Thunderbird Colony Elementary - 10

33 Students

Elementary School K - 8th

School Overview

Thunderbird Colony Elementary is a small, specialized public school located in rural Faulkton, South Dakota. As a K-8 institution, it serves the specific educational needs of the Thunderbird Hutterite Colony. Due to its unique setting within a communal living environment, the school maintains a very intimate learning atmosphere, operating as a vital part of the local community infrastructure while adhering to state educational standards.

Because of its remote location and size, the school is characterized by low student-to-teacher ratios, often utilizing multi-grade classrooms to accommodate its student population. It functions under the jurisdiction of the Faulkton Area School District, ensuring that students receive a state-accredited curriculum while balancing the distinct cultural and educational values of the colony. It stands as a prime example of the specialized rural schooling models found throughout South Dakota that provide tailored instruction in isolated settings.

Total Students

2.0

Full-Time Teachers

16.5

Student/Teacher Ratio

N/A

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Thunderbird Colony Elementary - 10
Demographic	Student Count
White	33

White
33 (100.0%)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Faulkton Area Schools 24-4
Phone:	(605)598-6266
Grade Range:	K - 8th
Total Students:	33
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	2.0
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	16.5
NSLP Participation:¹	No
Qualified Free Lunch:	N/A
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	N/A

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Kindergarten 7

Grade 1 3

Grade 2 5

Grade 3 5

Grade 5 6

Grade 6 2

Grade 7 1

Grade 8 4