Summary:
The Custer School District 16-1 in South Dakota is home to two elementary schools: Custer Elementary - 02 and Hermosa Elementary - 04. Based on the available data, Custer Elementary - 02 emerges as the standout school, consistently outperforming the district and state averages on academic measures.
Custer Elementary - 02 boasts higher test scores across all grade levels and subject areas, ranking in the top third of elementary schools in South Dakota. The school also has a lower chronic absenteeism rate and spends more per student than the state average, with a favorable student-teacher ratio. In contrast, Hermosa Elementary - 04 struggles to meet the district and state averages, particularly in Mathematics and Science, and ranks in the bottom fifth of elementary schools in the state.
While Hermosa Elementary - 04 has a lower chronic absenteeism rate and spends more per student than Custer Elementary - 02, these factors do not seem to translate into better academic outcomes. The higher percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch at Hermosa Elementary - 04 could be a contributing factor to the school's lower performance, as students from lower-income families often face additional challenges that can impact their learning. Overall, the data suggests that Custer Elementary - 02 is the stronger-performing school in the district, and further investigation into the specific factors contributing to these differences could help the district identify areas for improvement and best practices to replicate across all schools.
Thank you for your feedback!