Arlington School District 38-1Arlington, Bangor, Lake Sinai
$14,017per student
Oldham-Ramona-Rutland 39-6 school districtBadus, Belleview, Oldham
$15,219per student
Iroquois School District 02-3Le Sueur, Manchester
$15,649per student
District facts: U.S. Department of Education (NCES directory and district boundaries) and the U.S. Census Bureau school finance survey. Test scores and graduation: EDFacts via the Urban Institute Education Data Portal. Neighbor ratings are opinions.