Northwestern Area School District 56-7

Public school districtGrades PK–12Regional · 23 towns

Serves Ashton, Mellette, Northville, Conde, Northville, Cresbard, Jefferson, Union, La Prairie, Brentford, Mellette, Chelsea, Devoe, Clifton, Fairview, Beotia, Wesley, Athol, Tetonka, Emerson, Benton, Olean and Pioneer, and parts of Warner, East Rondell, Three Rivers, Clear Lake, Conde, Garden Prairie, New Hope, Myron and Groveland.

Students

387

Schools

Spent per student

$13,471

SD $13,040

Students per teacher

15:1

Free or reduced lunch

14%

Debt

$7.7M

fiscal 2024

The gist

What stands out about Northwestern Area School District 56-7

School Grade B: better than 60% of South Dakota districts
Graduation rate (4-year) 16 pts below the state
15 students per teacher
Enrollment up 15.2% since 2022
Debt of $7.7M, about $20,016 per student

Where would my kid go?

The school path for Spring Valley.

K–83 schoolsClark School District 12-2

Test scores vs. SD

2020–21

Math proficiency47%

State average 42.2%

Graduation rate (4-year)69%

State average 84.5% · small group: the state reports 60–79%

Where the money goes

fiscal 2024

$13,471 per student · 3% above SD

Spending

Classroom instruction 54%Support & administration 40%Other 6%

Paid for by

Local (mostly property tax) 61%State 27%Federal 12%

U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances.

Enrollment over time

336’22

359’23

387’24

Up 15.2% since 2022.

Students

White 89%Two or more races 4%Hispanic 4%American Indian/Alaska Native 2%Black <1%Asian <1%

Schools in the district

6 public schools.

Northwestern Elementary - 04

Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Mellette

135 students14:1

Hutterville Colony Elementary - 06

Elementary · Grades K–8 · Stratford

16 students6:1

Northwestern Middle School - 02

Middle · Grades 6–8 · Mellette

B+

56 students12:1

iSucceed Middle School - 93

Middle · Grades 6–8 · Mellette

7 students35:1

Northwestern High School - 01

High · Grades 9–12 · Mellette

91 students12:1

iSucceed - 92

High · Grades 9–12 · Mellette

82 students59:1

Nearby districts

Compare spending and schools next door.

Redfield School District 56-4Exline, Great Bend, Harmony

$13,408per student

Doland School District 56-2Harmony, Sumner, Turton

$17,196per student

Faulkton School District 24-4Centerville, Freedom, Lafoon

$12,949per student

Groton Area School District 06-6Bates, Gem, Oak Gulch

$12,329per 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.