Best Public Schools in Zip Code 57769

The 57769 zip code area is home to two schools, Piedmont Valley Elementary School and Stagebarn Middle School, both part of the Meade School District 46-1. Piedmont Valley Elementary stands out as a high-performing school, consistently ranking in the top 30% of South Dakota elementary schools and maintaining a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger. In contrast, Stagebarn Middle School's performance is more mixed, with some grade levels performing above the state average and others below.

Academically, Piedmont Valley Elementary outperforms the state and district averages in both English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics proficiency across all grade levels. In 2023-2024, 56% of Piedmont Valley students were proficient or better in ELA, compared to 50.04% statewide, and 64% were proficient or better in Mathematics, compared to 42.95% statewide. Stagebarn Middle School's performance is more varied, with ELA proficiency rates ranging from 44.86% to 59.63% and Mathematics proficiency rates ranging from 32.69% to 49.54%.

Both schools have similar per-student spending and student-teacher ratios, suggesting that factors beyond just funding and resources may be contributing to the differences in academic performance. Additionally, the relatively low free and reduced lunch rates at both schools indicate a relatively affluent student population, which may be a factor in their academic success. However, the higher chronic absenteeism rate at Stagebarn Middle School is a concern and may be an area for the district to focus on, as chronic absenteeism can have a significant impact on student learning and achievement.