Whitewood Elementary - 04

Whitewood Elementary - 04 is a primary school of close-knit scale in Whitewood, South Dakota, operated by Meade School District 46-1, instructing 138 students in grades pre-K through 5. That puts it 32% leaner than the typical public school in South Dakota, which averages around 204 students.

Across the 11 schools in Meade School District 46-1 (3,047 students total), Whitewood Elementary - 04 accounts for its share of the district's footprint.

Demographically, Whitewood Elementary - 04 shows that the student body is overwhelmingly White (91%). Beyond that, the school lists 4% Native American, 3% multiracial, 2% Hispanic. That composition is broadly in line with Lawrence County as a whole.

Looking at the economic backdrop, The school currently runs with 10 full-time-equivalent teachers, for a student-teacher ratio near 13.6:1. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 15.4:1, putting Whitewood Elementary - 04 tighter than the state norm the norm. About 47% of enrolled students meet the income threshold for free or reduced-price lunch, a commonly cited indicator of low-income enrollment. Set against Lawrence County (around 22%), the school's rate is somewhat above typical.

Adjusting for the school's free-and-reduced-lunch share, Whitewood Elementary - 04 is in the OUTPERFORMING tier of the BeatsExpectations model, which fits a per-state line through proficiency and FRL share. Schools with this campus's poverty mix typically land near 43.7%; this one delivers 74.3%, a residual of +30.6 points.

In the surrounding community, Lawrence County reports that median household income runs about $73,384, 33% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate sits near 8%. Whitewood Elementary - 04 is one of 14 public schools in Lawrence County (combined enrollment of about 3,183 students).

The closest other public school is Sturgis Williams Middle School - 02, roughly 7.0 miles away. 6 of the 8 nearest public schools sit inside a ten-mile radius, suggesting a relatively low-density school footprint. Among the 5 schools in that immediate cluster with test data (this one included), Whitewood Elementary - 04 ranks 1st on composite proficiency, higher than the local average of 46.5%.

The school occupies a small-town site.

Five-year trend. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at Whitewood Elementary - 04 has rose 42%, going from 97 students in 2018 to 138 in 2025. Class-load math has widened: from 10.2:1 in 2018 to 13.6:1 in 2025.

On this page, the feed for Whitewood Elementary - 04 typically covers enrollment questions, classroom assignments, and PTA news. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.