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Dakota Valley Upper Elementary - 04

Q: Is Dakota Valley Upper Elementary - 04 a good school?

Dakota Valley Upper Elementary - 04 ranks 85 th of 203 South Dakota elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 4-5

85^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 203 South Dakota Elementary Schools

Better than 58% of South Dakota elementary schools

Summary

Dakota Valley Upper Elementary - 04 is a public school in North Sioux City, South Dakota, serving 179 students in grades 4–5 and part of the Dakota Valley School District 61-8. In 2025–2026, the school’s overall ELA and math proficiency rates were above state results, though below district results. Its clearest academic strength was grade 5 science: 59% of students were proficient, 18 percentage points above the state.

Results vary by grade and subject, and comparisons with nearby schools show both strengths and a weaker spot. Overall, the school was above the state by 4 percentage points in ELA and 5 points in math, but below its district by 6 points in ELA and 2 in math. Compared with Elk Point-Jefferson Elementary - 02, Dakota Valley was ahead in grade 4 and grade 5 math and grade 5 science; its grade 4 ELA result was lower (46% versus 54%). Chronic absenteeism was also notably lower than the district and state: 4%, compared with 9% and 20%, respectively.

Across the years shown, ELA proficiency fell by 2 percentage points, math rose by 1, and grade 5 science ended 2 points lower after rebounding 13 points from its 2024–2025 low; in all three subjects, the school’s lead over the state narrowed. SchoolDigger rated Dakota Valley at the 58th statewide percentile with 3 stars, compared with the nearby Elk Point-Jefferson school’s 46th percentile and 2 stars. Its subgroup rankings show a marked contrast in SchoolDigger’s measure of how well schools serve different groups: Special Education Students ranked at the 94th percentile, while Low Socio Economic Status Students ranked at the 5th, down from the 45th the year before. The 2024–2025 student-teacher ratio was 13.9, the highest among the three nearby schools. In that same school year, 16.2% of students were free/reduced lunch eligible, close to the nearby schools’ average of 16.5%.

179

Students ?

13.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$11,721

Per pupil spending ?

16.2%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

1150 Northshore Dr
North Sioux City, SD 57049

(605) 422-3830

District: Dakota Valley School District 61-8

Students who attend Dakota Valley Upper Elementary - 04 usually attend:

Middle:	Dakota Valley Middle School - 03
High:	Dakota Valley High School - 01

Racial breakdown:

White:

70.9%

Hispanic:

15.1%

Two or more races:

6.1%

See top rated South Dakota elementary schools

Compare Dakota Valley Upper Elementary - 04 to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 80th percentile in 2016 → 58th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the South Dakota average (52% vs 46% meeting standards)

✓Above the South Dakota median (58th percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 22 percentile points since 2016

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school52%

District avg55%

South Dakota avg46%

85^th of 203

South Dakota public elementary schools ?

Top 42%▼ down 21 pts since 2016

From top 20% (2016) to top 42% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of South Dakota Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

23^rd of 126Dakota Valley School District 61-8 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	57.6	85 of 203	58.1%	★★★☆☆
2025	63.7	113 of 300	62.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	65.4	62 of 201	69.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	64.7	72 of 204	64.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	56.1	89 of 202	55.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	48.2	111 of 202	45.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	54.9	90 of 206	56.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	65.6	68 of 204	66.7%	★★★☆☆
2017	58.1	92 of 207	55.6%	★★★☆☆
2016	71.9	42 of 206	79.6%	★★★★☆
2015	61.7	78 of 209	62.7%	★★★☆☆
2013	63.3	76 of 201	62.2%	★★★☆☆
2012	65.8	74 of 214	65.4%	★★★☆☆
2011	64.0	80 of 205	61.0%	★★★☆☆
2010	56.2	111 of 206	46.1%	★★☆☆☆
2009	60.2	85 of 196	56.6%	★★★☆☆
2008	56.1	114 of 194	41.2%	★★☆☆☆
2007	51.5	131 of 194	32.5%	★★☆☆☆
2006	56.2	108 of 197	45.2%	★★☆☆☆
2005	61.2	91 of 194	53.1%	★★★☆☆
2004	59.0	99 of 189	47.6%	★★☆☆☆
2003	48.4	125 of 187	33.2%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	39.8	50 of 81	38.3%	★★☆☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	72.1	17 of 58	70.7%	★★★★☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2026	57.0	6 of 16	62.5%	★★★★☆
2025	70.3	22 of 176	87.5%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2026	48.8	77 of 166	53.6%	★★★☆☆
2025	62.1	107 of 291	63.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	61.4	63 of 165	61.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	48.9	84 of 154	45.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	55.0	67 of 150	55.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	53.5	71 of 151	53.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	52.8	74 of 155	52.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	58.1	72 of 163	55.8%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2026	72.9	5 of 25	80.0%	★★★★☆
2025	63.3	34 of 163	79.1%	★★★★☆
2024	47.0	8 of 22	63.6%	★★★★☆
2023	54.5	6 of 21	71.4%	★★★★☆
2021	64.8	4 of 18	77.8%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2026	12.9	110 of 116	5.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	45.1	130 of 237	45.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	28.1	89 of 110	19.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	23.4	96 of 112	14.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	38.8	82 of 121	32.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	64.4	36 of 121	70.2%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2026	64.2	49 of 161	69.6%	★★★★☆
2025	60.1	115 of 292	60.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	65.0	53 of 161	67.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	75.3	32 of 166	80.7%	★★★★☆
2022	59.3	60 of 154	61.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	44.6	93 of 157	40.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	60.7	54 of 160	66.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	72.1	43 of 170	74.7%	★★★★☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	65.2	42 of 165	74.5%	★★★★☆
2024	34.6	10 of 12	16.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Native American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	52.1	56 of 152	63.2%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2026	88.7	4 of 64	93.8%	★★★★★
2025	61.6	58 of 248	76.6%	★★★★☆
2024	64.3	17 of 72	76.4%	★★★★☆
2023	47.5	34 of 72	52.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	29.5	47 of 61	23.0%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2026	55.9	83 of 184	54.9%	★★★☆☆
2025	57.6	126 of 287	56.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	65.4	53 of 184	71.2%	★★★★☆
2023	63.2	68 of 185	63.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	47.2	100 of 184	45.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	35.5	130 of 185	29.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	50.1	100 of 191	47.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	58.2	77 of 186	58.6%	★★★☆☆

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)

Special Education (2026)94th percentile+36 vs school

Hispanic (2026)80th percentile+22 vs school

Multi-racial (2025)75th percentile+12 vs school

Asian (2025)71st percentile+8 vs school

Male (2026)70th percentile+11 vs school

Native American (2025)63rd percentile~ school

English Language Learner (2026)62nd percentile+4 vs school

White (2026)55th percentile-3 vs school

Female (2026)54th percentile-5 vs school

African American (2025)38th percentile-24 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)5th percentile-53 vs school

By subject vs South Dakota (2025-2026) ?

Science59%+18 vs state

English Language Arts53%+4 vs state

Mathematics49%+5 vs state

★

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Schools Near Dakota Valley Upper Elementary - 04

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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 All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 3rd Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 4th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments Science 5th Grade	Vaccination: Kindergartners immunized against measles (MMR)	Vaccination: Exemption rate	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Dakota Valley Upper Elementary - 04	Public	4-5	1150 Northshore Dr	North Sioux City	57049	Union County	Dakota Valley School District 61-8	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(605) 422-3830	179	13	13.9	16.2%	127 (70.9%)	4 (2.2%)	27 (15.1%)	4 (2.2%)	6 (3.4%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (6.1%)	57.6	85^th of 203 public elementary schools	58.1%		63.7	113^th of 300 public elementary schools	62.3%	28		45.7	60.2	52.6		55.4	41.0	48.6	59.0			$11,721	$568	$11,153
Dakota Valley Elementary - 02	Public	K-3	80 Northshore Dr	North Sioux City	57049	Union County	Dakota Valley School District 61-8	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(605) 422-3840	386	30	12.9	15.8%	284 (73.6%)	6 (1.6%)	44 (11.4%)	16 (4.1%)	10 (2.6%)	5 (1.3%)	21 (5.4%)								(n/a)	48.9				52.2					96.6%	2.2%	$12,663	$797	$11,866
Elk Point-Jefferson Elementary - 02	Public	K-5	500 S Franklin St	Elk Point	57025	Union County	Elk Point-Jefferson School District 61-7	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(605) 356-5801	334	26	12.8	17.1%	302 (90.4%)	5 (1.5%)	15 (4.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (3.6%)	50.3	109^th of 203 public elementary schools	46.3%		53.2	156^th of 300 public elementary schools	48.0%	47	40.0	54.2	61.2	52.3	51.1	49.2	28.6	43.1	53.1	91.3%	2.2%	$7,538	$44	$7,495

Frequently Asked Questions about Dakota Valley Upper Elementary - 04

Is Dakota Valley Upper Elementary - 04 a good school?

Dakota Valley Upper Elementary - 04 ranks 85^th of 203 South Dakota elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What district is Dakota Valley Upper Elementary - 04 in?

Dakota Valley School District 61-8

What is the racial makeup of Dakota Valley Upper Elementary - 04?

Students at Dakota Valley Upper Elementary - 04 are 71% White, 15% Hispanic, 6% Two or more races, 3% American Indian, 2% African American, 2% Asian.

How many students attend Dakota Valley Upper Elementary - 04?

In the 2024-25 school year, 179 students attended Dakota Valley Upper Elementary - 04.

What schools do graduates of Dakota Valley Upper Elementary - 04 attend?

Students who attend Dakota Valley Upper Elementary - 04 usually go on to attend:

Middle : Dakota Valley Middle School - 03
High : Dakota Valley High School - 01

Rate Dakota Valley Upper Elementary - 04!

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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.