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Northwestern Elementary - 04

Q: Is Northwestern Elementary - 04 a good school?

Northwestern Elementary - 04 ranks 57 th of 203 South Dakota elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

57^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 203 South Dakota Elementary Schools

Better than 72% of South Dakota elementary schools

Summary

Northwestern Elementary - 04 serves 135 students in prekindergarten through fifth grade in Mellette, South Dakota, as part of Northwestern Area School District 56-7. Its 2025–2026 results show a solid overall academic position: all-grade ELA and math proficiency were above both district and state levels. The clearest strength is math, where proficiency was 63%, about 20 points above the state and 24 points above the district.

Among nearby elementary schools with comparable grade spans, Northwestern sits between Redfield Elementary - 03 and Warner Elementary - 02: Northwestern was ahead of Redfield but well behind Warner in all-grade ELA and math. Its ELA proficiency was 59%, compared with 50% at Redfield and 93% at Warner; math was 63%, compared with 54% and 96%. Fourth-grade ELA is the clearest grade-level concern: 46% proficiency was below the state’s 48% and equal to the district, while fourth-grade math was 54%, above the state’s 49%. Fifth-grade science was about level with the state at 41%, and above Redfield’s 28% but far below Warner’s 77%.

Over time, math improved from 60% in 2022–2023 to 63% in 2025–2026, while ELA moved from 62% to 59% and fifth-grade science from 45% to 41%. SchoolDigger rated Northwestern at the 72nd percentile with 4 stars in 2025–2026, up from the 56th percentile and 3 stars the prior year; Warner was at the 99th percentile. In 2024–2025, Northwestern’s student–teacher ratio was 14, and 19% of students were free/reduced lunch eligible. SchoolDigger’s group-specific effectiveness rankings in 2024–2025 were notably lower for multi-racial students (12th percentile) and students with low socioeconomic status (18th percentile) than the school’s overall 56th-percentile ranking.

135

Students ?

14.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,642

Per pupil spending ?

19.3%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

94.7%

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

Exemptions: 5.3% (any vaccine)

221 3rd St
Mellette, SD 57461

(605) 887-3467

District: Northwestern Area School District 56-7

Students who attend Northwestern Elementary - 04 usually attend:

Middle:	Northwestern Middle School - 02
High:	Northwestern High School - 01

Racial breakdown:

White:

89.6%

Two or more races:

5.9%

Hispanic:

3.7%

See top rated South Dakota elementary schools

Compare Northwestern Elementary - 04 to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 77th percentile in 2016 → 72nd in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the South Dakota average (58% vs 46% meeting standards)

✓Above the South Dakota median (72nd percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 5 percentile points since 2016

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school58%

District avg43%

South Dakota avg46%

57^th of 203

South Dakota public elementary schools ?

Top 28%▼ down 5 pts since 2016

From top 23% (2016) to top 28% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of South Dakota Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

81^st of 126Northwestern Area School District 56-7 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	68.3	57 of 203	71.9%	★★★★☆
2025	58.7	133 of 300	55.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	67.1	55 of 201	72.6%	★★★★☆
2023	72.1	54 of 204	73.5%	★★★★☆
2022	51.3	102 of 202	49.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	57.4	92 of 202	54.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	58.7	78 of 206	62.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	55.7	98 of 204	52.0%	★★★☆☆
2017	60.3	84 of 207	59.4%	★★★☆☆
2016	70.6	47 of 206	77.2%	★★★★☆
2015	63.7	73 of 209	65.1%	★★★☆☆
2013	53.8	117 of 201	41.8%	★★☆☆☆
2012	45.9	151 of 214	29.4%	★★☆☆☆
2011	46.7	140 of 205	31.7%	★★☆☆☆
2010	25.6	179 of 206	13.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	37.0	151 of 196	23.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	34.1	162 of 194	16.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	36.7	154 of 194	20.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	52.6	130 of 197	34.0%	★★☆☆☆
2005	54.7	112 of 194	42.3%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	47.1	37 of 81	54.3%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2026	71.1	44 of 166	73.5%	★★★★☆
2025	49.2	159 of 291	45.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	71.3	35 of 154	77.3%	★★★★☆
2021	43.6	91 of 151	39.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	45.6	90 of 155	41.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	55.3	84 of 163	48.5%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	28.9	194 of 237	18.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2026	68.2	40 of 161	75.2%	★★★★☆
2025	62.6	96 of 292	67.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	67.2	46 of 157	70.7%	★★★★☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	22.0	145 of 165	12.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	60.4	61 of 248	75.4%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2026	58.4	72 of 184	60.9%	★★★☆☆
2025	53.2	152 of 287	47.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	62.1	64 of 184	65.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	64.9	62 of 185	66.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	44.7	109 of 184	40.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	51.9	94 of 185	49.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	47.0	109 of 191	42.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	39.3	124 of 186	33.3%	★★☆☆☆

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 (2025)75th percentile+20 vs school

Male (2026)75th percentile+3 vs school

Female (2026)73rd percentile~ school

White (2026)61st percentile-11 vs school

African American (2025)54th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)18th percentile-38 vs school

Multi-racial (2025)12th percentile-44 vs school

By subject vs South Dakota (2025-2026) ?

Mathematics63%+20 vs state

English Language Arts59%+10 vs state

Science41%~ state avg

★

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Schools Near Northwestern 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 6th 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 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
Northwestern Elementary - 04	Public	PK, KG-5	221 3rd St	Mellette	57461	Spink County	Northwestern Area School District 56-7	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(605) 887-3467	135	10	14.0	19.3%	121 (89.6%)	1 (0.7%)	5 (3.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (5.9%)	68.3	57^th of 203 public elementary schools	71.9%		58.7	133^rd of 300 public elementary schools	55.7%	76	60.7	46.2	63.6			58.7	71.4	53.8	59.1			63.5	40.9			94.7%	5.3%	$12,642	$879	$11,763
Warner Elementary - 02	Public	K-5	110 1st Ave SW	Warner	57479	Brown County	Warner School District 06-5	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(605) 225-6194	145	11	13.1	4.8%	136 (93.8%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (3.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (2.1%)	98.8	2^nd of 203 public elementary schools	99.0%		95	4^th of 300 public elementary schools	98.7%	2	96.0	92.3	90.9			93.2	96.0	100.0	90.9			95.9	77.3			81.8%	13.6%	$10,733	$19	$10,713
Hutterville Colony Elementary - 06	Public	K-8	14625 401st Ave	Stratford	57474	Brown County	Northwestern Area School District 56-7	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(605) 396-7497	16	3	5.5	—	16 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)						10.0										100%	0%	$11,043	$23	$11,020
Redfield Elementary - 03	Public	PK, KG-5	111 6th Ave E	Redfield	57469	Spink County	Redfield School District 56-4	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(605) 472-4520	271	24	11.1	33.6%	239 (88.2%)	5 (1.8%)	12 (4.4%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (5.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	49.8	110^th of 203 public elementary schools	45.8%		57.5	136^th of 300 public elementary schools	54.7%	26	48.8	54.8	44.8			50.0	70.7	52.4	31.0			53.6	27.6			99.2%	0%	$14,090	$981	$13,108

Frequently Asked Questions about Northwestern Elementary - 04

Is Northwestern Elementary - 04 a good school?

Northwestern Elementary - 04 ranks 57^th of 203 South Dakota elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What district is Northwestern Elementary - 04 in?

Northwestern Area School District 56-7

What schools do graduates of Northwestern Elementary - 04 attend?

Students who attend Northwestern Elementary - 04 usually go on to attend:

Middle : Northwestern Middle School - 02
High : Northwestern High School - 01

What is the racial makeup of Northwestern Elementary - 04?

Students at Northwestern Elementary - 04 are 90% White, 6% Two or more races, 4% Hispanic.

How many students attend Northwestern Elementary - 04?

In the 2024-25 school year, 135 students attended Northwestern Elementary - 04.

Rate Northwestern Elementary - 04!

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Schools in Mellette, SD

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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.