The top reported proficiency rate is 39% in English language arts. The lowest is 27% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Hot Springs Elementary - 02
Hot Springs Elementary sits in a small Black Hills town that wears its history plainly. The city of Hot Springs serves as the county seat of Fall River County, and its identity is built around warm mineral springs, a VA hospital campus, and a downtown lined with more than three dozen sandstone buildings. The Fall River runs through the center. The Mammoth Site, an active paleontological dig, draws visitors, as do Evans Plunge and Moccasin Springs Spa. Wind Cave National Park sits nearby. Publicly reported descriptions frame the town as a retirement and tourism community with a modest growth trajectory, and no public transit system was mentioned in available sources. The economy leans on healthcare, county government, and hospitality rather than on large private employers.
The elementary school serves prekindergarten through fifth grade as part of Hot Springs School District 23-2. Enrollment is moderate for a small-town elementary, with each grade band from kindergarten through fifth carrying a sizable cohort and a smaller prekindergarten group. The student body is predominantly white, with representation from American Indian or Alaska Native students, Hispanic students, and students of two or more races, alongside very small Asian and Black populations. About a third of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which is a lower rate than many rural South Dakota schools carry. Data on students with individualized education programs and English learners was not reported, so those population sizes are unknown here.
State assessment results from the most recent school year are available and show full participation across all tested subjects. In English language arts, roughly two-fifths of tested students reached proficiency or above on the SBAC. Math proficiency came in somewhat lower, with about a third of students meeting that bar. Science results, measured by the South Dakota Science Assessment, showed roughly a quarter of tested students at proficient or above, though the science test covers a narrower grade range and a smaller group of test-takers. Average scale scores were not reported for any subject, so a family looking at how students perform relative to peers statewide would need to rely on the proficiency rates as the primary signal. No multi-year trend data was available, so it is difficult to tell whether these results reflect improvement, decline, or stability. A parent may want to ask the school how it is approaching math and science instruction in particular, given the proficiency pattern across the three subjects.
Because this is an elementary school, there is no graduation rate to report, and that metric does not apply to this grade band. No discipline, attendance, staffing, or course-access data was provided. Title I status was not reported either, and the school's locale classification was absent from the data we received. Program offerings, such as gifted services, after-school activities, or specialized interventions, were not included in the available material. We looked for recent district-level changes that might affect families but found little of lasting impact in publicly reported sources.
The housing market in the 57747 zip code is a relevant factor for any family considering a move. Typical home values sit somewhat above the South Dakota state benchmark and modestly below the national benchmark, reflecting the town's appeal as a destination community. Year-over-year appreciation has been solid, and the price-to-income ratio remains close to a level that keeps ownership within reach for many working households, even with current mortgage rates. No rental market data was available for this zip code, so a family planning to rent would need to look locally for current listings.
What the picture amounts to is a small-town elementary school in a community defined by its natural surroundings, healthcare institutions, and tourist draw. The academic results are middling, with ELA the relative bright spot and science the soft area. The town itself offers outdoor recreation, a historic core, and proximity to national parkland, but limited transit and a housing market shaped by retiree and second-home demand. For a family weighing this school, the most productive next step would be a conversation with school leadership about how math and science outcomes are being addressed and what classroom-level supports exist for students working below proficiency.
See more original research from School Decision →