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Douglas School District 51-1

400 Patriot Dr
Box Elder, SD 57719
(District boundaries shown in map)
4/
10
Bottom 50%

Top Rankings

Douglas School District 51-1 ranks among the top 20% of public school district in South Dakota for:

Category
Attribute
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 1%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 5 public schools serving 2,753 students in Douglas School District 51-1. This district's average testing ranking is 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public schools in South Dakota.
Public Schools in Douglas School District 51-1 have an average math proficiency score of 39% (versus the South Dakota public school average of 43%), and reading proficiency score of 51% (versus the 51% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 34% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the South Dakota public school average of 33% (majority American Indian).

Overview

This School District
This State (SD)
# Schools
5 Schools
734 Schools
# Students
2,753 Students
146,041 Students
# Teachers
177 Teachers
10,645 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
16:1
16:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Douglas School District 51-1, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 146 school districts in South Dakota (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 80-84% has decreased from 90-94% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (SD)
#94 out of 148 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
39%
42%
51%
51%
41%
42%
80-84%
82%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.53
0.53
% American Indian
8%
14%
% Asian
1%
2%
% Hispanic
11%
8%
% Black
2%
3%
% White
66%
67%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
12%
6%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $12,308 in this school district is less than the state median of $13,121. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $10,736 is less than the state median of $12,623. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
This School District
This State (SD)
Total Revenue
$34 MM
$1,916 MM
Spending
$30 MM
$1,844 MM
Revenue / Student
$12,308
$13,121
Spending / Student
$10,736
$12,623

Best Douglas School District 51-1 Public Schools (2025)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Patriot Elementary -06
(Math: 53% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
421 Don Williams Dr
Box Elder, SD 57719
(605) 923-0080
Grades: K-3
| 936 students
Rank: #22.
Douglas High School - 03
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
420 Patriot Dr
Box Elder, SD 57719
(605) 923-0030
Grades: 9-12
| 752 students
Rank: #33.
Vandenberg Elementary - 02
(Math: 42% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
561 Briggs St
Box Elder, SD 57719
(605) 923-0060
Grades: 4-5
| 442 students
Rank: #44.
Douglas Middle School - 01
(Math: 32% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
691 Tower Rd
Box Elder, SD 57719
(605) 923-0050
Grades: 6-8
| 623 students
Rank: n/an/a
421 Don Williams Dr
Box Elder, SD 57719
(605) 923-0000
Grades: PK
| n/a students

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools belong to Douglas School District 51-1?
Douglas School District 51-1 manages 5 public schools serving 2,753 students.
What is the rank of Douglas School District 51-1?
Douglas School District 51-1 is ranked #91 out of 146 school districts in South Dakota (bottom 50%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2021-2022 school year. This district ranks in the top 20% of South Dakota school districts for: Most diverse schools (Top 1%) and Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
What is the racial composition of students in Douglas School District 51-1?
66% of Douglas School District 51-1 students are White, 12% of students are Two or more races, 11% of students are Hispanic, 8% of students are American Indian, 2% of students are Black, and 1% of students are Asian.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Douglas School District 51-1?
Douglas School District 51-1 has a student/teacher ratio of 16:1, which is higher than the South Dakota state average of 14:1.
What is Douglas School District 51-1's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $10,736 is less than the state median of $12,623. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.

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Quick Stats (2025)

  • District size: 5 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 2,753 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 16:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 34%
  • : 80-84% (Top 30% in SD)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 39% (Btm 50%)
  • : 51% (Btm 50%)
  • : 41% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), SD Dept. of Education

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