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Northwestern Elementary - 04

Q: Is Northwestern Elementary - 04 a good school?

Northwestern Elementary - 04 ranks 133 rd of 300 South Dakota elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

133^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 300 South Dakota Elementary Schools

Better than 56% of South Dakota elementary schools

Summary

Northwestern Elementary - 04 is a public elementary school located in Mellette, South Dakota, serving grades PK-5 with 124 students. It is part of the Northwestern Area School District 56-7, which is ranked 103 out of 147 districts in the state and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Northwestern Elementary - 04 consistently outperforms the state and district averages in Smarter Balanced Assessments for English Language Arts and Mathematics across all grade levels. In 2024-2025, the school had 54.17% proficiency in ELA and 47.91% in Math, compared to the state averages of 50.93% and 43.49%, respectively. The school's 5th-grade students performed exceptionally well, with 76.92% proficiency in ELA and 38.46% in Math, significantly higher than the state averages. However, the school has experienced a concerning increase in chronic absenteeism, rising from 5.6% in 2022-2023 to 20.2% in 2024-2025, which is higher than the state average.

Comparing Northwestern Elementary - 04 to nearby schools provides valuable insights. Hutterville Colony Elementary - 06, a school in the same district, has significantly lower test scores and a higher chronic absenteeism rate. In contrast, Warner Elementary - 02, located about 11 miles away, consistently outperforms Northwestern Elementary - 04 and the state in both ELA and Math assessments. Additionally, Northwestern Elementary - 04's statewide ranking has fluctuated over the years, with a high of 47th out of 206 schools in 2015-2016 and a low of 133rd out of 300 schools in 2024-2025, suggesting that other schools in the state may be improving at a faster rate.

135

Students ?

14.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,642

Per pupil spending ?

19.3%

Free/discounted lunch ?

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: Rebounding — 50th percentile in 2022 → 56th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 56th (2025) from a 50th-percentile low (2022)

✓Above the South Dakota median (56th percentile)

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school50%

District avg48%

South Dakota avg47%

133^rd of 300

South Dakota public elementary schools ?

Top 44%▼ down 9 pts since 2015

From top 35% (2015) to top 44% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of South Dakota Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 2Elementary Schools in the Northwestern Area School District 56-7

103^rd of 147Northwestern 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
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
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
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
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 (2025)67th percentile+11 vs school

African American (2025)54th percentile~ school

White (2025)47th percentile-9 vs school

Female (2025)45th percentile-10 vs school

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

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

By subject vs South Dakota (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts54%+3 vs state

Mathematics48%+4 vs state

Science38%~ state avg

★

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Schools Near Northwestern Elementary - 04

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 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	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%)	58.7	133^rd of 300 public elementary schools	55.7%		67.1	55^th of 201 public elementary schools	72.6%	78	50.0	43.5	76.9			54.2	58.3	47.8	38.5			47.9	38.5			$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%)	95	4^th of 300 public elementary schools	98.7%		96.8	3^rd of 201 public elementary schools	98.5%	1	92.3	91.3	77.3			87.3	100.0	95.7	77.3			91.6	72.7			$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%)	22.4	245^th of 300 public elementary schools	18.3%					(n/a)		0.0	100.0	25.0	0.0	18.2		0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	100.0	0.0	33.3	$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%)	57.5	136^th of 300 public elementary schools	54.7%		51	106^th of 201 public elementary schools	47.3%	30	47.5	48.2	51.2			49.1	55.0	59.3	44.2			51.8	34.9			$14,090	$981	$13,108

Frequently Asked Questions about Northwestern Elementary - 04

What is the racial makeup of Northwestern Elementary - 04?

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

What district is Northwestern Elementary - 04 in?

Northwestern Area School District 56-7

Is Northwestern Elementary - 04 a good school?

Northwestern Elementary - 04 ranks 133^rd of 300 South Dakota elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Northwestern Elementary - 04?

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

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

Rate Northwestern Elementary - 04!

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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.