Summary:
ZIP code 57249 has one middle school, Lake Preston Middle School - 03, serving grades 6–8, with 33 students enrolled. Because it is the only middle school in the ZIP code, there is no meaningful local school-to-school comparison. The most important finding is that Lake Preston scored above South Dakota in every reported 2025–26 subject and grade.
Lake Preston is both the area’s highest- and lowest-scoring school simply because it is the only one. Its all-grade results were 66% proficient in English language arts (ELA), 17 percentage points above the state’s 49%, and 53% in math, 9 points above the state’s 44%. Eighth-grade science is the clearest standout: 75% proficient, compared with 41% statewide, a 35-point advantage. Eighth-grade math was also strong at 67%, 24 points above the state; by contrast, the school’s sixth- and seventh-grade math advantages were only 4 and 2 points.
Results remain above state levels, but the all-grade advantage narrowed from 2024–25 to 2025–26, especially in math. ELA proficiency fell by 8 points, from 74% to 66%, and its state advantage narrowed by 6 points. Math fell by 15 points, from 68% to 53%, while the state rose by less than a point; the school’s advantage narrowed by 15 points. Eighth-grade science moved in the opposite direction, rising 5 points to 75% as the state result fell 2 points. SchoolDigger lists Lake Preston at 4 stars and ranks it 19th of 151 schools (87th percentile) for 2025–26. Other context includes a student-teacher ratio of 8.4 in 2024–25 and 39% free/reduced lunch eligible that school year. Chronic absenteeism was 5% in 2025–26, versus 20% statewide and 9% in the district.
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