For the 2026 school year, there are 20 blue ribbon public preschools serving 4,693 students in South Dakota.
Blue ribbon schools have been recognized by the Department of Education for achieving superior standards of academic excellence. Read more about this national school awards program and how blue ribbon schools work.
The top-ranked blue ribbon public preschools in South Dakota are Faulkton Elementary - 02, Whitewood Elementary - 04 and Ethan Elementary - 02. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
South Dakota blue ribbon public preschools have an average math proficiency score of 65% (versus the South Dakota public pre school average of 45%), and reading proficiency score of 62% (versus the 46% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 21% of the student body (majority Hispanic and American Indian), which is less than the South Dakota public preschool average of 34% (majority American Indian and Hispanic).
Best Blue Ribbon Public Preschools in South Dakota (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #1 - 21. - 2.
Faulkton Elementary - 02
(Math: 80-89% | Reading: 70-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
1114 Court St
Faulkton, SD 57438
(605) 598-6266
Faulkton, SD 57438
(605) 598-6266
Gr: PK-5 | 185 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 6%
Rank: #1 - 21. - 2.
Whitewood Elementary - 04
(Math: 80-89% | Reading: 70-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
603 Garfield St
Whitewood, SD 57793
(605) 269-2264
Whitewood, SD 57793
(605) 269-2264
Gr: PK-5 | 138 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 10%
Rank: #3 - 43. - 4.
Ethan Elementary - 02
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
320 S 2nd St
Ethan, SD 57334
(605) 227-4211
Ethan, SD 57334
(605) 227-4211
Gr: PK-6 | 155 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 10%
Rank: #3 - 43. - 4.
Lennox Elementary - 02
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
305 W 5th Ave
Lennox, SD 57039
(605) 647-2203
Lennox, SD 57039
(605) 647-2203
Gr: PK-4 | 362 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 12%
Rank: #55.
Sonia Sotomayor Elementary - 65
(Math: 68% | Reading: 74%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
1510 S Lake Ave
Sioux Falls, SD 57105
(605) 367-4655
Sioux Falls, SD 57105
(605) 367-4655
Gr: PK-5 | 690 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 26%
Rank: #66.
Canistota Elementary - 02
(Math: 70-79% | Reading: 60-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
431 4th Ave
Canistota, SD 57012
(605) 296-3458
Canistota, SD 57012
(605) 296-3458
Gr: PK-5 | 141 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 14%
Rank: #77.
Timber Lake Elementary - 02
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
500 Main St
Timber Lake, SD 57656
(605) 865-3654
Timber Lake, SD 57656
(605) 865-3654
Gr: PK-5 | 185 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 63%
Rank: #88.
Corsica-stickney Elementary - 02
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
506 Main St
Stickney, SD 57375
(605) 732-4221
Stickney, SD 57375
(605) 732-4221
Gr: PK-5 | 150 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 3%
Rank: #99.
Howard Elementary - 02
(Math: 60-69% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
201 N Minnie St
Howard, SD 57349
(605) 772-4443
Howard, SD 57349
(605) 772-4443
Gr: PK-5 | 158 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 4%
Rank: #1010.
Kimball Elementary - 02
(Math: 70-79% | Reading: 50-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
300 S East St
Kimball, SD 57355
(605) 778-6231
Kimball, SD 57355
(605) 778-6231
Gr: PK-4 | 102 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 10%
Rank: #1111.
Webster Area Elementary - 03
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
733 E 2nd St
Webster, SD 57274
(605) 345-4651
Webster, SD 57274
(605) 345-4651
Gr: PK-5 | 274 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 11%
Rank: #1212.
Groton Area Elementary - 02
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
810 N 1st St
Groton, SD 57445
(605) 397-2317
Groton, SD 57445
(605) 397-2317
Gr: PK-5 | 278 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 10%
Rank: #1313.
Baltic Elementary - 02
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1 Bulldog Ave
Baltic, SD 57003
(605) 529-5464
Baltic, SD 57003
(605) 529-5464
Gr: PK-5 | 307 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 10%
Rank: #1414.
Frederick Area Elementary - 02
(Math: 50-59% | Reading: 50-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
202 E Main St
Frederick, SD 57441
(605) 329-2145
Frederick, SD 57441
(605) 329-2145
Gr: PK-5 | 98 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 7%
Rank: #1515.
Lincoln Elementary - 08
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
414 S 10th St
Aberdeen, SD 57401
(605) 725-7200
Aberdeen, SD 57401
(605) 725-7200
Gr: PK-5 | 233 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 38%
Rank: #1616.
Harvey Dunn Elementary - 54
(Math: 63% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
2400 S Bahnson Ave
Sioux Falls, SD 57103
(605) 371-4120
Sioux Falls, SD 57103
(605) 371-4120
Gr: PK-5 | 681 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 37%
Rank: #1717.
Medary Elementary - 05
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
718 5th St S
Brookings, SD 57006
(605) 696-4300
Brookings, SD 57006
(605) 696-4300
Gr: PK-3 | 358 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 34%
Rank: #1818.
White Lake Elementary - 02
(Math: 40-59% | Reading: 21-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
410 E 4th St
White Lake, SD 57383
(605) 249-2251
White Lake, SD 57383
(605) 249-2251
Gr: PK-5 | 62 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 2%
Rank: #1919.
Armour Elementary - 02
(Math: 30-39% | Reading: 40-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
905 Dobson Ave
Armour, SD 57313
(605) 724-2698
Armour, SD 57313
(605) 724-2698
Gr: PK-5 | 119 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 13%
Rank: n/an/a
306 S Main St
Arlington, SD 57212
(605) 983-5597
Arlington, SD 57212
(605) 983-5597
Gr: PK | 17 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 18%
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top-ranked blue ribbon public preschools in South Dakota?
The top-ranked blue ribbon public preschools in South Dakota include Faulkton Elementary - 02, Whitewood Elementary - 04 and Ethan Elementary - 02.
How many blue ribbon public preschools are located in South Dakota?
20 blue ribbon public preschools are located in South Dakota.
What is the racial composition of students in South Dakota?
South Dakota blue ribbon public preschools minority enrollment is 21% of the student body (majority Hispanic and American Indian), which is less than the South Dakota public preschools average of 34% (majority American Indian and Hispanic).
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