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Mellette Elementary - 07

Q: Is Mellette Elementary - 07 a good school?

Mellette Elementary - 07 ranks 183 rd of 300 South Dakota elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 1-4

183^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 300 South Dakota Elementary Schools

Better than 39% of South Dakota elementary schools

Summary

Mellette Elementary - 07 is a public elementary school located in Watertown, South Dakota, serving grades PK-4 with a student population of 235. The school is part of the Watertown School District 14-4, which is ranked 99 out of 147 districts in the state and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Mellette Elementary - 07 has seen a decline in its statewide ranking over the past few years, dropping from 57th out of 202 elementary schools in 2020-2021 to 183rd out of 300 in 2024-2025. The school's performance on Smarter Balanced Assessments is mixed compared to the district and state averages, with 36.37% of students proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to 56.45% for the Watertown School District and 50.93% for the state. However, the school performed better in Mathematics, with 48.25% of students proficient or better, compared to 46.93% for the district and 43.49% for the state. Mellette Elementary - 07 has also seen a significant increase in chronic absenteeism, rising from 10.1% in 2022-2023 to 20.2% in 2024-2025.

Mellette Elementary - 07 is located in close proximity to several other elementary schools in the Watertown School District, including Jefferson Elementary - 09 and McKinley Elementary - 06. Both of these schools have consistently outperformed Mellette Elementary - 07 on Smarter Balanced Assessments in recent years. The school's performance on these assessments appears to be correlated with the socioeconomic status of its student population, with Mellette Elementary - 07 having a higher percentage of students from low-income families compared to its neighboring schools.

267

Students ?

13.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$11,594

Per pupil spending ?

47.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

619 2nd St NW
Watertown, SD 57201

(605) 882-6385

District: Watertown School District 14-4

Students who attend Mellette Elementary - 07 usually attend:

Middle:	Watertown Intermediate School - 13
	Watertown Middle School - 02
High:	Watertown High School - 01

Racial breakdown:

White:

71.9%

Two or more races:

13.1%

Hispanic:

7.5%

See top rated South Dakota elementary schools

Compare Mellette Elementary - 07 to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 60th percentile in 2015 → 39th in 2025

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 21 percentile points since 2015

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

!English Language Arts scores 15 pts below the South Dakota average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school42%

District avg52%

South Dakota avg47%

183^rd of 300

South Dakota public elementary schools ?

Bottom 39%▼ down 21 pts since 2015

From top 40% (2015) to bottom 39% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of South Dakota Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 4Elementary Schools in the Watertown School District 14-4

99^th of 147Watertown School District 14-4 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	45.1	183 of 300	39.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	39.4	131 of 201	34.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	56.6	88 of 204	56.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	62.6	70 of 202	65.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	67.7	57 of 202	71.8%	★★★★☆
2019	58.9	77 of 206	62.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	39.7	135 of 204	33.8%	★★☆☆☆
2017	64.8	66 of 207	68.1%	★★★☆☆
2016	45.0	129 of 206	37.4%	★★☆☆☆
2015	60.9	84 of 209	59.8%	★★★☆☆
2013	63.8	74 of 201	63.2%	★★★☆☆
2012	59.9	102 of 214	52.3%	★★★☆☆
2011	48.3	134 of 205	34.6%	★★☆☆☆
2010	51.1	126 of 206	38.8%	★★☆☆☆
2009	52.6	117 of 196	40.3%	★★☆☆☆
2008	63.2	80 of 194	58.8%	★★★☆☆
2007	71.7	36 of 194	81.4%	★★★★☆
2006	71.2	43 of 197	78.2%	★★★★☆
2005	74.7	24 of 194	87.6%	★★★★☆
2004	63.6	79 of 189	58.2%	★★★☆☆
2003	45.7	133 of 187	28.9%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	32.8	218 of 291	25.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	28.5	127 of 165	23.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	51.1	75 of 154	51.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	51.7	70 of 150	53.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	73.3	30 of 151	80.1%	★★★★☆
2019	72.3	32 of 155	79.4%	★★★★☆
2018	43.2	107 of 163	34.4%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	57.2	44 of 163	73.0%	★★★★☆

Homeless

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	30.5	59 of 61	3.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	44.2	136 of 237	42.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	42.9	61 of 110	44.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	55.4	42 of 112	62.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	81.9	12 of 106	88.7%	★★★★☆
2019	71.6	21 of 121	82.6%	★★★★☆
2018	63.0	40 of 121	66.9%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	56.8	132 of 292	54.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	55.4	72 of 161	55.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	62.4	62 of 166	62.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	71.8	37 of 154	76.0%	★★★★☆
2021	62.7	56 of 157	64.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	39.5	104 of 160	35.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	39.7	114 of 170	32.9%	★★☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	42.3	97 of 165	41.2%	★★☆☆☆

Native American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	56.5	43 of 152	71.7%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	45.6	120 of 248	51.6%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	39.1	206 of 287	28.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	45.4	108 of 184	41.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	55.4	86 of 185	53.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	56.8	70 of 184	62.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	62.8	64 of 185	65.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	54.2	80 of 191	58.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	24.3	159 of 186	14.5%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Hispanic (2025)73rd percentile+34 vs school

Native American (2025)72nd percentile+33 vs school

Male (2025)55th percentile+16 vs school

Special Education (2025)52nd percentile+13 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)43rd percentile+4 vs school

Multi-racial (2025)41st percentile~ school

White (2025)28th percentile-11 vs school

Female (2025)25th percentile-14 vs school

Homeless (2025)3rd percentile-36 vs school

By subject vs South Dakota (2024-2025) ?

Mathematics48%+5 vs state

English Language Arts36%-15 vs state

★

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Schools Near Mellette Elementary - 07

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
Mellette Elementary - 07	Public	1-4	619 2nd St NW	Watertown	57201	Codington County	Watertown School District 14-4	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(605) 882-6385	267	20	13.6	47.6%	192 (71.9%)	3 (1.1%)	20 (7.5%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (6.4%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (13.1%)	45.1	183^rd of 300 public elementary schools	39.0%		39.4	131^st of 201 public elementary schools	34.8%	52	40.9	32.5					36.4	51.5	45.5					48.3				$11,594	$1,010	$10,584
Jefferson Elementary - 09	Public	1-4	1701 N Maple St	Watertown	57201	Codington County	Watertown School District 14-4	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(605) 882-6390	333	23	14.2	32.7%	278 (83.5%)	1 (0.3%)	14 (4.2%)	2 (0.6%)	19 (5.7%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (5.7%)	59	130^th of 300 public elementary schools	56.7%		77.7	31^st of 201 public elementary schools	84.6%	99	49.4	48.7					49.1	49.4	62.2					55.3				$11,854	$908	$10,947
McKinley Early Childhood Center - 06	Public	PK-K	5 12th St SW	Watertown	57201	Codington County	Watertown School District 14-4	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(605) 882-6350	296	22	13.7	38.2%	229 (77.4%)	2 (0.7%)	32 (10.8%)	5 (1.7%)	10 (3.4%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (6.1%)								(n/a)
Lincoln Elementary - 05	Public	1-4	1100 13th St NE	Watertown	57201	Codington County	Watertown School District 14-4	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(605) 882-6340	361	24	14.8	37.1%	272 (75.3%)	1 (0.3%)	50 (13.9%)	5 (1.4%)	13 (3.6%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (5.5%)	53	157^th of 300 public elementary schools	47.7%		84.2	19^th of 201 public elementary schools	90.5%	138	44.0	41.5					42.7	58.2	47.9					53.0				$11,908	$962	$10,946
Waverly-South Shore Elementary - 02	Public	PK, KG-5	319 Mary Pl	Waverly	57201	Codington County	Waverly School District 14-5	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(605) 886-9174	128	11	11.4	50.8%	105 (82.0%)	1 (0.8%)	4 (3.1%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (7.8%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (6.3%)	34.2	217^th of 300 public elementary schools	27.7%		26.2	162^nd of 201 public elementary schools	19.4%	55	23.5	31.6	34.6				30.7	29.4	31.6	26.9				29.0	38.5			$15,192	$484	$14,708
Castlewood Elementary - 02	Public	PK, KG-5	310 E Harry St	Castlewood	57223	Hamlin County	Castlewood School District 28-1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(605) 793-2497	140	11	13.0	26.4%	131 (93.6%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (6.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	80.9	28^th of 300 public elementary schools	90.7%		55.4	95^th of 201 public elementary schools	52.7%	67	66.7	70.6	64.0				66.7	76.2	70.6	72.0				73.0	48.0			$13,151	$664	$12,487
Florence Elementary - 02	Public	PK, KG-5	515 Main Ave	Florence	57235	Codington County	Florence School District 14-1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(605) 758-2412	179	11	16.1	32.4%	172 (96.1%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (2.8%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	54.3	147^th of 300 public elementary schools	51.0%		27.8	157^th of 201 public elementary schools	21.9%	10	46.2	48.2	50.0				48.1	61.5	44.5	37.5				48.1	33.3			$12,574	$716	$11,858
Claremont Colony Elementary - 04	Public	K-8	46271 184th St	Castlewood	57223	Hamlin County	Castlewood School District 28-1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(605) 793-2497	17	1	17.0		17 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4.6	300^th of 300 public elementary schools	0.0%					(n/a)	0.0	0.0		0.0	100.0	0.0	10.0	0.0	0.0		0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0		0.0
Henry Elementary - 02	Public	PK, KG-5	111 N Cedar	Henry	57243	Codington County	Henry School District 14-2	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(605) 532-5364	93	10	9.5	49.5%	87 (93.5%)	5 (5.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	33.5	220^th of 300 public elementary schools	26.7%		26.9	158^th of 201 public elementary schools	21.4%	62	35.3	40.0	28.6				34.8	41.2	40.0	0.0				28.3	28.6			$14,113	$611	$13,502
Sunrise Colony - 15	Public	K-8	45425 152nd St	Summit	57266	Grant County	Watertown School District 14-4	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(605) 882-6340	20	2	10.0		20 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10.3	277^th of 300 public elementary schools	7.7%					(n/a)	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0		50.0	10.0	0.0	33.3	0.0	0.0		0.0	10.0	0.0	0.0	0.0

Frequently Asked Questions about Mellette Elementary - 07

What district is Mellette Elementary - 07 in?

Watertown School District 14-4

What is the racial makeup of Mellette Elementary - 07?

Students at Mellette Elementary - 07 are 72% White, 13% Two or more races, 7% Hispanic, 6% American Indian, 1% African American.

Is Mellette Elementary - 07 a good school?

Mellette Elementary - 07 ranks 183^rd of 300 South Dakota elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Mellette Elementary - 07?

In the 2024-25 school year, 267 students attended Mellette Elementary - 07.

What schools do graduates of Mellette Elementary - 07 attend?

Students who attend Mellette Elementary - 07 usually go on to attend:

Middle : Watertown Intermediate School - 13
Middle : Watertown Middle School - 02
High : Watertown High School - 01

Rate Mellette Elementary - 07!

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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.