About Us
- Box Elder is just minutes from Rapid City, South Dakota’s second-largest city.
- Box Elder is an expanding community. Between 2013 and 2022, Box Elder's population increased by 3,488, showing an average annual growth of 2.2%.
- Box Elder, home to Ellsworth Air Force Base, is a growing residential community for both military and civilian families. With a population of almost 12,000, it is the 12th largest city in South Dakota and one of the fastest-growing cities.
- Box Elder is just minutes from Rapid City, South Dakota’s second-largest city. It’s the gateway to the Black Hills, with Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park, Badlands National Park, and Deadwood nearby!
- The Douglas School District expands into portions of Pennington and Meade County.
- It’s the gateway to the Black Hills, with Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park, Badlands National Park, and Deadwood nearby!
- Douglas School District serves approximately 2,900 students and employs more than 400 people.
- Smaller class sizes; grades K-2 (under 22), grades 3-5 (under 25)
- More than 72% of DSD teachers have advanced degrees
- The average teacher has 15.9 years of experience.
- We are a diverse community, with nearly 37% of our students proudly connected to military families who are:
- Active Duty Living On Base
- Active Duty Living Off Base
- Lives on Federal Property
- Works on Base
- In 2021, Douglas received the first Purple Star designation in South Dakota for their support and commitment to meeting the unique needs of military-connected students and their families.
- We are the only school in the area with an ROTC program .
- Douglas is one of the top 5 school districts in South Dakota.
The Douglas School District is dedicated to fostering academic excellence, personal growth, and community pride for every student we serve. With a focus on innovative teaching, safe learning environments, and strong partnerships between families, staff, and the community, we strive to prepare our students for success in college, careers, and life. We value our long-standing traditions while embracing progress and innovation. We believe education is a shared responsibility and work together with parents, community members, and local organizations to create meaningful learning experiences. Guided by our commitment to continuous improvement, we ensure that every student is equipped with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to go anywhere from here.
- Badger Clark Elementary and Francis Case Elementary (grades K-3)
- Vandenberg Elementary (grades 4 & 5)
- Douglas Middle School (grades 6-8)
- Douglas High School (grades 9-12)
- Carrousel School houses the district’s early intervention program, along with our special services programs and staff.
