Elm Springs Elementary - 13

Elm Springs Elementary - 13 is a minimally staffed elementary-level community in Wasta, South Dakota, part of Meade School District 46-1. The school instructs 10 students in grades K through 8. Enrollment runs roughly 95% smaller than the state mean of about 204.

Within Meade School District 46-1, which oversees 11 schools and 3,047 students, Elm Springs Elementary - 13 is one campus in the system.

Demographically, Elm Springs Elementary - 13 shows that nearly all students (100%) are White. The wider county runs roughly 86% White, putting the school's mix considerably more White than the area baseline.

Looking at school resources, On paper, Elm Springs Elementary - 13 has 1 full-time-equivalent teachers, translating to a class-load average of around 7.2:1. That figure is tighter than the state norm's 15.4:1 average. An estimated 30% of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, a number frequently used as a low-income enrollment indicator.

Around the school, ACS estimates for Meade County put median household income runs about $74,790, about 28% of the adult population holds a bachelor's degree or above, and the poverty rate sits near 4%. Across Meade County's 16 public schools (combined enrollment of about 3,395 students), Elm Springs Elementary - 13 is one campus in the mix.

Nearest neighbor: Hereford Elementary - 08, around 17.7 miles off.

The campus sits in a countryside setting.

Trend over the last 7 years. Elm Springs Elementary - 13's enrollment has declined 23% since 2018, when it stood at 13 (now 10). Over the same period, the White share increased from 77% to 100%. Class-load math has fell: from 8.5:1 in 2018 to 7.2:1 in 2025.

In the discussion threads here, the page collects discussion, questions, and updates around sports schedules, lunch menu changes, and school spirit week. Contributors range from current parents to recent graduates and teachers.