Moonpreneur Icon

Southwest Middle School - 38

4501 Park Dr, Rapid City, SD, 57702

Top 10% School in South Dakota

Ranked 18 of 118 in South Dakota

See top schools in Rapid City

About Southwest Middle School - 38

Southwest Middle School is at 4501 Norseman Lane in the rapidly growing southwest corridor. It serves grades 6 through 8 with a total enrollment of 765 students. The student–teacher ratio is 15:1. Math proficiency is 59% and reading proficiency is 70%. The gender mix is 52% male and 48% female. The school climate is academically oriented with high expectations for student conduct and daily participation. Residential properties in this popular area range from $380,000 to $620,000. Parents value the fast-paced instructional environment and the clear dedication shown by the administrative leadership team. This is currently recognized as one of the best middle schools in South Dakota.

Southwest Middle School - 38 Contact Information

Address

4501 Park Dr, Rapid City, SD, 57702

View on Map

Phone

(605) 394-6792

Call Now

Academic Performance

Subject Proficiency

Mathematics 59%
Reading 70%
State average proficiency is 59% in Math and 70% in Reading.
37
Full-time Teachers
18 : 1
Student-Teacher Ratio
665
Total Students
$60066
Avg. Teacher Salary
TOP 18 IN STEM IN STATE

Robotics & STEM
at Southwest Middle School - 38

2.5X
More likely to pursue STEM Careers
80%
Jobs that will require STEM in 2030
2.5X
More likely to persue STEM Careers
80%
Jobs that will require STEM in 2030
  • 🤖 Coding & Debugging
  • 🧪 Hobby Electronics and Engineering
  • 👩‍💻 Apply Math in Science and Engineering
  • 🛠️ 3D Printing
🚀
Hands-on with real robots
🏆
Led by competition winners
🎓
STEM career pathways

Recent News & Updates

New Playground Name

We are so excited to announce the name of our new playground! Following a school-wide and Robinson community vote we narrowed a large list of names down to four. Since our students will be using the playground on a daily basis, we gave them the final vote! 476.....

Read More

Mansfield Public Schools Educator Spotlight: Pathways of a Fourth-Grade Teacher

MANSFIELD — Inside the brick building on East Street, four educators who began teaching within 2 years of each other, all spending the beginning of their careers teaching fourth grade at Jordan/Jackson Elementary School...

Read More

School Timings

Regular School Hours

All Grades: 7:55 AM – 3:07 PM

Early Dismissal Days

Dismissal Time: 12:15 PM

Note: Doors open at 7:40 AM for student arrival. Please refer to the school calendar for specific early dismissal dates.

After School Activities

Information coming soon

School Session Dates

September to June

School session starts in September 1st week and ends in June 3rd week. For exact dates, please contact the school.

Student Demographics

White 76.54%
Asian 1.95%
Hispanic 6.62%
Black 0.75%
Two+ Races 7.82%
Native Am. 5.86%
White
76.54%
Asian
1.95%
Hispanic
6.62%
Black
0.75%
Two+ Races
7.82%
Native Am.
5.86%

Gender Distribution

Total Students: 665
49.02%
326 Female
50.98%
339 Male

Student Population

665 Students

With a student-teacher ratio of 18 : 1

Minority Enrollment

25%

Percentage of minority students

Students per Counselor

665 : 1

Student to counselor ratio

Remarkable Alumni

Being Updated

Map

Latest News

In February 2025, 8th-grade science teacher Ross Hunter was named the 2025 Rapid City Public School Foundation Teacher of the Year. Southwest Middle School also earned the 2024–2025 Purple Star Award Designation for its excellence in supporting military-connected students and families.

FAQ

Q1. Does the school give students time to get extra help with their studies?

Ans. Yes, students who need extra help can get targeted support.

Q2. Do parents want to help out?

Ans. The school office does offer volunteer opportunities.

Q3. How does the school deal with bad behavior by students?

Ans. There are always clear rules about how to act.

Q4. Is there transportation available for activities outside of school?

Ans. Transportation depends on the availability and scheduling of the district.

Q5. Do they regularly practice emergency drills?

Ans. Yes, drills are done to keep people aware of safety.

Games & Extracurricular Activities

Sports

  • Soccer Club Grades 1-3 | Mon/Wed 3:30-4:30pm
  • Basketball Grades 2-4 | Tue/Thu 3:30-4:45pm
  • Track & Field Grades 3-5 | Fri 3:30-5:00pm

Arts

  • Art Club Grades K-2 | Mon 3:00-4:00pm
  • Drama Club Grades 3-5 | Wed 3:30-5:00pm
  • Choir Grades 2-5 | Thu 3:15-4:15pm

Clubs

  • Chess Club Grades 2-5 | Fri 3:15-4:15pm
  • Garden Club All Grades | Tue 3:15-4:00pm
  • Robotics Club Grades 3-5 | Thu 3:30-5:00pm

Note: Schedules may change during school holidays. Please contact School for exact Schedule.

Summer Suggested Reading

Horn Book Selections

Vocabulary.com +3 Horn Book +3 What to Read to Your Kids +3
ML

Maggie Lou, Firefox

by Arnolda Dufour Bowes

PS

The Puppets of Spelhorst

by Kate DiCamillo

MLV

The Mona Lisa Vanishes

by Nicholas Day

Vocabulary.com Top Picks

Penguin Random House +10 Vocabulary.com +10 Wikipedia +10
F

Frindle

by Andrew Clements

WR

The Wild Robot

by Peter Brown

JGP

James and the Giant Peach

by Roald Dahl

Penguin Random House Features

Horn Book +2 Penguin Random House +2 The Guardian +2
SLB

The Secret Language of Birds

by Lynne Kelly

S

The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels

by Beth Lincoln

Free Robotics and Stem In-person Workshop in Your Neighbourhood for 7-14 Years Tech Enthusiasts.

Local kids are transforming ideas into real-world.

See the projects happening right in your neighborhood

What Parents Say

Southwest Middle School - 38

If you’re a parent, please share the highlights of your experience with Southwest Middle School - 38

terms and conditions
Feedback

DISCLAIMER

The information provided about schools is for general reference only and may not be 100% accurate or up to date. We recommend contacting the respective school directly to confirm the latest details and ensure accuracy.