Fordham Colony Elementary - 04

37 Students

Elementary School K - 8th

School Overview

Fordham Colony Elementary is a small, specialized educational facility located in the rural community of Carpenter, South Dakota. As a "colony" school, it is designed to serve the specific educational needs of the local Hutterite community, operating under the jurisdiction of the broader public school district. Its physical setting is integrated within the colony grounds, reflecting a model of education that prioritizes proximity to home, cultural preservation, and a community-centered approach to instruction.

Because of its unique demographic and location, the school typically operates as a multi-grade classroom environment, emphasizing foundational literacy, numeracy, and essential academic skills. The school plays a vital role in balancing state-mandated curriculum standards with the traditional values and lifestyle of the colony. By maintaining a localized campus, Fordham Colony Elementary ensures that students receive a consistent public education while remaining fully embedded in the daily life and social structure of their community.

Total Students

3.0

Full-Time Teachers

12.3

Student/Teacher Ratio

N/A

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Fordham Colony Elementary - 04
Demographic	Student Count
White	37

White
37 (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:	Clark School District 12-2
Phone:	(605)532-3606
Grade Range:	K - 8th
Total Students:	37
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	3.0
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	12.3
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 4

Grade 1 4

Grade 2 6

Grade 3 6

Grade 4 3

Grade 5 3

Grade 6 5

Grade 7 4

Grade 8 2