Top Rankings
Dakota Valley School District 61-8 ranks among the top 20% of public school district in South Dakota for:
Category
Attribute
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 20%)
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 1%)
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 1%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 3 public elementary schools serving 927 students in Dakota Valley School District 61-8. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 8/10, which is in the top 30% of public elementary schools in South Dakota.
Public Elementary Schools in Dakota Valley School District 61-8 have an average math proficiency score of 48% (versus the South Dakota public elementary school average of 43%), and reading proficiency score of 63% (versus the 49% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 27% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the South Dakota public elementary school average of 36% (majority American Indian).
Overview
This School District
This State (SD)
# Schools
4 Schools
497 Schools
# Students
1,386 Students
101,009 Students
# Teachers
88 Teachers
7,507 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
16:1
16:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Dakota Valley School District 61-8, which is ranked within the top 30% of all 146 school districts in South Dakota (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 95% has increased from 90-94% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#38 out of 148 school districts
(Top 30%)
(Top 30%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
48%
42%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
64%
51%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
47%
42%
Graduation Rate
≥95%
82%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.43
0.55
% American Indian
2%
17%
% Asian
3%
2%
% Hispanic
11%
8%
% Black
2%
3%
% White
75%
64%
% Hawaiian
1%
n/a
% Two or more races
6%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $13,118 in this school district is less than the state median of $13,121. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $10,740 is less than the state median of $12,623. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$18 MM
$1,916 MM
Spending
$15 MM
$1,844 MM
Revenue / Student
$13,118
$13,121
Spending / Student
$10,740
$12,623
Best Dakota Valley School District 61-8 Public Elementary Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Dakota Valley Elementary - 02
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
80 Northshore Dr
North Sioux City, SD 57049
(605) 422-3840
North Sioux City, SD 57049
(605) 422-3840
Grades: K-3
| 380 students
Rank: #22.
Dakota Valley Middle School - 03
(Math: 47% | Reading: 68%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1150 Northshore Dr
North Sioux City, SD 57049
(605) 422-3830
North Sioux City, SD 57049
(605) 422-3830
Grades: 6-8
| 341 students
Rank: #33.
Dakota Valley Upper Elementary - 04
(Math: 43% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
1150 Northshore Dr
North Sioux City, SD 57049
(605) 422-3830
North Sioux City, SD 57049
(605) 422-3830
Grades: 4-5
| 206 students
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