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B+
Schools in Jefferson Township · Elk Point-Jefferson School District 61-7, Dakota Valley School District 61-8

Jefferson Township’s public schools outscore 74% of South Dakota districts

In Jefferson Township, 98% of each class finishes high school in four years, above the South Dakota average (84%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving Jefferson Township, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. 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 100% 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
59%
▲ 8 pts vs SD 51%
2021–22
Math proficiency
47%
▲ 4 pts vs SD 42%
2021–22
Graduate on time
95–100%
▲ 11–16 pts vs SD 84%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$11.8K
▼ 9% vs SD $13.0K
FY2024 · Dakota Valley School District 61-8
Students per teacher
14.6
SD 13.7 · larger classes
Schools in town
0
1,859 students on the public path
In brief

Jefferson Township’s schools, in brief

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 59% and math 47% across both districts in spring 2022, against 51% and 42% statewide; 95–100% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 84%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

Elk Point-Jefferson School District 61-7 spends $11,861 per student and Dakota Valley School District 61-8 $11,808, against $13,040 across South Dakota (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

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 Jefferson Township’s grade

B+ Test scoresA+ Graduation

B+: better than 74% of South Dakota school districts. Test scores and graduation are both above the South Dakota average; graduation is the stronger of the two.

South Dakota school districts we grade (147)Better than 74%
Lower resultsHigher results
South Dakota towns with similar household incomes (46)Better than 72%
Towns in Union County (12)Better than 83%
BA−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,098 test results and a graduating class of 92 could put Jefferson Township anywhere from B to A−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Jefferson Township’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,122 in math, 1,076 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
K–52 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressC+ to A
6–82 middle schoolsDepends on your addressB− to B
9–122 high schoolsDepends on your addressC+ to A−

Jefferson Township runs its own schools through grade 12 (Elk Point-Jefferson School District 61-7). From grade K, students attend the Dakota Valley School District 61-8, shared with Big Sioux and North Sioux City. Its elementary school is in North Sioux City. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Jefferson Township

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

Elk Point-Jefferson School District 61-7Grades K–12 · 3 schools · 697 students · 13.7 per teacher (SD 13.7)
$11,861SD $13,040 · FY2024
B−
Dakota Valley School District 61-8Grades K–12 · 4 schools · 1,341 students, down 3% since 2020–21 · 15.1 per teacher (SD 13.7)
$11,808SD $13,040 · FY2024
A−
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading · K–12, Elk Point-Jefferson School District 61-746%
State average 51% · 328 students tested
Math · K–12, Elk Point-Jefferson School District 61-744%
State average 42.2% · 373 students tested
Reading · K–12, Dakota Valley School District 61-864%
State average 51% · 748 students tested
Math · K–12, Dakota Valley School District 61-848%
State average 42.2% · 749 students tested

Jefferson Township vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the South Dakota towns that share Jefferson Township’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Jefferson TownshipB+Elk Point-Jefferson School District 61-7 K–12 · Dakota Valley School District 61-8 K–12
Big SiouxA−Dakota Valley School District 61-8
Civil Bend—Elk Point-Jefferson School District 61-7
Elk Point—Elk Point-Jefferson School District 61-7

2 of the 3 neighbors share Elk Point-Jefferson School District 61-7 with Jefferson Township for grades K–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.

Every school in Jefferson Township

6 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).

Also serving Jefferson Townshipin other towns
Dakota Valley Elementary - 02
Elementary · Grades K–3 · North Sioux City
A
386 students13:1Rate it →
Elk Point-Jefferson Elementary - 02
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Elk Point
C+
334 students13:1Rate it →
Dakota Valley Middle School - 03
Middle · Grades 6–8 · North Sioux City
B−
345 students17:1Rate it →
Elk Point-Jefferson Middle School - 03
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Elk Point
B
151 students16:1Rate it →
Dakota Valley High School - 01
High · Grades 9–12 · North Sioux City
A−
431 students16:1Rate it →
Elk Point-Jefferson High School - 01
High · Grades 9–12 · Elk Point
C+
212 students14:1Rate it →

Questions about Jefferson Township’s schools

Are Jefferson Township’s schools good?

By South Dakota’s own tests, yes: the public schools Jefferson Township children attend outscore 74% of South Dakota’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 72%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Jefferson Township in?

Two districts: Elk Point-Jefferson School District 61-7 runs grades K–12, and Dakota Valley School District 61-8 runs grades K–12, shared with Big Sioux and North Sioux City.

Where do Jefferson Township kids go to high school?

One of 2 high schools, depending on your address: Dakota Valley High School - 01 and Elk Point-Jefferson High School - 01.

What is Jefferson Township’s graduation rate?

95–100% of the class of 2023 in Dakota Valley School District 61-8 graduated in four years, against 84% across South Dakota.

How much does Jefferson Township spend per student?

$11,861 in Elk Point-Jefferson School District 61-7 and $11,808 in Dakota Valley School District 61-8 (FY2024), against $13,040 across South Dakota. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Jefferson Township families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Jefferson Township → 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.