Recent test scores presented cause for concern for South Dakota educators as results indicated that less-than-half of the state’s students are proficient in math and science. Nevertheless, there are public school districts where things are going right, and students perform at a level well above state standards. Here’s a closer look at the best school districts in South Dakota. 

The best school district in South Dakota is Brandon Valley School District, which consists of seven schools located across five cities near the state’s eastern border. Last year, BVSD logged a 94% graduation rate, which is a testament to the district’s quality. 

Yankton School District 63-3 is the 2nd best school district in South Dakota. Comprising four elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school in Yankton County. Students in the district benefit from a progressive education with access to state-of-the-art technology, including a large number of computers (2.5 to 1 student-to-computer ratio) and SMART boards in all core elementary and middle school classes. 

Earning the 3rd spot is Harrisburg School District, consisting of nine schools in the Sioux Falls suburb of Harrisburg. The district’s students display a higher-than-state-average rate of proficiency in English language arts, mathematics, and science.  

Watertown School District places 4th among South Dakota school districts. Made up of five elementary schools, one intermediate school, one middle school, and one high school, WSD has a graduation rate of 86% and a 62% rate of proficiency in reading language arts. 

Filling out South Dakota’s top five is Mitchell School District, a high-performing district with an enrollment of around 2,800. Although a large percentage of MSD students experience economic hardship, the district regularly manages graduation rates above 95%. 

Top School Districts in South Dakota, 2020

Methodology

The following variables contributed to the ranking: number of students (K-12), graduation rate, school funding per student, student to teacher ratio, percent of students scoring above proficient in standardized state Math test, percent of students scoring above proficient in standardized state Reading and Language test. Data from a total of 10,247 public school districts were used to compute a score for each school district. The following states were omitted due to lack of sufficient data: Hawaii, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Utah, and Virginia. Note that high schools in some states have their own independent districts.