Best Elementary Schools in Carpenter, SD

The city of Carpenter, South Dakota is home to two elementary schools: Fordham Colony Elementary - 04 and Shamrock Colony Elementary - 05. Both schools serve students in grades K-5 and are part of the Clark School District 12-2 and Willow Lake School District 12-3, respectively, which are ranked near the bottom of all school districts in South Dakota.

Based on the available data, neither of the two elementary schools in Carpenter appears to be a standout performer. Both schools have relatively low test scores compared to the state and district averages, and they are ranked near the bottom of all elementary schools in South Dakota. Fordham Colony Elementary - 04 ranked 252 out of 300 South Dakota elementary schools in the 2024-2025 school year, with a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger, while Shamrock Colony Elementary - 05 ranked even lower, at 298 out of 300, with a 0-star rating.

The data shows that both schools struggle with low proficiency rates in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science, as well as high chronic absenteeism rates. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, Fordham Colony Elementary - 04 had only 18.51% of students proficient or better in ELA, compared to 50.93% statewide, and Shamrock Colony Elementary - 05 had even lower ELA proficiency, at just 16.67%. Additionally, both schools had a chronic absenteeism rate of 20.2% in the 2024-2025 school year, which is significantly higher than the state average. The small size of these schools, with only 42 and 21 students, respectively, may contribute to the challenges they face in terms of academic performance and resources.