Box Elder: Schools & Education

Box Elder is served by 5 public schools. Patriot Elementary -06 is the largest at 890 students (grades 0-3). Total enrollment: 2,750 students.

~2,580 residents per school (vs South Dakota ~170).

K-12 Schools

5 K-12 schools serving the area — about 2,580 residents per school. 28.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S. average ~35%).

Schools (5)

Douglas High School - 03

9-12 · 749 students · 420 Patriot Dr, Box Elder SD 57719 · (605)923-0030

Douglas Middle School - 01

6-8 · 670 students · 691 Tower Rd, Box Elder SD 57719 · (605)923-0050

Vandenberg Elementary - 02

4-5 · 441 students · 561 Briggs St, Box Elder SD 57719 · (605)923-0060

Douglas Preschool - 08

-1--1 · 421 Don Williams Dr, Box Elder SD 57719 · (605)923-0000

Patriot Elementary -06

0-3 · 890 students · 421 Don WIlliams Dr, Box Elder SD 57719 · (605)923-0080

School Districts · Districts	Douglas School District 51-1
School Districts · Total count	1
School Statistics · Total Schools	5
School Statistics · Total Enrollment	2,750
School Statistics · Total Teachers	183
School Statistics · Student Teacher Ratio	15.00
School Statistics · Free Lunch Students	758
School Statistics · Free Lunch Pct	27.6%
Schools Count	5

Sources: NCES LEA assignment from schools in this city · NCES CCD 2022 · Refreshed 2026-04-12

Higher Education

Colleges and universities within commuting range, plus IPEDS scorecard data on enrollment, completion, and net price.

Colleges (1)

National American University-Ellsworth

223 Main Gate Rd · 6057186550

College Scorecard · Fetched	2026-04-15
Nearest College · Name	Paul Mitchell the School-Rapid City
Nearest College · City	Rapid City
Nearest College · Phone	60534842470
Nearest College · Distance	13.4 mi

Sources: College Scorecard API query by city+state — no results · NCES IPEDS 2022 — nearest by coordinates within 50 miles

Early Childhood

Daycare and preschool capacity. Federal child-care data is sparse — counts reflect state-licensed providers only.

Facilities (1)

DOUGLAS SCHOOLS - BADGER CLARK

421 DON WILLIAMS DRIVE · SCHOOL BASED

Libraries

Public libraries from IMLS Public Libraries Survey — visits, circulation, and service-area population.

Nearest Library · Name	HE SAPA COLLEGE CENTER-OLC
Nearest Library · Phone	(605) 342-1513
Nearest Library · Address	127 KNOLLWOOD DRIVE, RAPID CITY SD 57701
Nearest Library · Distance	7.9 mi

Sources: IMLS PLS 2022 — nearest by coordinates

Other

Libraries (1)

HE SAPA COLLEGE CENTER-OLC

6053421513 · 127 KNOLLWOOD DRIVE, RAPID CITY SD 57701

Education Nonprofits · Total count	5
Pct Bachelors Plus	28.0%

Sources: IRS BMF NTEE B · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12