West Elementary is located across the street from Black Hills State University (BHSU). It serves the district’s special preschool/extended day Kindergarten students and all of the district’s Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd Grade students. Our enrollment averages about 450 students, served in twenty-three K- 2nd sections and four preschool/extended day Kindergarten rooms.
AdvancEd Goal:
As an accredited school of AdvancEd, our school goal this year is to improve student performance in math. The accreditation process focuses the school staff on analyzing student performance data, identifying areas of need, and developing clear goals and plans for improvement.. Parents and interested community members can learn more about AdvancEd accreditationby clicking on the picture link above.
The Principal:
Paul Soriano has been a building Principal for over 26 years and is beginning his 16th year as a Principal here in Spearfish. In his career, he has been an administrator at the college, high school, middle school, and elementary levels. He has also been a teacher, and football and wrestling coach. It is his job to:
• make our school a healthy, safe and positive place for kids to come;
• make our school a healthy and supportive place for staff to work;
• make our school a place where kids come to learn academic, social and thinking skills;
• give our kids the skills to make a positive contribution in our community;
• involve the community in our school, involve the school in our community, and make a positive difference in both.
