Estelline Elementary - 02

Estelline Elementary - 02 is a tight-knit elementary school in Estelline, South Dakota, operated by Estelline School District 28-2. The school instructs 149 students in grades pre-K through 5. By comparison, South Dakota's public schools average about 204 students each, so Estelline Elementary - 02 sits 27% below that benchmark.

Within Estelline School District 28-2, which oversees 3 schools and 292 students, Estelline Elementary - 02 is one campus in the system.

In terms of who attends, Estelline Elementary - 02 records that 75% of the student body identifies as White. Beyond that, the school reports 21% Hispanic, 3% multiracial. By comparison, Hamlin County as a whole is about 92% White, so the school skews meaningfully less White than its surroundings.

Looking at school resources, Estelline Elementary - 02 records 11 full-time-equivalent teachers, putting the student-to-teacher ratio at about 14.1:1. That figure is tighter than the state norm's 15.4:1 average. About 35% of enrolled students meet the income threshold for free or reduced-price lunch, a commonly cited indicator of low-income enrollment.

On a demographically-adjusted basis, Estelline Elementary - 02 sits in the middle band of the BeatsExpectations distribution. Schools with this campus's student mix typically land near 48.7%; this one delivers 54.9%.

Around the school, census data for Hamlin County shows median household income runs about $87,101, roughly 25% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the poverty rate sits near 5%. Estelline Elementary - 02 is one of 10 public schools in Hamlin County (combined enrollment of about 1,533 students).

The closest other public school is Estelline Middle School - 03, roughly 0.0 miles away. Within five miles, there are 2 other public schools. Among the 5 schools in that immediate cluster with test data (this one included), Estelline Elementary - 02 ranks 1st on composite proficiency, above the local average of 45.8%.

Estelline Elementary - 02 operates from a small-town location.

Over the past 7-year window. Over the past 7-year window, the student count fell 16%: 177 students in 2018 compared to 149 in 2025. Over the same period, the White share fell from 89% to 75%.

On the community side, the feed for Estelline Elementary - 02 typically covers school events, parent volunteer needs, and clubs. The community welcomes input from current and former families.