What South Dakota School Districts Spend Per Student
The median South Dakota school district spends $12,846 per student per year, $1,697 below the national median of $14,543, across all 149 districts the state reports. The 147 of them a ZIP code can reach are listed below, and their 140,667 students account for $1.6 billion of current spending in fiscal year 2022.
South Dakota at a Glance
| Median district, per student | $12,846 |
|---|---|
| National median district | $14,543 |
| Districts listed | 147 of 149 |
| Students listed | 140,667 |
| Median district, math | ≈46% |
| Median district, reading | ≈56% |
Every South Dakota District, by Enrollment
Spending is current spending divided by fall membership for fiscal year 2022. Proficiency and graduation rates are school year 2018-19, the last year before the pandemic interrupted state testing, so the money and the results are not from the same year. A figure marked ≈ is one the federal file published as a range rather than a value, so small groups of children stay unidentifiable; it is the middle of that range and within ten points of the real one. A dash means the federal files publish no value under that district's ID. 2 further South Dakota districts are missing because the federal boundary file places them in no ZIP code, which is normal for charter and virtual districts with no attendance area.
| District | Students | Per student | Math | Reading | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls School District 49-5 | 24,957 | $10,788 | 43% | 50% | 84% |
| Rapid City School District 51-4 | 12,847 | $11,191 | 42% | 50% | 77% |
| Harrisburg School District 41-2 | 5,737 | $10,402 | 55% | 62% | 88% |
| Brandon Valley School District 49-2 | 4,901 | $9,822 | 66% | 72% | 95% |
| Aberdeen School District 06-1 | 4,419 | $9,917 | 50% | 58% | 90% |
| Watertown School District 14-4 | 3,930 | $9,475 | 55% | 64% | 91% |
| Brookings School District 05-1 | 3,398 | $11,042 | 45% | 58% | 87% |
| Meade School District 46-1 | 3,093 | $9,446 | 51% | 58% | ≈82% |
| Yankton School District 63-3 | 3,006 | $10,365 | 52% | 61% | ≈98% |
| Huron School District 02-2 | 2,849 | $11,193 | 37% | 46% | ≈82% |
| Douglas School District 51-1 | 2,804 | $12,366 | 48% | 54% | ≈98% |
| Pierre School District 32-2 | 2,802 | $9,982 | 53% | 58% | ≈82% |
| Mitchell School District 17-2 | 2,729 | $10,109 | 55% | 57% | ≈92% |
| Spearfish School District 40-2 | 2,398 | $9,880 | 48% | 55% | ≈87% |
| Tea Area School District 41-5 | 2,243 | $8,726 | 51% | 56% | ≈98% |
| Todd County School District 66-1 | 2,000 | $16,334 | 4% | 9% | ≈72% |
| Oglala Lakota County School District 65-1 | 1,840 | $21,648 | 4% | 8% | ≈3% |
| West Central School District 49-7 | 1,429 | $9,843 | 36% | 53% | ≈92% |
| Vermillion School District 13-1 | 1,391 | $9,973 | 52% | 68% | ≈87% |
| Dakota Valley School District 61-8 | 1,373 | $10,430 | 53% | 60% | ≈92% |
| Belle Fourche School District 09-1 | 1,350 | $10,486 | 43% | 52% | ≈87% |
| Lennox School District 41-4 | 1,204 | $10,086 | 53% | 62% | ≈98% |
| Madison Central School District 39-2 | 1,139 | $10,513 | 49% | 58% | ≈87% |
| Milbank School District 25-4 | 1,000 | $12,179 | 43% | 62% | ≈98% |
| Dell Rapids School District 49-3 | 985 | $10,597 | 65% | 66% | ≈92% |
| Tri-Valley School District 49-6 | 972 | $11,057 | 46% | 59% | ≈98% |
| Sisseton School District 54-2 | 950 | $12,465 | 27% | 35% | ≈75% |
| Custer School District 16-1 | 922 | $13,911 | 40% | 54% | ≈95% |
| Wagner School District 11-4 | 915 | $14,978 | 37% | 46% | ≈85% |
| Hamlin School District 28-3 | 884 | $9,103 | 53% | 58% | ≈95% |
| Canton School District 41-1 | 876 | $11,924 | 57% | 63% | ≈85% |
| Chamberlain School District 07-1 | 868 | $13,938 | 40% | 55% | ≈85% |
| Hot Springs School District 23-2 | 780 | $9,971 | 44% | 54% | ≈87% |
| Winner School District 59-2 | 772 | $11,049 | 34% | 49% | ≈85% |
| Flandreau School District 50-3 | 720 | $12,104 | 39% | 47% | ≈85% |
| Beresford School District 61-2 | 715 | $11,271 | 41% | 56% | ≈85% |
| Lead-Deadwood School District 40-1 | 699 | $17,339 | 32% | 45% | ≈85% |
| Elk Point-Jefferson School District 61-7 | 693 | $11,110 | 54% | 67% | ≈95% |
| Sioux Valley School District 05-5 | 693 | $10,296 | 52% | 57% | ≈95% |
| Mobridge-Pollock School District 62-6 | 621 | $11,177 | 48% | 65% | ≈85% |
| Baltic School District 49-1 | 600 | $9,550 | 49% | 59% | ≈90% |
| Groton Area School District 06-6 | 599 | $11,736 | 62% | 75% | ≈95% |
| Redfield School District 56-4 | 596 | $10,294 | 26% | 40% | ≈95% |
| Bon Homme School District 04-2 | 575 | $11,544 | 46% | 56% | ≈95% |
| Chester School District 39-1 | 567 | $9,721 | 52% | 62% | ≈47% |
| Deuel School District 19-4 | 558 | $10,946 | 33% | 44% | ≈95% |
| Webster School District 18-5 | 552 | $10,803 | 64% | 72% | ≈90% |
| Parkston School District 33-3 | 549 | $11,231 | 57% | 66% | ≈75% |
| Bennett County School District 03-1 | 522 | $14,209 | 20% | 38% | ≈75% |
| Hill City School District 51-2 | 502 | $11,550 | 54% | 65% | ≈95% |
| Platte-Geddes School District 11-5 | 499 | $12,846 | 60% | 74% | ≈95% |
| Garretson School District 49-4 | 494 | $10,419 | 41% | 54% | ≈90% |
| Parker School District 60-4 | 484 | $10,459 | 56% | 58% | ≈95% |
| Clark School District 12-2 | 480 | $11,435 | 30% | 39% | ≈90% |
| Britton-Hecla School District 45-4 | 453 | $10,943 | 44% | 59% | ≈90% |
| Ipswich School District 22-6 | 449 | $11,174 | 57% | 72% | ≈90% |
| Miller Area School District 29-4 | 447 | $14,687 | 43% | 57% | ≈95% |
| McCook Central School District 43-7 | 444 | $11,993 | 44% | 50% | ≈90% |
| McLaughlin School District 15-2 | 434 | $20,507 | 3% | 5% | ≈55% |
| Elkton School District 05-3 | 430 | $11,507 | 25% | ≈37% | ≈90% |
| Gregory School District 26-4 | 427 | $12,077 | 41% | 58% | ≈90% |
| Deubrook School District 05-6 | 416 | $11,803 | 54% | 62% | ≈95% |
| Stanley County School District 57-1 | 416 | $13,562 | 39% | 59% | ≈85% |
| Viborg Hurley School District 60-6 | 407 | $11,300 | ≈32% | ≈47% | ≈90% |
| Hanson School District 30-1 | 399 | $10,937 | 62% | 71% | ≈85% |
| Wessington Springs School District 36-2 | 398 | $11,078 | ≈37% | ≈52% | ≈70% |
| Dupree School District 64-2 | 391 | $18,742 | 24% | 38% | ≈70% |
| Faulkton School District 24-4 | 383 | $12,546 | ≈57% | ≈67% | — |
| White River School District 47-1 | 383 | $17,446 | 21% | 34% | ≈85% |
| Freeman School District 33-1 | 382 | $12,751 | ≈47% | ≈67% | ≈90% |
| Lyman School District 42-1 | 367 | $16,098 | ≈42% | ≈57% | ≈70% |
| Wolsey-Wessington School District 02-6 | 363 | $12,344 | ≈32% | ≈37% | ≈90% |
| Alcester-Hudson School District 61-1 | 354 | $13,011 | ≈32% | ≈42% | ≈90% |
| Timber Lake School District 20-3 | 351 | $18,185 | ≈62% | ≈67% | ≈90% |
| Andes Central School District 11-1 | 348 | $17,379 | ≈32% | ≈37% | ≈70% |
| Howard School District 48-3 | 348 | $13,336 | 49% | 64% | ≈90% |
| Castlewood School District 28-1 | 347 | $9,844 | ≈62% | ≈67% | ≈90% |
| Eagle Butte School District 20-1 | 345 | $29,319 | 8% | 17% | ≈75% |
| Kadoka School District 35-2 | 341 | $17,032 | ≈52% | ≈57% | — |
| Bridgewater-Emery School District 30-3 | 339 | $13,209 | ≈47% | ≈67% | ≈90% |
| Kimball School District 07-2 | 337 | $11,929 | ≈47% | ≈57% | ≈90% |
| Irene-Wakonda School District 13-3 | 320 | $13,781 | ≈42% | ≈52% | ≈90% |
| Northwestern Area School District 56-7 | 320 | $11,684 | ≈52% | ≈52% | — |
| Warner School District 06-5 | 315 | $10,594 | ≈77% | ≈77% | ≈90% |
| De Smet School District 38-2 | 312 | $13,298 | ≈57% | ≈62% | ≈90% |
| Haakon School District 27-1 | 309 | $11,298 | ≈47% | ≈57% | ≈90% |
| Florence School District 14-1 | 307 | $11,492 | ≈42% | ≈52% | ≈90% |
| Willow Lake School District 12-3 | 307 | $11,121 | ≈47% | ≈52% | — |
| Plankinton School District 01-1 | 306 | $13,418 | ≈37% | ≈37% | ≈90% |
| Gayville-Volin School District 63-1 | 302 | $10,891 | ≈27% | ≈42% | ≈90% |
| Arlington School District 38-1 | 300 | $13,023 | ≈77% | ≈67% | — |
| Ethan School District 17-1 | 291 | $9,749 | ≈72% | ≈67% | ≈90% |
| Centerville School District 60-1 | 290 | $10,407 | ≈47% | ≈57% | — |
| Corsica-Stickney School District 21-3 | 290 | $11,959 | ≈62% | ≈72% | ≈90% |
| New Underwood School District 51-3 | 287 | $9,467 | ≈57% | ≈57% | ≈90% |
| Menno School District 33-2 | 285 | $14,761 | ≈47% | ≈57% | ≈90% |
| Colman-Egan School District 50-5 | 282 | $14,099 | ≈42% | ≈42% | ≈90% |
| Woonsocket School District 55-4 | 282 | $9,844 | ≈42% | ≈52% | ≈90% |
| Estelline School District 28-2 | 281 | $13,448 | ≈47% | ≈52% | ≈90% |
| Scotland School District 04-3 | 281 | $12,936 | ≈37% | ≈47% | — |
| Lemmon School District 52-4 | 272 | $14,092 | ≈52% | ≈57% | ≈90% |
| Mount Vernon School District 17-3 | 271 | $12,173 | ≈52% | ≈52% | ≈90% |
| Newell School District 09-2 | 269 | $13,238 | ≈12% | ≈27% | ≈90% |
| Wall School District 51-5 | 269 | $13,796 | ≈62% | ≈67% | ≈90% |
| Waverly School District 14-5 | 267 | $12,345 | ≈27% | ≈37% | ≈90% |
| Canistota School District 43-1 | 264 | $13,110 | ≈67% | ≈72% | — |
| Montrose School District 43-2 | 256 | $15,504 | ≈52% | ≈62% | — |
| Hitchcock-Tulare School District 56-6 | 250 | $13,172 | ≈42% | ≈52% | — |
| Rosholt School District 54-4 | 242 | $13,731 | ≈42% | ≈52% | ≈90% |
| Highmore-Harrold School District 34-2 | 241 | $12,967 | ≈52% | ≈52% | ≈90% |
| Langford School District 45-5 | 241 | $13,290 | ≈47% | ≈42% | ≈90% |
| Avon School District 04-1 | 239 | $14,222 | ≈52% | ≈57% | ≈90% |
| Agar-Blunt-Onida School District 58-3 | 237 | $19,278 | ≈37% | ≈52% | ≈70% |
| Burke School District 26-2 | 235 | $14,787 | ≈52% | ≈62% | ≈90% |
| Wilmot School District 54-7 | 233 | $13,455 | ≈27% | ≈32% | ≈90% |
| Iroquois School District 02-3 | 230 | $13,904 | ≈22% | ≈27% | — |
| Gettysburg School District 53-1 | 228 | $13,724 | ≈72% | ≈72% | ≈90% |
| Leola School District 44-2 | 222 | $15,883 | ≈52% | ≈62% | — |
| Sanborn Central School District 55-5 | 219 | $13,977 | ≈47% | ≈62% | — |
| Armour School District 21-1 | 212 | $13,344 | ≈57% | ≈47% | — |
| Harding County School District 31-1 | 211 | $17,270 | ≈52% | ≈67% | ≈90% |
| Marion School District 60-3 | 204 | $16,127 | ≈47% | ≈52% | — |
| Colome School District 59-3 | 202 | $14,579 | ≈32% | ≈52% | ≈90% |
| Henry School District 14-2 | 187 | $13,385 | ≈32% | ≈47% | — |
| Jones County School District 37-3 | 187 | $15,273 | ≈62% | ≈52% | — |
| Lake Preston School District 38-3 | 185 | $15,249 | ≈47% | ≈62% | — |
| Waubay School District 18-3 | 180 | $15,511 | ≈37% | ≈42% | — |
| Selby School District 62-5 | 178 | $15,854 | ≈47% | ≈62% | — |
| Summit School District 54-6 | 177 | $13,147 | ≈42% | ≈52% | — |
| Frederick Area School District 06-2 | 174 | $15,121 | ≈62% | ≈62% | — |
| Smee School District 15-3 | 174 | $26,149 | ≈12% | ≈32% | ≈70% |
| Faith School District 46-2 | 168 | $12,506 | ≈42% | ≈57% | ≈90% |
| Eureka School District 44-1 | 165 | $17,485 | ≈37% | ≈52% | — |
| Tripp-Delmont School District 33-5 | 161 | $17,720 | ≈37% | ≈37% | — |
| McIntosh School District 15-1 | 160 | $24,425 | ≈37% | ≈57% | — |
| Doland School District 56-2 | 159 | $15,308 | ≈47% | ≈52% | — |
| Edgemont School District 23-1 | 159 | $15,000 | ≈32% | ≈42% | — |
| Oelrichs School District 23-3 | 141 | $20,312 | ≈8% | ≈12% | — |
| White Lake School District 01-3 | 141 | $13,709 | ≈37% | ≈32% | — |
| Edmunds Central School District 22-5 | 138 | $17,667 | ≈37% | ≈52% | — |
| Bison School District 52-1 | 137 | $18,044 | ≈42% | ≈47% | — |
| Herreid School District 10-1 | 125 | $15,512 | ≈45% | ≈65% | — |
| Bowdle School District 22-1 | 121 | $18,306 | ≈45% | ≈55% | — |
| Hoven School District 53-2 | 110 | $20,400 | ≈45% | ≈65% | — |
| Big Stone City School District 25-1 | 93 | $16,688 | ≈75% | ≈65% | — |
| South Central School District 26-5 (elementary district) | 75 | $19,360 | ≈30% | ≈50% | — |
| Elk Mountain School District 16-2 | 11 | $32,727 | — | — | — |
Sources
Spending and enrollment come from the NCES School District Finance Survey (F-33) for fiscal year 2022. Proficiency and graduation rates come from EDFacts for school year 2018-19. Districts are matched to ZIP codes through the NCES EDGE geographic relationship file. Nothing on this page is estimated or modelled: a figure is read from a federal source file or it is left blank.
Questions About South Dakota School Spending
How much does the average South Dakota school district spend per student?
The middle, or median, South Dakota district spent $12,846 per student in fiscal year 2022, $1,697 below the national median of $14,543. The median is the better summary here: a few very small districts spend several times what a large one does, and an average would follow them. That median covers all 149 districts the state reports. Across the 147 a ZIP code can reach, which are the ones listed on this page, 140,667 students account for $1.6 billion of current spending.
Which South Dakota districts spend the most and least per student?
Elk Mountain School District 16-2 reports the highest figure in the table at $32,727 per student for 11 students, and Tea Area School District 41-5 the lowest at $8,726 for 2,243 students. Enrollment is the denominator, so a small district with one building and one bus route honestly produces a high figure; read the two columns together.
Why are some South Dakota districts missing from this table?
South Dakota has 149 districts with federal finance data and 147 of them appear here. The rest are placed in no ZIP code by the federal boundary file, which is normal for charter and virtual school districts that have no attendance area, so there is no ZIP code a reader could use to find them.
Does this money follow a child who is homeschooled?
No. The figure is what the district spends on a seat in its own schools, funded from local property tax, state formula aid and federal programs. Withdrawing a child removes the child from the count rather than sending the money home. TheHomeschoolingCompany is $1,788 for one student for a school year by comparison, less for each child after the first.
Look Up Your Own District
Enter a ZIP code and the calculator returns the district that serves it, what it spends per student, how its students score, and what the same school year costs at home.
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Spending Per Student in Other States
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