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B−

Douglas School District 51-1

Public school districtGrades PK–12

Serves Box Elder, and parts of Rapid City.

Box Elder’s School Grade B− better than 53% of South Dakota school districts

Students
2,808
Schools
4
Spent per student
$12,211
SD $13,040
Students per teacher
16:1
Free or reduced lunch
36%
The gist

What stands out about Douglas School District 51-1

  • Its letter, B−: results better than 52% of South Dakota districts
  • Spends 6% less per student than the SD average
  • 16 students per teacher
The School Grade

What this district adds to its towns’ grade

B−: better than 52% of the 147 South Dakota school districts we grade. Each town’s School Grade weighs its districts by the students they test; spending and class size are shown but don’t count.

Test scoresReading and math below the state, 2021–22
C+
GraduationFour-year graduation above the state, class of 2023
B−
The town it serves, and its School Grade
B−Box Elder 13,936

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where would my kid go?

The school path for Box Elder. Grade by grade →

PK–3Patriot Elementary -06This district
6–8Douglas Middle School - 01This district
9–12Douglas High School - 03This district

Test scores vs. SD

2021–22 · class of 2023
Math proficiency39%
State average 42.2% · 1,450 students tested
Reading / language arts51%
State average 51% · 1,448 students tested
Graduation rate (4-year)85–89%
State average 84% · 182 in the class

98% of students in the tested grades sat the 2022 tests.

Reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express and the Urban Institute); the newest year for each measure.

Where the money goes

fiscal 2024
$12,211 per student · 6% below SD
Spending
Classroom instruction 61%Support & administration 35%Other 4%
Paid for by
Local (mostly property tax) 22%State 45%Federal 33%

Fiscal 2022–24 includes federal pandemic relief (ESSER).

U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances.

Enrollment over time
2,755’20
2,803’21
2,750’22
2,753’23
2,808’24

About steady since 2020–21.

Students
White 65%Two or more races 12%Hispanic 12%American Indian/Alaska Native 8%Black 2%Asian <1%Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander <1%

Schools in the district

4 public schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with South Dakota’s other public schools.

Patriot Elementary -06
Elementary · Grades PK–3 · Box Elder
C+
982 students16:1
Vandenberg Elementary - 02
Elementary · Grades 4–5 · Box Elder
C+
454 students15:1
Douglas Middle School - 01
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Box Elder
C−
633 students14:1
Douglas High School - 03
High · Grades 9–12 · Box Elder
A−
739 students17:1

District facts: U.S. Department of Education (NCES school directory 2024–25 and district boundaries) and the U.S. Census Bureau’s school finance survey. Test scores and graduation: state results reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express and the Urban Institute). The letters are our own summary, graded within South Dakota.