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Old Elm Spring Colony Elementary - 03

Q: Is Old Elm Spring Colony Elementary - 03 a good school?

Old Elm Spring Colony Elementary - 03 ranks 202 nd of 300 South Dakota elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-8

202^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 300 South Dakota Elementary Schools

Better than 33% of South Dakota elementary schools

Summary

Old Elm Spring Colony Elementary - 03 is a small public elementary school located in Parkston, South Dakota, serving grades PK-8 with a total enrollment of 36 students. The school is part of the Parkston School District 33-3, which is ranked 89 out of 147 school districts in the state and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

While Old Elm Spring Colony Elementary - 03 has a relatively low student-teacher ratio, the school consistently underperforms compared to the district and state in both English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics proficiency. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, the school's ELA proficiency rate was 41.18%, compared to 50.97% for the district and 50.93% for the state. In Mathematics, the school's proficiency rate was only 23.52%, compared to 53.3% for the district and 43.49% for the state. The school's performance is particularly low for certain student subgroups, such as female students, white students, and special education students.

Interestingly, the school performs relatively better for low socioeconomic status students, ranking in the top half of the state. However, the school faces significant challenges with high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 20.2% to 6.8% over the past few years. This is significantly higher than the state average and may be a contributing factor to the school's lower academic performance. Compared to nearby schools, such as Parkston Elementary - 02 and Ethan Elementary - 02, Old Elm Spring Colony Elementary - 03 performs significantly worse, suggesting opportunities for improvement through collaboration and targeted interventions.

Students ?

12.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$10,368

Per pupil spending ?

90.3%

Free/discounted lunch ?

42021 268th St
Parkston, SD 57366

(605) 928-3368

District: Parkston School District 33-3

Students who attend Old Elm Spring Colony Elementary - 03 usually attend:

Middle:	Parkston Middle School - 05
High:	Parkston High School - 01

Racial breakdown:

White:

100.0%

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Compare Old Elm Spring Colony Elementary - 03 to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

Worth a look

!Test scores below the South Dakota average (36% vs 47% meeting standards)

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

!Mathematics scores 20 pts below the South Dakota average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school36%

District avg51%

South Dakota avg47%

Elementary school

202^nd of 300

South Dakota public elementary schools ?

Bottom 33%

See the entire ranking list of South Dakota Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

161^st of 246

South Dakota public middle schools ?

Bottom 35%

See the entire ranking list of South Dakota Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 3Elementary Schools in the Parkston School District 33-3

89^th of 147Parkston School District 33-3 among South Dakota districts

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)

Elementary school

Male (2025)61st percentile+28 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)57th percentile+24 vs school

White (2025)22nd percentile-10 vs school

Female (2025)10th percentile-22 vs school

Special Education (2025)8th percentile-25 vs school

Middle school

Female (2025)60th percentile+26 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)59th percentile+25 vs school

White (2025)27th percentile-7 vs school

Male (2025)3rd percentile-31 vs school

By subject vs South Dakota (2024-2025) ?

Science50%+6 vs state

English Language Arts41%-10 vs state

Mathematics24%-20 vs state

★

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Schools Near Old Elm Spring Colony Elementary - 03

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
Old Elm Spring Colony Elementary - 03	Public	PK, KG-8	42021 268th St	Parkston	57366	Hutchinson County	Parkston School District 33-3	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(605) 928-3368	31	3	12.4	90.3%	31 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	39.7	202^nd of 300 public elementary schools	32.7%					(n/a)	33.3		33.3	33.3	66.7	50.0	41.2	33.3		33.3	0.0	33.3	0.0	23.5	50.0	50.0	50.0	$10,368	$252	$10,116
New Elm Spring Colony Elementary - 08	Public	PK, KG-8	41844 269th St	Ethan	57334	Hutchinson County	Parkston School District 33-3	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(605) 928-3040	21	3	8.4	85.7%	21 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18.9	254^th of 300 public elementary schools	15.3%					(n/a)	0.0	0.0	50.0	25.0	0.0	0.0	15.4	0.0	0.0	0.0	25.0	0.0	0.0	7.7	0.0	0.0	0.0	$12,027	$252	$11,775
Oaklane Colony Elementary - 05	Public	K-8	26730 423rd Ave	Alexandria	57311	Hanson County	Hanson School District 30-1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(605) 239-4387	30	2	15.0		30 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8.3	286^th of 300 public elementary schools	4.7%					(n/a)	0.0	0.0	0.0	20.0	50.0	57.2	31.6	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	50.0	28.6	15.8	0.0	42.9	33.3	$10,937	$952	$9,984
Rockport Colony Elementary- 10	Public	K-8	25209 Rockport Rd	Alexandria	57311	Hanson County	Mitchell School District 17-2	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(605) 239-4214	12	1	9.0		12 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	74	60^th of 300 public elementary schools	80.0%					(n/a)		100.0		50.0		66.7	70.0		66.7		50.0		100.0	70.0		33.3		$13,839	$1,826	$12,014
Rosedale Colony Elementary - 11	Public	K-8	25986 Rosedale Rd	Mitchell	57301	Hanson County	Mitchell School District 17-2	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(605) 239-4215	21	1	15.7		21 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	31.6	229^th of 300 public elementary schools	23.7%					(n/a)		0.0	33.3	100.0	33.3	100.0	46.7		0.0	0.0	66.7	0.0	50.0	20.0	0.0	100.0	40.0	$15,843	$2,067	$13,776
Ethan Elementary - 02	Public	PK, KG-6	320 S 2nd St	Ethan	57334	Davison County	Ethan School District 17-1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(605) 227-4211	155	11	14.0	26.5%	140 (90.3%)	1 (0.6%)	4 (2.6%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (4.5%)	81.2	27^th of 300 public elementary schools	91.0%		88.7	8^th of 201 public elementary schools	96.0%	19	68.8	59.1	55.6	65.5			62.4	87.5	72.7	66.7	82.8			77.7	44.5			$9,734	$833	$8,901
Tschetter Colony Elementary - 03	Public	K-8	27709 Tschetter Ave	Olivet	57052	Hutchinson County	Freeman School District 33-1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(605) 925-4216	50	2	21.7		50 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	66.6	97^th of 300 public elementary schools	67.7%					(n/a)	100.0	57.1	60.0	20.0	0.0	33.3	57.1	85.7	42.9	40.0	40.0	0.0	0.0	46.4	60.0	0.0	37.5	$10,905	$889	$10,017
Hanson Elementary - 06	Public	PK, KG-5	230 6th St	Alexandria	57311	Hanson County	Hanson School District 30-1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(605) 239-4387	151	11	14.2	25.2%	137 (90.7%)	1 (0.7%)	5 (3.3%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (2.6%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (2.6%)	79.7	32^nd of 300 public elementary schools	89.3%		77.5	32^nd of 201 public elementary schools	84.1%		77.8	50.0	73.7				69.4	88.9	56.3	57.9				71.0	47.4			$11,417	$528	$10,888
Parkston Elementary - 02	Public	PK, KG-5	102C S Chapman Dr	Parkston	57366	Hutchinson County	Parkston School District 33-3	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(605) 928-3368	272	19	13.9	25.4%	242 (89.0%)	4 (1.5%)	6 (2.2%)	2 (0.7%)	4 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (5.1%)	70.3	84^th of 300 public elementary schools	72.0%		64.1	64^th of 201 public elementary schools	68.2%	20	42.5	55.6	65.7				54.1	72.5	61.1	65.7				66.7	42.9			$11,871	$914	$10,957
Millbrook Colony Elementary - 04	Public	K-8	41659 256th St	Mitchell	57301	Hanson County	Hanson School District 30-1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(605) 239-4387	6	1	5.4		6 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	72.6	66^th of 300 public elementary schools	78.0%					(n/a)	0.0		100.0		100.0		75.0	100.0		50.0		100.0		75.0	50.0

Frequently Asked Questions about Old Elm Spring Colony Elementary - 03

What is the racial makeup of Old Elm Spring Colony Elementary - 03?

Students at Old Elm Spring Colony Elementary - 03 are 100% White.

What district is Old Elm Spring Colony Elementary - 03 in?

Parkston School District 33-3

What schools do graduates of Old Elm Spring Colony Elementary - 03 attend?

Students who attend Old Elm Spring Colony Elementary - 03 usually go on to attend:

Middle : Parkston Middle School - 05
High : Parkston High School - 01

Is Old Elm Spring Colony Elementary - 03 a good school?

Old Elm Spring Colony Elementary - 03 ranks 202^nd of 300 South Dakota elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Old Elm Spring Colony Elementary - 03?

In the 2024-25 school year, 31 students attended Old Elm Spring Colony Elementary - 03.

Rate Old Elm Spring Colony Elementary - 03!

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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.