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Downtown De Smet South Dakota 9-5-2010Photo: Ross Griff · CC BY 2.0
C+
Schools in De Smet · De Smet School District 38-2

De Smet’s public schools score below 58% of South Dakota districts on tests and graduation

The grade covers the public school district serving De Smet, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within South Dakota, not nationally.

K–12Where will my kid go?

From South Dakota state tests taken in spring 2022, when 98% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
52%
▲ 1 pts vs SD 51%
2021–22
Math proficiency
42%
▼ 0 pts vs SD 42%
2021–22
Spent per student
$14.0K
▲ 7% vs SD $13.0K
FY2024
Students per teacher
13.2
SD 13.7
Schools in town
3
362 students on the public path
In brief

De Smet’s schools, in brief

Above the state in reading, below in math

Reading proficiency is 52% and math 42% in spring 2022, against 51% and 42% statewide. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $13,958 per student, against $13,040 across South Dakota (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one middle and one high school

From grade 6 the district’s path is De Smet Middle School - 03, then De Smet High School - 01. Enrollment is up 22% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind De Smet’s grade

B− Test scores

C+: better than 42% of South Dakota school districts. Test scores are above the South Dakota average; there is no graduation rate to add.

South Dakota school districts we grade (147)Better than 42%
Lower resultsHigher results
South Dakota towns with similar household incomes (318)Better than 41%
CB+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 189 test results could put De Smet anywhere from C to B+. The tests are from spring 2022, when 98% of De Smet’s students in the tested grades sat them (189 in math, 189 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve De Smet, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–5Laura Ingalls Wilder Elementary - 02De Smet School District 38-2B
6–8De Smet Middle School - 03De Smet School District 38-2C−
9–12De Smet High School - 01De Smet School District 38-2C

De Smet’s public schools are run by De Smet School District 38-2, which also serves Bancroft, De Smet, Esmond and Le Sueur and others. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

De Smet School District 38-2Grades PK–12 · 3 schools · 362 students, up 22% since 2020–21 · 13.2 per teacher (SD 13.7)
$13,958SD $13,040 · FY2024
C+
Test scores · 2021–22

Close to the state in reading

Reading52%
State average 51% · 189 students tested
Math42%
State average 42.2% · 189 students tested

De Smet vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the South Dakota towns that share De Smet’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
De SmetC+De Smet School District 38-2

Every school in De Smet

3 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with South Dakota’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in De Smetby address
Laura Ingalls Wilder Elementary - 02
Elementary · Grades PK–5
B
176 students14:1Rate it →
De Smet Middle School - 03
Middle · Grades 6–8
C−
91 students16:1Rate it →
De Smet High School - 01
High · Grades 9–12
C
95 students10:1Rate it →

Questions about De Smet’s schools

Are De Smet’s schools good?

On South Dakota’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools De Smet children attend score below 58% of South Dakota’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C+ Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 41%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is De Smet in?

De Smet School District 38-2, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 362 students in 3 schools (2024–25).

Where do De Smet kids go to high school?

De Smet High School - 01, with 95 students; its own test results earn a C.

How much does De Smet spend per student?

$13,958 in De Smet School District 38-2 (FY2024), against $13,040 across South Dakota. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What De Smet families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near De Smet → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within South Dakota. Stars are from neighbors.