Beta You're viewing our redesigned school page. Prefer the classic layout?

Leola Elementary - 02

Q: Is Leola Elementary - 02 a good school?

Leola Elementary - 02 ranks 40 th of 300 South Dakota elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

40^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 300 South Dakota Elementary Schools

Better than 87% of South Dakota elementary schools

Summary

Leola Elementary - 02 is a public elementary school serving grades PK-5 in Leola, South Dakota, with an enrollment of 56 students. The school is part of the Leola School District 44-2, which is ranked 67 out of 147 school districts in the state and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Leola Elementary - 02 consistently performs very well on standardized tests, often outperforming the state and district averages. In the 2024-2025 school year, the school had 57.89% of students proficient or better in English Language Arts and 78.95% proficient or better in Mathematics, compared to the state averages of 50.93% and 43.49% respectively. The school also excels in the performance of certain student subgroups, such as ranking 14th out of 291 South Dakota elementary schools for female students and 1st out of 165 schools for multi-racial students in English Language Arts. Additionally, the school has a relatively low percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 26.79% to 37.29% over the past few years, and a relatively high per-student spending, ranging from $12,546 to $22,382 over the same period.

While Leola Elementary - 02 has maintained a strong academic performance over the years, the data also reveals some disparities, such as the school's ranking for male students in English Language Arts declining from 15th out of 160 schools in 2018-2019 to 108th out of 292 schools in 2024-2025. The school's chronic absenteeism rate has also fluctuated over the years, ranging from 7.8% to 20.8%, which is an area the school may want to address. Nearby schools in the Leola School District and Ipswich Public School District show varying levels of academic performance, with some, like Spring Creek Colony Elementary - 04, performing well, while others, such as Long Lake Colony Elementary - 05 and Rosette Colony Elementary - 03, struggle academically compared to Leola Elementary - 02.

Students ?

7.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$18,113

Per pupil spending ?

29.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

820 Leola Ave
Leola, SD 57456

(605) 439-3477

District: Leola School District 44-2

Students who attend Leola Elementary - 02 usually attend:

Middle:	Leola Junior High - 03
High:	Leola High School - 01

Racial breakdown:

White:

89.5%

Two or more races:

10.5%

See top rated South Dakota elementary schools

Compare Leola Elementary - 02 to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 66th percentile in 2018 → 87th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the South Dakota average (68% vs 47% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 13% of South Dakota elementary schools

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 87th (2025) from a 66th-percentile low (2018)

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school68%

District avg53%

South Dakota avg47%

40^th of 300

South Dakota public elementary schools ?

Top 13%▼ down 10 pts since 2015

From top 3% (2015) to top 13% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of South Dakota Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 4Elementary Schools in the Leola School District 44-2

67^th of 147Leola School District 44-2 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
2025	77.1	40 of 300	86.7%	★★★★☆
2023	72.7	47 of 204	77.0%	★★★★☆
2021	89.5	8 of 202	96.0%	★★★★★
2019	71.9	42 of 206	79.6%	★★★★☆
2018	65.5	69 of 204	66.2%	★★★☆☆
2017	86.8	13 of 207	93.7%	★★★★★
2016	73.8	35 of 206	83.0%	★★★★☆
2015	88.1	6 of 209	97.1%	★★★★★
2013	90.1	2 of 201	99.0%	★★★★★
2012	84.7	6 of 214	97.2%	★★★★★
2009	53.5	115 of 196	41.3%	★★☆☆☆
2008	73.0	33 of 194	83.0%	★★★★☆
2007	62.3	81 of 194	58.2%	★★★☆☆
2006	75.7	23 of 197	88.3%	★★★★☆
2005	87.1	1 of 194	99.5%	★★★★★
2004	61.8	87 of 189	54.0%	★★★☆☆
2003	50.5	116 of 187	38.0%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	84.8	14 of 291	95.2%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	93.3	2 of 237	99.2%	★★★★★
2019	98.3	2 of 121	98.3%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	60.9	108 of 292	63.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	85.2	15 of 160	90.6%	★★★★★

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	95.0	1 of 165	99.4%	★★★★★

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	62.8	55 of 248	77.8%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	66.2	88 of 287	69.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	63.6	67 of 185	63.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	60.0	69 of 191	63.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	62.7	61 of 186	67.2%	★★★☆☆

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)

Multi-racial (2025)99th percentile+13 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)99th percentile+12 vs school

Female (2025)95th percentile+9 vs school

Special Education (2025)78th percentile-9 vs school

White (2025)69th percentile-17 vs school

Male (2025)63rd percentile-24 vs school

By subject vs South Dakota (2024-2025) ?

Mathematics79%+35 vs state

Science67%+26 vs state

English Language Arts58%+7 vs state

★

No ratings yet

Be the first to rate Leola Elementary - 02 and help other families decide.

Rate Leola Elementary - 02

Have first-hand experience? A quick rating - and a sentence or two about what stands out (teachers, academics, safety, communication) - helps other families know what to expect.

Takes about a minute. We email you a link to verify your review - your address is never shown publicly.

Tap a star to rate

Reviews

No written reviews yet. If you know this school, be the first to share what stands out.

Schools Near Leola Elementary - 02

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts (2025)							Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2025)							Smarter Balanced Assessments Science (2025)			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/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	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 6th 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 6th 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	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Leola Elementary - 02	Public	PK, KG-5	820 Leola Ave	Leola	57456	McPherson County	Leola School District 44-2	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(605) 439-3477	57	8	7.4	29.8%	51 (89.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (10.5%)	77.1	40^th of 300 public elementary schools	86.7%					(n/a)	37.5	60.0	83.3				57.9	62.5	100.0	83.3				79.0	66.7			$18,113	$1,000	$17,113
Deerfield Colony Elementary - 05	Public	PK, KG-8	12434 364th Ave	Leola	57456	Edmunds County	Ipswich Public School District 22-6	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(605) 426-6832	26	2	11.7		26 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	43.9	187^th of 300 public elementary schools	37.7%					(n/a)	75.0	33.3	33.3	50.0		66.7	53.3	75.0	0.0	0.0	50.0		66.7	40.0	0.0	33.3	16.7	$13,597	$263	$13,334
Grassland Colony Elementary - 06	Public	K-8	11865 370th Ave	Westport	57481	McPherson County	Leola School District 44-2	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(605) 439-3477	12	2	6.3		12 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	47.6	174^th of 300 public elementary schools	42.0%					(n/a)	0.0	0.0	100.0	0.0		100.0	42.9	50.0	0.0	100.0	0.0		100.0	57.1	50.0	100.0	66.7
Long Lake Colony Elementary - 05	Public	K-8	36848 123rd St	Wetonka	57481	McPherson County	Leola School District 44-2	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(605) 439-3477	30	2	13.0	90.0%	30 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	39.7	200^th of 300 public elementary schools	33.3%					(n/a)	100.0	28.6		75.0	100.0	50.0	54.6	0.0	0.0		50.0	50.0	37.5	27.3		25.0		$18,113	$1,000	$17,113
Rosette Colony Elementary - 03	Public	PK, KG-8	12465 359th Ave	Leola	57456	Edmunds County	Ipswich Public School District 22-6	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(605) 426-6832	31	2	14.0		31 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14.4	267^th of 300 public elementary schools	11.0%					(n/a)		0.0	0.0	33.3	0.0	33.3	15.4		0.0	0.0	33.3	0.0	0.0	7.7	0.0	0.0	0.0	$14,619	$263	$14,356
Spring Creek Colony Elementary - 04	Public	K-8	36562 102nd St	Forbes	58439	McPherson County	Leola School District 44-2	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(605) 439-3477	35	2	15.2	8.6%	35 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	81.2	26^th of 300 public elementary schools	91.3%					(n/a)	50.0	100.0	75.0	100.0	75.0	0.0	71.4	100.0	100.0	100.0	80.0	100.0	0.0	85.7	0.0	0.0	0.0	$18,113	$1,000	$17,113
Ipswich Elementary - 02	Public	PK, KG-5	510 2nd Ave	Ipswich	57451	Edmunds County	Ipswich Public School District 22-6	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(605) 426-6832	182	15	12.0	22.5%	169 (92.9%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (3.8%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (2.7%)	76.8	42^nd of 300 public elementary schools	86.0%		87.2	12^th of 201 public elementary schools	94.0%	30	57.1	73.3	64.0				65.8	47.6	66.7	80.0				65.8	52.0			$13,774	$988	$12,786

Frequently Asked Questions about Leola Elementary - 02

What schools do graduates of Leola Elementary - 02 attend?

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

Middle : Leola Junior High - 03
High : Leola High School - 01

What district is Leola Elementary - 02 in?

Leola School District 44-2

How many students attend Leola Elementary - 02?

In the 2024-25 school year, 57 students attended Leola Elementary - 02.

Is Leola Elementary - 02 a good school?

Leola Elementary - 02 ranks 40^th of 300 South Dakota elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Leola Elementary - 02?

Students at Leola Elementary - 02 are 89% White, 11% Two or more races.

Rate Leola Elementary - 02!

Other helpful SchoolDigger resources...

Compare to nearby schools

SDSouth Dakota Elementary School Rankings

SDSouth Dakota District Rankings

Schools in Leola, SD

Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for Leola Elementary - 02!

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.