Public School Review - Established 2003

Best South Dakota Blue Ribbon Public Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 44 blue ribbon public schools serving 8,772 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 schools in South Dakota are Challenge Center - 51, Warner Elementary - 02 and Faulkton Elementary - 02. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
South Dakota blue ribbon public schools have an average math proficiency score of 65% (versus the South Dakota public school average of 43%), and reading proficiency score of 63% (versus the 51% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 19% of the student body (majority Hispanic and American Indian), which is less than the South Dakota public school average of 34% (majority American Indian).

Best Blue Ribbon Public Schools in South Dakota (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Challenge Center - 51
(Math: ≥95% | Reading: ≥95%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
3101 S 4th Ave
Sioux Falls, SD 57105
(605) 367-6170
Gr: 2-5 | 165 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 18%
Rank: #22.
Warner Elementary - 02
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
110 1st Ave Sw
Warner, SD 57479
(605) 225-6194
Gr: K-5 | 145 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 6%
Rank: #3 - 43. - 4.
Faulkton Elementary - 02
(Math: 80-89% | Reading: 70-79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
1114 Court St
Faulkton, SD 57438
(605) 598-6266
Gr: PK-5 | 185 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 6%
Rank: #3 - 43. - 4.
Whitewood Elementary - 04
(Math: 80-89% | Reading: 70-79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
603 Garfield St
Whitewood, SD 57793
(605) 269-2264
Gr: PK-5 | 138 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 10%
Rank: #5 - 65. - 6.
Ethan High School - 01
(Math: 60-79% | Reading: ≥80%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
320 S 2nd St
Ethan, SD 57334
(605) 227-4211
Gr: 9-12 | 93 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 7%
Rank: #5 - 65. - 6.
Timber Lake High School - 01
(Math: 60-79% | Reading: ≥80%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
500 Main St
Timber Lake, SD 57656
(605) 865-3654
Gr: 9-12 | 117 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 50%
Rank: #7 - 87. - 8.
Ethan Elementary - 02
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
320 S 2nd St
Ethan, SD 57334
(605) 227-4211
Gr: PK-6 | 155 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 10%
Rank: #7 - 87. - 8.
Lennox Elementary - 02
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
305 W 5th Ave
Lennox, SD 57039
(605) 647-2203
Gr: PK-4 | 362 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 12%
Rank: #99.
Warner High School - 01
(Math: ≥80% | Reading: 60-79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
110 1st Ave Sw
Warner, SD 57479
(605) 225-6194
Gr: 9-12 | 85 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 7%
Rank: #1010.
Robert Bennis Elementary - 05
(Math: 72% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
2001 S Sioux Blvd
Brandon, SD 57005
(605) 582-8010
Gr: K-4 | 542 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 13%
Rank: #1111.
Sonia Sotomayor Elementary - 65
(Math: 68% | Reading: 74%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
1510 S Lake Ave
Sioux Falls, SD 57105
(605) 367-4655
Gr: PK-5 | 690 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 26%
Rank: #1212.
Dell Rapids Elementary - 02
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
309 W 15th St
Dell Rapids, SD 57022
(605) 428-5473
Gr: K-4 | 355 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 8%
Rank: #1313.
All City Elementary - 50
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
2511 W Brookings St
Sioux Falls, SD 57104
(605) 367-6120
Gr: K-5 | 149 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 18%
Rank: #1414.
Canistota Elementary - 02
(Math: 70-79% | Reading: 60-69%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
431 4th Ave
Canistota, SD 57012
(605) 296-3458
Gr: PK-5 | 141 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 14%
Rank: #1515.
Pinedale Elementary - 11
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
4901 W Chicago St
Rapid City, SD 57702
(605) 394-1805
Gr: K-5 | 377 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 20%
Rank: #1616.
Timber Lake Elementary - 02
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
500 Main St
Timber Lake, SD 57656
(605) 865-3654
Gr: PK-5 | 185 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 63%
Rank: #17 - 1817. - 18.
Corsica-stickney Elementary - 02
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
506 Main St
Stickney, SD 57375
(605) 732-4221
Gr: PK-5 | 150 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 3%
Rank: #17 - 1817. - 18.
Timber Lake Middle School - 03
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
500 Main St
Timber Lake, SD 57656
(605) 865-3654
Gr: 6-8 | 70 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 53%
Rank: #1919.
Corral Drive Elementary - 21
(Math: 69% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
3736 Corral Dr
Rapid City, SD 57702
(605) 394-6789
Gr: K-5 | 439 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 17%
Rank: #2020.
Howard Elementary - 02
(Math: 60-69% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
201 N Minnie St
Howard, SD 57349
(605) 772-4443
Gr: PK-5 | 158 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 4%
Rank: #2121.
Kimball Elementary - 02
(Math: 70-79% | Reading: 50-59%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
300 S East St
Kimball, SD 57355
(605) 778-6231
Gr: PK-4 | 102 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 10%
Rank: #2222.
Webster Area Elementary - 03
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
733 E 2nd St
Webster, SD 57274
(605) 345-4651
Gr: PK-5 | 274 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 11%
Rank: #2323.
Groton Area Elementary - 02
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
810 N 1st St
Groton, SD 57445
(605) 397-2317
Gr: PK-5 | 278 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 10%
Rank: #2424.
Burke High School - 01
(Math: 40-59% | Reading: ≥80%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
900 Washington St
Burke, SD 57523
(605) 775-2645
Gr: 9-12 | 94 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 6%
Rank: #2525.
Gettysburg Middle School - 03
(Math: 60-69% | Reading: 50-59%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
100 E King Ave
Gettysburg, SD 57442
(605) 765-2436
Gr: 6-8 | 54 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 8%
Rank: #2626.
Gertie Belle Rogers Elementary - 04
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
1301 N Kimball St
Mitchell, SD 57301
(605) 995-3091
Gr: K-5 | 379 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 27%
Rank: #2727.
Baltic Elementary - 02
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
1 Bulldog Ave
Baltic, SD 57003
(605) 529-5464
Gr: PK-5 | 307 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 10%
Rank: #2828.
Frederick Area Elementary - 02
(Math: 50-59% | Reading: 50-59%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
202 E Main St
Frederick, SD 57441
(605) 329-2145
Gr: PK-5 | 98 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 7%
Rank: #2929.
Lincoln Elementary - 08
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
414 S 10th St
Aberdeen, SD 57401
(605) 725-7200
Gr: PK-5 | 233 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 38%
Rank: #3030.
Harvey Dunn Elementary - 54
(Math: 63% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
2400 S Bahnson Ave
Sioux Falls, SD 57103
(605) 371-4120
Gr: PK-5 | 681 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 37%
Rank: #3131.
Avon Elementary - 02
(Math: 60-79% | Reading: 40-59%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
210 Pine St
Avon, SD 57315
(605) 286-3291
Gr: K-4 | 74 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 16%
Rank: #3232.
Armour High School - 01
(Math: ≥50% | Reading: ≥50%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
604 3rd St
Armour, SD 57313
(605) 724-2153
Gr: 9-12 | 57 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 14%
Rank: #3333.
Harding County High School - 01
(Math: <50% | Reading: ≥50%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
12474 Tipperary St
Buffalo, SD 57720
(605) 375-3241
Gr: 9-12 | 66 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 2%
Rank: #3434.
White Lake High School - 01
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
410 E 4th St
White Lake, SD 57383
(605) 249-2251
Gr: 9-12 | 33 students Student-teacher ratio: 7:1 Minority enrollment: 9%
Rank: #3535.
Medary Elementary - 05
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
718 5th St S
Brookings, SD 57006
(605) 696-4300
Gr: PK-3 | 358 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 34%
Show 9 more public schools in South Dakota (out of 44 total schools)
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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked blue ribbon public schools in South Dakota?
The top-ranked blue ribbon public schools in South Dakota include Challenge Center - 51, Warner Elementary - 02 and Faulkton Elementary - 02.
How many blue ribbon public schools are located in South Dakota?
44 blue ribbon public schools are located in South Dakota.
What is the racial composition of students in South Dakota?
South Dakota blue ribbon public schools minority enrollment is 19% of the student body (majority Hispanic and American Indian), which is less than the South Dakota public schools average of 34% (majority American Indian).

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