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Castlewood Elementary - 02

Q: Is Castlewood Elementary - 02 a good school?

Castlewood Elementary - 02 ranks 78 th of 203 South Dakota elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

78^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 203 South Dakota Elementary Schools

Better than 62% of South Dakota elementary schools

Summary

Castlewood Elementary - 02 is a 140-student public school serving prekindergarten through fifth grade in Castlewood, South Dakota, with nearby elementary schools offering useful comparisons. Its 2025–2026 results were strong overall in English language arts (ELA) and math, but fifth-grade science was a serious exception: just 16% of students were proficient.

Castlewood’s strongest results were in math: 65% of students were proficient, about 21 percentage points above the state and 20 points above the Castlewood School District 28-1. ELA proficiency was 57%, about 8 points above both. Among nearby PK–5 schools, Castlewood was essentially tied with Estelline Elementary - 02 for the highest ELA result, and its math result was second to Estelline. Science was far weaker: Castlewood’s 16% was about 26 points below the state and the lowest reported result among nearby schools with fifth-grade scores.

ELA and math have risen since 2022–2023, but both fell from their 2024–2025 peaks; science has declined, from 35% in 2022–2023 to 16% now. SchoolDigger rated Castlewood 3 stars and placed it at the 62nd statewide percentile in 2025–2026, down from the 91st percentile and 5 stars the prior year. In 2024–2025, its student-teacher ratio was 13 to 1, and 26% of students were free/reduced lunch eligible. One SchoolDigger subgroup result also stands out: English Language Learner Students ranked at the 41st percentile in 2024–2025, compared with the school’s overall 91st percentile that year, indicating lower relative standing in how the school served this group than for the school overall.

140

Students ?

13.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$13,151

Per pupil spending ?

26.4%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

84%

Kindergartners immunized against measles (MMR) (2025-26)

Exemptions: 12% (any vaccine)

310 E Harry St
Castlewood, SD 57223

(605) 793-2497

District: Castlewood School District 28-1

Students who attend Castlewood Elementary - 02 usually attend:

Middle:	Castlewood Middle School - 03
High:	Castlewood High School - 01

Racial breakdown:

White:

93.6%

Hispanic:

6.4%

See top rated South Dakota elementary schools

Compare Castlewood Elementary - 02 to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 52nd percentile in 2023 → 62nd in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the South Dakota average (56% vs 46% meeting standards)

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 62nd (2026) from a 52nd-percentile low (2023)

✓Above the South Dakota median (62nd percentile)

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

!Science scores 26 pts below the South Dakota average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school56%

District avg46%

South Dakota avg46%

78^th of 203

South Dakota public elementary schools ?

Top 38%▼ down 33 pts since 2016

From top 5% (2016) to top 38% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of South Dakota Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

56^th of 126Castlewood School District 28-1 among South Dakota districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2026	60.9	78 of 203	61.6%	★★★☆☆
2025	80.9	28 of 300	90.7%	★★★★★
2024	55.4	95 of 201	52.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	52.8	98 of 204	52.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	60.7	76 of 202	62.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	64.5	70 of 202	65.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	69.5	44 of 206	78.6%	★★★★☆
2018	78.8	26 of 204	87.3%	★★★★☆
2017	80.1	25 of 207	87.9%	★★★★☆
2016	84.1	11 of 206	94.7%	★★★★★
2015	71.7	48 of 209	77.0%	★★★★☆
2013	60.1	93 of 201	53.7%	★★★☆☆
2012	74.4	36 of 214	83.2%	★★★★☆
2011	68.1	62 of 205	69.8%	★★★★☆
2010	77.8	28 of 206	86.4%	★★★★☆
2009	82.0	9 of 196	95.4%	★★★★★
2008	80.1	10 of 194	94.8%	★★★★★
2007	73.3	30 of 194	84.5%	★★★★☆
2006	74.2	29 of 197	85.3%	★★★★☆
2005	64.1	76 of 194	60.8%	★★★☆☆
2004	78.5	13 of 189	93.1%	★★★★★
2003	82.6	10 of 187	94.7%	★★★★★

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	39.0	103 of 176	41.5%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	81.2	25 of 291	91.4%	★★★★★
2024	53.2	83 of 165	49.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	57.4	65 of 154	57.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	50.1	73 of 150	51.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	62.9	57 of 151	62.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	56.0	69 of 155	55.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	64.3	57 of 163	65.0%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	62.6	35 of 163	78.5%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	63.3	61 of 237	74.3%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2026	57.6	71 of 161	55.9%	★★★☆☆
2025	73.9	47 of 292	83.9%	★★★★☆
2024	64.2	56 of 161	65.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	51.3	81 of 166	51.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	77.4	29 of 154	81.2%	★★★★☆
2021	67.4	45 of 157	71.3%	★★★★☆
2018	81.4	19 of 170	88.8%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	59.7	65 of 248	73.8%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2026	51.5	98 of 184	46.7%	★★☆☆☆
2025	77.1	31 of 287	89.2%	★★★★☆
2024	45.0	110 of 184	40.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	43.7	108 of 185	41.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	48.5	96 of 184	47.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	61.0	68 of 185	63.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	62.4	59 of 191	69.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	72.7	36 of 186	80.6%	★★★★☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Female (2025)91st percentile~ school

Hispanic (2025)79th percentile-12 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)74th percentile-16 vs school

Special Education (2025)74th percentile-17 vs school

Male (2026)56th percentile-6 vs school

White (2026)47th percentile-15 vs school

English Language Learner (2025)41st percentile-49 vs school

By subject vs South Dakota (2025-2026) ?

Mathematics65%+21 vs state

English Language Arts57%+8 vs state

Science16%-26 vs state

★

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Schools Near Castlewood Elementary - 02

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Vaccination Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts (2026)						Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2026)						Smarter Balanced Assessments Science (2026)			Vaccination (2025-26)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/reduced lunch (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts 3rd Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts 4th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 3rd Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 4th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments Science 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Science 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Science All Grades	Vaccination: Kindergartners immunized against measles (MMR)	Vaccination: Exemption rate	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Castlewood Elementary - 02	Public	PK, KG-5	310 E Harry St	Castlewood	57223	Hamlin County	Castlewood School District 28-1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(605) 793-2497	140	11	13.0	26.4%	131 (93.6%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (6.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	60.9	78^th of 203 public elementary schools	61.6%		80.9	28^th of 300 public elementary schools	90.7%	50	53.3	52.2	68.4			56.9	46.7	82.6	73.7			65.3	15.8			84%	12%	$13,151	$664	$12,487
Claremont Colony Elementary - 04	Public	K-8	46271 184th St	Castlewood	57223	Hamlin County	Castlewood School District 28-1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(605) 793-2497	17	1	17.0	—	17 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)																100%	50%
Estelline Elementary - 02	Public	PK, KG-5	404 6th St N	Estelline	57234	Hamlin County	Estelline School District 28-2	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(605) 873-2201	149	11	14.1	34.9%	112 (75.2%)	1 (0.7%)	31 (20.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (3.4%)	73.8	37^th of 203 public elementary schools	81.8%		72.7	65^th of 300 public elementary schools	78.3%	28	41.7	56.3	77.8			56.9	58.3	68.8	88.9			70.7	77.8			81%	4.8%	$13,692	$1,363	$12,330
McKinley Early Childhood Center - 06	Public	PK-K	5 12th St SW	Watertown	57201	Codington County	Watertown School District 14-4	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(605) 882-6350	296	22	13.7	38.2%	229 (77.4%)	2 (0.7%)	32 (10.8%)	5 (1.7%)	10 (3.4%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (6.1%)								(n/a)																94%	5.5%
Lincoln Elementary - 05	Public	1-4	1100 13th St NE	Watertown	57201	Codington County	Watertown School District 14-4	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(605) 882-6340	361	24	14.8	37.1%	272 (75.3%)	1 (0.3%)	50 (13.9%)	5 (1.4%)	13 (3.6%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (5.5%)	55.4	89^th of 203 public elementary schools	56.2%		53	157^th of 300 public elementary schools	47.7%	68	50.0	42.9				46.4	65.9	54.8				60.2						$11,908	$962	$10,946
Mellette Elementary - 07	Public	1-4	619 2nd St NW	Watertown	57201	Codington County	Watertown School District 14-4	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(605) 882-6385	267	20	13.6	47.6%	192 (71.9%)	3 (1.1%)	20 (7.5%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (6.4%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (13.1%)	44	130^th of 203 public elementary schools	36.0%		45.1	183^rd of 300 public elementary schools	39.0%	53	19.7	50.8				35.7	55.7	58.5				57.1						$11,594	$1,010	$10,584
Hamlin Elementary - 09	Public	PK, KG-5	44577 188th St	Hayti	57241	Hamlin County	Hamlin School District 28-3	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(605) 783-3631	472	29	16.4	35.8%	443 (93.9%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (5.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.6%)	64.9	67^th of 203 public elementary schools	67.0%		74.1	59^th of 300 public elementary schools	80.3%	8	52.9	54.0	58.5			55.1	44.1	63.5	63.1			56.6	58.5			86.1%	11.1%	$9,938	$1,498	$8,440
Jefferson Elementary - 09	Public	1-4	1701 N Maple St	Watertown	57201	Codington County	Watertown School District 14-4	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(605) 882-6390	333	23	14.2	32.7%	278 (83.5%)	1 (0.3%)	14 (4.2%)	2 (0.6%)	19 (5.7%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (5.7%)	59	82^nd of 203 public elementary schools	59.6%		59	130^th of 300 public elementary schools	56.7%	48	57.3	41.0				49.4	62.9	57.8				60.5						$11,854	$908	$10,947
Clear Lake Elementary - 02	Public	PK, KG-5	410 5th St W	Clear Lake	57226	Deuel County	Deuel School District 19-4	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(605) 874-2162	270	22	12.2	21.9%	257 (95.2%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (4.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	30.2	158^th of 203 public elementary schools	22.2%		46.8	178^th of 300 public elementary schools	40.7%	20	18.2	45.7	38.2			33.9	25.0	39.1	41.2			34.7	55.9			90.6%	9.4%	$12,233	$423	$11,810
Waverly-South Shore Elementary - 02	Public	PK, KG-5	319 Mary Pl	Waverly	57201	Codington County	Waverly School District 14-5	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(605) 886-9174	128	11	11.4	50.8%	105 (82.0%)	1 (0.8%)	4 (3.1%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (7.8%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (6.3%)	38.1	142^nd of 203 public elementary schools	30.0%		34.2	217^th of 300 public elementary schools	27.7%	75	38.5	50.0	52.6			48.1	61.5	40.0	26.3			40.4	31.6			88.9%	11.1%	$15,192	$484	$14,708

Frequently Asked Questions about Castlewood Elementary - 02

What district is Castlewood Elementary - 02 in?

Castlewood School District 28-1

Is Castlewood Elementary - 02 a good school?

Castlewood Elementary - 02 ranks 78^th of 203 South Dakota elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Castlewood Elementary - 02?

Students at Castlewood Elementary - 02 are 94% White, 6% Hispanic.

What schools do graduates of Castlewood Elementary - 02 attend?

Students who attend Castlewood Elementary - 02 usually go on to attend:

Middle : Castlewood Middle School - 03
High : Castlewood High School - 01

How many students attend Castlewood Elementary - 02?

In the 2024-25 school year, 140 students attended Castlewood Elementary - 02.

Rate Castlewood Elementary - 02!

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Latest South Dakota data All new data »

2025–26 attendance data, dropout rates & graduation ratesNewNov 6, 2026

2025–26 SD ACT & Smarter Balanced Assessments scoresNewNov 6, 2026

2024–25 attendance data & graduation rates (updated)NewNov 1, 2026

2025–26 immunization ratesOct 24, 2026

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the South Dakota Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.