Leola Elementary - 02

Summary:

Leola Elementary - 02 is a small public elementary school in Leola, South Dakota, serving grades PK-5 with just 59 students. Despite its small size, this school consistently outperforms the Leola School District 44-2 and the state of South Dakota in academic assessments, ranking among the top elementary schools in the state.

Leola Elementary - 02 boasts exceptional academic performance, with over 58% of students proficient or better in English Language Arts and 75% proficient or better in Mathematics, far surpassing the district and state averages. The school's 5th-grade Science scores are also impressive, with 54.54% of students scoring proficient or better, compared to 55.55% for the district and 39.86% for the state. This consistent academic excellence has earned Leola Elementary - 02 a strong statewide ranking, placing it in the top 25% of South Dakota elementary schools and earning a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger.

What sets Leola Elementary - 02 apart is its small class sizes and diverse student population. The school maintains a very low student-teacher ratio, ranging from 6.7 to 8.0 students per teacher, significantly lower than nearby schools. Additionally, the school serves a relatively low percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, yet its low-socioeconomic status students have performed exceptionally well, ranking 2nd out of 121 South Dakota elementary schools in this subgroup. This suggests that Leola Elementary - 02 is effectively addressing the needs of students from all backgrounds and promoting educational equity.

Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

820 Leola Ave
Leola, SD 57456

(605) 439-3477

District: Leola School District 44-2

Per Pupil Expenditures: $18,241

Students who attend Leola Elementary - 02 usually attend:

Middle:	Leola Junior High - 03
High:	Leola High School - 01

Student/teacher ratio: 8.4

Number of students: 56

Racial breakdown:

White:

98.2%

Two or more races:

1.8%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 26.8%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Leola Elementary - 02 is not ranked due for the most recent year due to insufficient test score data. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 72.67. (See more...)

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Leola Elementary - 02 has the largest elementary school student body size in the Leola School District 44-2. Racial makeup is: White (98.2%), two or more races (1.8%). (See more...)

Compare Details 26.8% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Leola Elementary - 02 is 8.4, which is the lowest among 4 elementary schools in the Leola School District 44-2! (See more...)

Compare Leola Elementary - 02 employs 6.6 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Leola Elementary - 02 is $18,241, which is the highest among 4 elementary schools in the Leola School District 44-2!

Schooldigger Rankings:

Leola Elementary - 02 was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

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Rank History for Leola Elementary - 02

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Rank History for all students at Leola Elementary - 02

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	SD State Percentile
2003	50.50	116^th	187	38.0%
2004	61.78	87^th	189	54.0%
2005	87.13	1^st	194	99.5%
2006	75.74	23^rd	197	88.3%
2007	62.29	81^st	194	58.2%
2008	73.01	33^rd	194	83.0%
2009	53.45	115^th	196	41.3%
2012	84.68	6^th	214	97.2%
2013	90.14	2^nd	201	99.0%
2015	88.05	6^th	209	97.1%
2016	73.77	35^th	206	83.0%
2017	86.80	13^th	207	93.7%
2018	65.49	69^th	204	66.2%
2019	71.86	42^nd	206	79.6%
2021	89.45	8^th	202	96.0%
2023	72.67	47^th	204	77.0%

See the entire list of South Dakota Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Leola Elementary - 02

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	SD State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2019	98.30	2^nd	121	98.3%

See the entire list of Best South Dakota Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Male students at Leola Elementary - 02

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	SD State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2019	85.18	15^th	160	90.6%

See the entire list of Best South Dakota Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for White students at Leola Elementary - 02

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	SD State Percentile
2018	62.71	61^st	186	67.2%
2019	60.04	69^th	191	63.9%
2023	63.56	67^th	185	63.8%

See the entire list of Best South Dakota Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: South Dakota Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: South Dakota Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Leola Elementary - 02

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1989	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	129	129
1990	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	117	117
1991	0	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	107	107
1992	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	107	107
1993	107	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	107
1994	93	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	93
1995	90	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	90
1996	90	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	90
1997	89	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	89
1998	92	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	92
1999	93	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	93
2000	95	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	95
2001	91	0	0	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	93
2002	80	0	0	2	1	n/a	n/a	0	83
2003	80	0	0	2	1	n/a	n/a	0	83
2004	72	0	0	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	74
2005	62	0	0	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	63
2006	67	0	0	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	69
2007	64	1	0	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	67
2008	64	1	0	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	66
2009	70	1	0	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	72
2010	64	0	0	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	65
2011	68	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	69
2012	62	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	62
2013	69	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	71
2014	66	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	68
2015	58	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	60
2016	63	2	0	1	0	0	0	0	66
2017	64	1	0	2	0	0	0	0	67
2018	69	0	0	2	0	0	6	0	77
2019	65	0	0	4	0	0	6	0	75
2020	71	0	0	5	0	0	2	0	78
2021	64	0	0	3	0	0	1	0	68
2022	66	0	0	1	0	0	1	0	68
2023	57	0	0	1	0	0	1	0	59
2024	55	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	56

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Leola Elementary - 02

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1989	129	7.0	18.4	n/a
1990	117	11.6	10.0	n/a
1991	107	10.6	10.0	n/a
1992	107	10.6	10.0	n/a
1993	107	9.9	10.8	n/a
1994	93	9.6	9.7	n/a
1995	90	9.5	9.5	n/a
1996	90	9.5	9.5	n/a
1997	89	9.4	9.5	16.9
1998	92	6.1	15.1	30.4
1999	93	7.2	12.9	32.3
2000	95	7.1	13.4	44.2
2001	93	7.9	11.8	37.6
2002	83	8.4	9.9	28.9
2003	83	8.4	9.9	28.9
2004	74	8.2	9.0	35.1
2005	63	8.4	7.5	31.7
2006	69	8.7	7.9	43.5
2007	67	8.9	7.5	40.3
2008	66	8.7	7.6	39.4
2009	72	8.8	8.3	36.1
2010	65	8.7	7.4	38.5
2011	69	8.9	7.7	40.6
2012	62	8.9	6.9	48.4
2013	71	7.7	9.1	49.3
2014	68	7.1	9.5	54.4
2015	60	7.0	8.5	51.7
2016	66	7.0	9.4	57.6
2017	67	7.0	9.5	52.2
2018	77	7.1	10.8	54.5
2019	75	7.7	9.7	46.7
2020	78	8.5	9.1	55.1
2021	68	8.4	8.0	44.1
2022	68	8.8	7.6	29.4
2023	59	8.7	6.7	37.3
2024	56	6.6	8.4	26.8

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Leola Elementary - 02

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1989	129	7.0	18.4	n/a
1990	117	11.6	10.0	n/a
1991	107	10.6	10.0	n/a
1992	107	10.6	10.0	n/a
1993	107	9.9	10.8	n/a
1994	93	9.6	9.7	n/a
1995	90	9.5	9.5	n/a
1996	90	9.5	9.5	n/a
1997	89	9.4	9.5	16.9
1998	92	6.1	15.1	30.4
1999	93	7.2	12.9	32.3
2000	95	7.1	13.4	44.2
2001	93	7.9	11.8	37.6
2002	83	8.4	9.9	28.9
2003	83	8.4	9.9	28.9
2004	74	8.2	9.0	35.1
2005	63	8.4	7.5	31.7
2006	69	8.7	7.9	43.5
2007	67	8.9	7.5	40.3
2008	66	8.7	7.6	39.4
2009	72	8.8	8.3	36.1
2010	65	8.7	7.4	38.5
2011	69	8.9	7.7	40.6
2012	62	8.9	6.9	48.4
2013	71	7.7	9.1	49.3
2014	68	7.1	9.5	54.4
2015	60	7.0	8.5	51.7
2016	66	7.0	9.4	57.6
2017	67	7.0	9.5	52.2
2018	77	7.1	10.8	54.5
2019	75	7.7	9.7	46.7
2020	78	8.5	9.1	55.1
2021	68	8.4	8.0	44.1
2022	68	8.8	7.6	29.4
2023	59	8.7	6.7	37.3
2024	56	6.6	8.4	26.8

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Leola Elementary - 02

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2020	$1,065 (8.3%)	$11,834 (91.7%)	$12,899
2021	$1,024 (8.2%)	$11,521 (91.8%)	$12,546
2022	$1,311 (8.6%)	$13,854 (91.4%)	$15,165
2023	$1,102 (6.0%)	$17,139 (94.0%)	$18,241

Data source: South Dakota Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Leola Elementary - 02

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 42^nd of 206 Elementary schools	Ranks 47^th of 204 Elementary schools	2.7%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
4th Grade English Language Arts (Leola Elementary - 02)	53.3	90.9	37.6%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Leola School District 44-2)	52	77.8	25.8%
4th Grade English Language Arts (South Dakota)	50.3	49	1.3%
4th Grade Mathematics (Leola Elementary - 02)	40	81.8	41.8%
4th Grade Mathematics (Leola School District 44-2)	36	83.3	47.3%
4th Grade Mathematics (South Dakota)	49	47.5	1.5%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Leola Elementary - 02)	75	54.5	20.5%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Leola School District 44-2)	58.3	55.6	2.8%
5th Grade English Language Arts (South Dakota)	54.1	48.7	5.4%
5th Grade Mathematics (Leola Elementary - 02)	56.3	54.5	1.7%
5th Grade Mathematics (Leola School District 44-2)	41.7	66.7	25%
5th Grade Mathematics (South Dakota)	40.5	39.4	1.2%
5th Grade Science (Leola Elementary - 02)	75	54.5	20.5%
5th Grade Science (Leola School District 44-2)	50	55.6	5.5%
5th Grade Science (South Dakota)	42.1	39.9	2.2%
All Grades English Language Arts (Leola Elementary - 02)	64.2	58.3	5.8%
All Grades English Language Arts (Leola School District 44-2)	60.5	48.1	12.4%
All Grades English Language Arts (South Dakota)	53.2	49.7	3.5%
All Grades Mathematics (Leola Elementary - 02)	54.7	75	20.3%
All Grades Mathematics (Leola School District 44-2)	52.1	55.7	3.6%
All Grades Mathematics (South Dakota)	44.9	41.9	3%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	75	59	21.3%
African American	0	0
American Indian	0	0
Asian	0	0
Hispanic	4	1	75%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	65	57	12.3%
Two or More Races	6	1	83.3%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	46.7%	37.3%	9.4%

Schools Near Leola Elementary - 02

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts (2024)				Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2024)				Smarter Balanced Assessments Science (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2023)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts 3rd Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts 4th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 3rd Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 4th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments Science 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Leola Elementary - 02	Public	PK, KG-5	820 Leola Ave	Leola	57456	McPherson County	Leola School District 44-2	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(605) 439-3477	56	7	8.4	26.8%	55 (98.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.8%)								(n/a)				46.7				86.7		$18,241	$1,102	$17,139
Deerfield Colony Elementary - 05	Public	PK, KG-8	12434 364th Ave	Leola	57456	McPherson County	Ipswich Public School District 22-6	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(605) 426-6832	22	2	9.7		22 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)				42.9				42.9		$10,992	$287	$10,704
Grassland Colony Elementary - 06	Public	K-8	11865 370th Ave	Westport	57481	Brown County	Leola School District 44-2	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(605) 439-3477	15	2	9.3		14 (93.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (6.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)										$16,096	$911	$15,185
Long Lake Colony Elementary - 05	Public	K-8	36848 123rd St	Wetonka	57481	Brown County	Leola School District 44-2	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(605) 439-3477	27	3	10.0	88.9%	27 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)				57.1				47.6		$15,892	$895	$14,997
Rosette Colony Elementary - 03	Public	PK, KG-8	12465 359th Ave	Leola	57456	McPherson County	Ipswich Public School District 22-6	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(605) 426-6832	23	2	10.8		23 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)				21.4				21.4		$11,031	$287	$10,744
Spring Creek Colony Elementary - 04	Public	K-8	36562 102nd St	Forbes	58439	Campbell County	Leola School District 44-2	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(605) 439-3477	31	2	13.4	12.9%	31 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)				55.6				77.8		$15,754	$882	$14,872
Ipswich Elementary - 02	Public	PK, KG-5	510 2nd Ave	Ipswich	57451	Edmunds County	Ipswich Public School District 22-6	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(605) 426-6832	177	15	11.6	23.7%	164 (92.7%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (4.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (3.4%)	87.2	12^th of 201 public elementary schools	94.0%		71.3	57^th of 204 public elementary schools	72.1%	45	66.7	68.2	79.2	71.2	70.4	63.6	83.3	72.6	66.7	$12,862	$1,465	$11,397

Frequently Asked Questions about Leola Elementary - 02

What schools do graduates of Leola Elementary - 02 attend?

Students who attend Leola Elementary - 02 usually go on to attend:

Middle : Leola Junior High - 03
High : Leola High School - 01

What is the racial makeup of Leola Elementary - 02?

Students at Leola Elementary - 02 are 98% White, 2% Two or more races.

What district is Leola Elementary - 02 in?

Leola School District 44-2

How many students attend Leola Elementary - 02?

In the 2023-24 school year, 56 students attended Leola Elementary - 02.

Rate Leola Elementary - 02!

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the South Dakota Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.