Valley Springs Elementary - 04

Summary:

Valley Springs Elementary - 04 is a small public elementary school serving grades K-4 in the town of Valley Springs, South Dakota, with a student population of just 75 students. Despite its small size, the school has consistently demonstrated exceptional academic performance, consistently ranking among the top elementary schools in the state.

Valley Springs Elementary - 04 has set itself apart through its strong academic metrics. The school's students have significantly outperformed state and district averages on standardized tests, with 84% of students proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to just 49.7% statewide and 72.16% in the Brandon Valley School District. The school also maintains a low student-teacher ratio of 10.3, which is lower than nearby schools. While the student population is predominantly white, the school has a more diverse racial makeup than some neighboring schools, with notable Native American and multiracial student populations.

Compared to nearby schools, such as those in the Sioux Falls School District, Valley Springs Elementary - 04 stands out for its exceptional academic performance. The school has consistently received high rankings and 5-star ratings from SchoolDigger, indicating that it provides a strong educational environment that effectively supports student learning. The school's small size, low poverty rates, and the overall high-performing nature of the Brandon Valley School District may all be contributing factors to its success.

Detail:

Public K-4

301 Valley Dr
Valley Springs, SD 57068

(605) 757-6285

District: Brandon Valley School District 49-2

Per Pupil Expenditures: $13,268

Students who attend Valley Springs Elementary - 04 usually attend:

Middle:	Brandon Valley Intermediate - 07
	Brandon Valley Middle School - 02
High:	Brandon Valley High School - 01

Student/teacher ratio: 10.3

Number of students: 75

Racial breakdown:

White:

82.7%

American Indian:

8.0%

Two or more races:

8.0%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 26.7%

See top rated South Dakota public schools

Compare Valley Springs Elementary - 04 to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Valley Springs Elementary - 04 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 84.67. (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 Valley Springs Elementary - 04 has the largest elementary school student body size in the Brandon Valley School District 49-2. (See more...)

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Teachers

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Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Valley Springs Elementary - 04 is $13,268, which is the highest among 5 elementary schools in the Brandon Valley School District 49-2!

Schooldigger Rankings:

Valley Springs Elementary - 04 was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

Brandon Valley School District 49-2:

SchoolDigger ranks Brandon Valley School District 49-2 3^rd of 126 South Dakota school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Valley Springs Elementary - 04

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Rank History for all students at Valley Springs Elementary - 04

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	SD State Percentile
2003	67.17	51^st	187	72.7%
2004	48.63	125^th	189	33.9%
2005	41.20	148^th	194	23.7%
2006	47.46	138^th	197	29.9%
2007	59.59	96^th	194	50.5%
2008	74.61	25^th	194	87.1%
2009	69.11	54^th	196	72.4%
2010	76.58	30^th	206	85.4%
2011	75.81	27^th	205	86.8%
2012	72.19	47^th	214	78.0%
2013	62.82	78^th	201	61.2%
2015	66.99	60^th	209	71.3%
2016	60.78	84^th	206	59.2%
2017	62.53	75^th	207	63.8%
2018	59.15	84^th	204	58.8%
2019	95.90	3^rd	206	98.5%
2021	96.91	3^rd	202	98.5%
2022	84.47	21^st	202	89.6%
2023	84.67	16^th	204	92.2%

See the entire list of South Dakota Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Male students at Valley Springs Elementary - 04

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	SD State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	98.58	2^nd	157	98.7%

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

Rank History for White students at Valley Springs Elementary - 04

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	SD State Percentile
2018	53.86	91^st	186	51.1%
2019	94.27	4^th	191	97.9%
2021	96.99	3^rd	185	98.4%
2022	81.56	23^rd	184	87.5%

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 Valley Springs Elementary - 04

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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	281	281
1990	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	280	280
1991	0	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	265	265
1992	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	265	265
1993	250	0	0	1	1	n/a	n/a	0	252
1994	270	3	1	0	3	n/a	n/a	0	277
1995	223	2	2	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	228
1996	223	2	2	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	228
1997	238	0	2	0	1	n/a	n/a	0	241
1998	260	1	2	1	2	n/a	n/a	0	266
1999	263	4	1	2	3	n/a	n/a	1	274
2000	276	1	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	277
2001	267	1	2	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	271
2002	253	1	1	2	2	n/a	n/a	0	259
2003	253	1	1	2	2	n/a	n/a	0	259
2004	185	1	0	1	5	n/a	n/a	0	192
2005	157	3	0	0	4	n/a	n/a	0	164
2006	137	1	0	1	2	n/a	n/a	0	141
2007	130	3	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	133
2008	149	5	n/a	1	1	n/a	n/a	0	156
2009	152	4	0	0	3	n/a	n/a	0	159
2010	163	4	0	0	3	n/a	n/a	0	170
2011	171	4	0	1	4	0	0	0	180
2012	151	2	0	1	2	0	0	0	156
2013	127	0	0	0	3	0	4	0	134
2014	122	0	1	0	1	0	2	0	126
2015	121	0	1	0	0	0	3	0	125
2016	101	1	0	0	0	0	2	0	104
2017	102	1	0	2	0	0	3	0	108
2018	101	1	0	3	0	0	2	0	107
2019	96	0	0	2	0	0	2	0	100
2020	92	0	0	3	1	0	2	0	98
2021	85	0	0	4	1	0	7	0	97
2022	77	1	0	3	2	0	4	0	87
2023	62	0	0	1	6	0	6	0	75

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 Valley Springs Elementary - 04

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1989	281	14.7	19.1	n/a
1990	280	14.4	19.4	n/a
1991	265	14.0	18.9	n/a
1992	265	14.0	18.9	n/a
1993	252	13.6	18.5	n/a
1994	277	13.6	20.4	n/a
1995	228	11.9	19.2	n/a
1996	228	11.9	19.2	n/a
1997	241	14.1	17.1	9.1
1998	266	12.3	21.6	15.8
1999	274	13.8	19.8	12.5
2000	277	14.7	18.8	18.4
2001	271	15.0	18.1	15.9
2002	259	14.2	18.2	12
2003	259	14.2	18.2	12
2004	192	12.3	15.6	14.1
2005	164	11.7	14.0	19.5
2006	141	10.3	13.7	22
2007	133	10.7	12.4	19.5
2008	156	11.5	13.6	17.3
2009	159	11.3	14.1	15.7
2010	170	12.4	13.6	27.6
2011	180	13.8	13.0	29.4
2012	156	12.6	12.3	3.2
2013	134	10.9	12.2	26.9
2014	126	9.9	12.7	15.9
2015	125	10.0	12.5	20
2016	104	8.0	13.0	25
2017	108	8.0	13.5	19.4
2018	107	8.1	13.0	22.4
2019	100	8.2	12.1	14
2020	98	7.9	12.2	16.3
2021	97	8.1	11.9	11.3
2022	87	8.4	10.2	17.2
2023	75	7.2	10.3	26.7

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 Valley Springs Elementary - 04

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1989	281	14.7	19.1	n/a
1990	280	14.4	19.4	n/a
1991	265	14.0	18.9	n/a
1992	265	14.0	18.9	n/a
1993	252	13.6	18.5	n/a
1994	277	13.6	20.4	n/a
1995	228	11.9	19.2	n/a
1996	228	11.9	19.2	n/a
1997	241	14.1	17.1	9.1
1998	266	12.3	21.6	15.8
1999	274	13.8	19.8	12.5
2000	277	14.7	18.8	18.4
2001	271	15.0	18.1	15.9
2002	259	14.2	18.2	12
2003	259	14.2	18.2	12
2004	192	12.3	15.6	14.1
2005	164	11.7	14.0	19.5
2006	141	10.3	13.7	22
2007	133	10.7	12.4	19.5
2008	156	11.5	13.6	17.3
2009	159	11.3	14.1	15.7
2010	170	12.4	13.6	27.6
2011	180	13.8	13.0	29.4
2012	156	12.6	12.3	3.2
2013	134	10.9	12.2	26.9
2014	126	9.9	12.7	15.9
2015	125	10.0	12.5	20
2016	104	8.0	13.0	25
2017	108	8.0	13.5	19.4
2018	107	8.1	13.0	22.4
2019	100	8.2	12.1	14
2020	98	7.9	12.2	16.3
2021	97	8.1	11.9	11.3
2022	87	8.4	10.2	17.2
2023	75	7.2	10.3	26.7

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 Valley Springs Elementary - 04

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2020	$196 (2.0%)	$9,374 (98.0%)	$9,569
2021	$234 (2.3%)	$9,865 (97.7%)	$10,099
2022	$1,414 (10.6%)	$11,966 (89.4%)	$13,380
2023	$884 (6.7%)	$12,384 (93.3%)	$13,268

Data source: South Dakota Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Valley Springs Elementary - 04

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 3^rd of 206 Elementary schools	Ranks 16^th of 204 Elementary schools	6.4%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Valley Springs Elementary - 04)	80	90	10%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Brandon Valley School District 49-2)	70.7	73.3	2.6%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (South Dakota)	49.1	45.3	3.8%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Valley Springs Elementary - 04)	86.7	90	3.3%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Brandon Valley School District 49-2)	69.8	69.5	0.3%
3rd Grade Mathematics (South Dakota)	52.7	51.1	1.6%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Valley Springs Elementary - 04)	90	80	10%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Brandon Valley School District 49-2)	75.4	75.8	0.4%
4th Grade English Language Arts (South Dakota)	50.3	47.2	3.1%
4th Grade Mathematics (Valley Springs Elementary - 04)	85	53.3	31.7%
4th Grade Mathematics (Brandon Valley School District 49-2)	72.3	75.5	3.2%
4th Grade Mathematics (South Dakota)	49	47.7	1.2%
All Grades English Language Arts (Valley Springs Elementary - 04)	85.7	84	1.7%
All Grades English Language Arts (Brandon Valley School District 49-2)	71.8	72.2	0.4%
All Grades English Language Arts (South Dakota)	53.2	49.7	3.5%
All Grades Mathematics (Valley Springs Elementary - 04)	85.7	68	17.7%
All Grades Mathematics (Brandon Valley School District 49-2)	65.1	64.7	0.4%
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	100	75	25%
African American	0	0
American Indian	0	6
Asian	0	0
Hispanic	2	1	50%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	96	62	35.4%
Two or More Races	2	6	200%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	14%	26.7%	12.7%

Schools Near Valley Springs Elementary - 04

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
Valley Springs Elementary - 04	Public	K-4	301 Valley Dr	Valley Springs	57068	Minnehaha County	Brandon Valley School District 49-2	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(605) 757-6285	75	7	10.3	26.7%	62 (82.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (8.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (8.0%)								(n/a)	76.5			80.0	64.7			72.0		$13,268	$884	$12,384
Brandon Elementary - 03	Public	PK, KG-4	501 Holly Blvd	Brandon	57005	Minnehaha County	Brandon Valley School District 49-2	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(605) 582-6315	701	48	14.7	21.0%	556 (79.3%)	34 (4.9%)	52 (7.4%)	3 (0.4%)	6 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	50 (7.1%)	87.7	10^th of 201 public elementary schools	95.0%		79.3	29^th of 204 public elementary schools	85.8%	19	64.8	79.5		72.8	70.4	79.5		75.3		$9,323	$682	$8,642
Robert Bennis Elementary - 05	Public	K-4	2001 S Sioux Blvd	Brandon	57005	Minnehaha County	Brandon Valley School District 49-2	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(605) 582-8010	556	33	16.9	9.9%	484 (87.1%)	3 (0.5%)	22 (4.0%)	5 (0.9%)	8 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (6.1%)	82	22^nd of 201 public elementary schools	89.1%		87	14^th of 204 public elementary schools	93.1%	8	61.8	69.1		65.8	64.7	77.2		71.6		$9,559	$519	$9,040
Fred Assam Elementary - 06	Public	K-4	7700 E Willowwood St	Sioux Falls	57110	Minnehaha County	Brandon Valley School District 49-2	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(605) 582-1500	486	27	17.8	6.4%	419 (86.2%)	10 (2.1%)	19 (3.9%)	6 (1.2%)	3 (0.6%)	1 (0.2%)	28 (5.8%)	98	2^nd of 201 public elementary schools	99.0%		97	2^nd of 204 public elementary schools	99.0%		88.3	90.5		89.4	89.4	93.7		91.5		$9,768	$606	$9,162
Garretson Elementary - 02	Public	PK, KG-5	505 2nd St	Garretson	57030	Minnehaha County	Garretson School District 49-4	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(605) 594-3453	243	17	14.3	22.2%	212 (87.2%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (4.1%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.9%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (5.8%)	26.9	159^th of 201 public elementary schools	20.9%		25.2	166^th of 204 public elementary schools	18.6%	7	21.2	34.3	41.2	32.4	42.4	48.6	23.5	38.2	38.2	$10,942	$812	$10,130
Inspiration Elementary - 08	Public	K-4	3401 S Sparta Ave	Sioux Falls	57110	Minnehaha County	Brandon Valley School District 49-2	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(605) 582-5890	295	19	15.5	16.9%	215 (72.9%)	31 (10.5%)	14 (4.7%)	13 (4.4%)	8 (2.7%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (4.7%)	79.4	27^th of 201 public elementary schools	86.6%		83	21^st of 204 public elementary schools	89.7%	6	78.2	63.5		71.0	74.5	53.8		64.5		$10,132	$830	$9,302
Rosa Parks Elementary - 15	Public	K-5	5701 E Red Oak Dr	Sioux Falls	57710	Minnehaha County	Sioux Falls School District 49-5	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(605) 371-4170	729	45	16.1	46.0%	316 (43.3%)	131 (18.0%)	156 (21.4%)	41 (5.6%)	31 (4.3%)	2 (0.3%)	52 (7.1%)	22.5	167^th of 201 public elementary schools	16.9%		16.1	178^th of 204 public elementary schools	12.7%	11	32.6	30.6	41.2	34.5	39.0	34.7	29.4	34.5	32.9	$10,185	$1,081	$9,103
Anne Sullivan Elementary - 20	Public	PK, KG-5	3701 E 3rd St	Sioux Falls	57103	Minnehaha County	Sioux Falls School District 49-5	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(605) 367-6084	623	40	15.4	68.9%	121 (19.4%)	261 (41.9%)	91 (14.6%)	99 (15.9%)	26 (4.2%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (4.0%)	18.5	176^th of 201 public elementary schools	12.4%		21.5	171^st of 204 public elementary schools	16.2%	5	29.1	26.7	41.9	32.2	25.6	23.8	27.9	25.6	37.2	$11,730	$1,802	$9,928
Cleveland Elementary - 14	Public	PK, KG-5	1000 S Edward Dr	Sioux Falls	57103	Minnehaha County	Sioux Falls School District 49-5	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(605) 367-6150	495	37	13.2	69.7%	125 (25.3%)	189 (38.2%)	77 (15.6%)	14 (2.8%)	37 (7.5%)	3 (0.6%)	50 (10.1%)	7.2	190^th of 201 public elementary schools	5.5%		6.5	198^th of 204 public elementary schools	2.9%	8	13.3	26.3	26.2	21.9	21.7	26.3	14.8	20.8	16.4	$11,430	$1,887	$9,542
Harvey Dunn Elementary - 54	Public	PK, KG-5	2400 S Bahnson Ave	Sioux Falls	57103	Minnehaha County	Sioux Falls School District 49-5	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(605) 371-4120	632	38	16.6	33.9%	435 (68.8%)	63 (10.0%)	55 (8.7%)	5 (0.8%)	18 (2.8%)	0 (0.0%)	56 (8.9%)	73	45^th of 201 public elementary schools	77.6%		72.4	52^nd of 204 public elementary schools	74.5%	7	52.2	54.5	61.5	56.2	67.8	64.8	58.3	63.5	57.3	$9,928	$1,034	$8,894

Frequently Asked Questions about Valley Springs Elementary - 04

What schools do graduates of Valley Springs Elementary - 04 attend?

Students who attend Valley Springs Elementary - 04 usually go on to attend:

Middle : Brandon Valley Intermediate - 07
Middle : Brandon Valley Middle School - 02
High : Brandon Valley High School - 01

What district is Valley Springs Elementary - 04 in?

Brandon Valley School District 49-2

What is the racial makeup of Valley Springs Elementary - 04?

Students at Valley Springs Elementary - 04 are 83% White, 8% American Indian, 8% Two or more races, 1% Hispanic.

How many students attend Valley Springs Elementary - 04?

In the 2022-23 school year, 75 students attended Valley Springs Elementary - 04.

Rate Valley Springs Elementary - 04!

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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.