A+
Pender Public Schools
Public school districtGrades PK–12Regional · 8 towns
Serves Pender, Pender, Flournoy, Cleveland, Grant, Thurston, Thayer and Bryan, and parts of Beemer, Bancroft, Perry and Merry.
Students
433
Schools
2
Spent per student
$17,293
NE $15,602
Students per teacher
12:1
Free or reduced lunch
43%
Debt
$1.4M
fiscal 2024
What stands out about Pender Public Schools
- School Grade A+: better than 100% of South Dakota districts
- Math proficiency 28 pts above the state
- Reading / language arts 22 pts above the state
- Spends 11% more per student than the NE average
- 12 students per teacher
- Enrollment up 6.7% since 2020
- Debt of $1.4M, about $3,157 per student
Where would my kid go?
The school path for Jefferson.
K–5Elk Point-Jefferson Elementary - 02Elk Point-Jefferson School District 61-7
6–8Elk Point-Jefferson Middle School - 03Elk Point-Jefferson School District 61-7
Test scores vs. NE
2020–21Math proficiency74%
State average 46.1%
Reading / language arts70%
State average 48.2%
Graduation rate (4-year)90%
State average 86% · small group: the state reports 80–100%
Where the money goes
fiscal 2024$17,293 per student · 11% above NE
Spending
Classroom instruction 60%Support & administration 34%Other 6%
Paid for by
Local (mostly property tax) 64%State 27%Federal 8%
U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances.
Enrollment over time
406’20
417’21
443’22
423’23
433’24
Up 6.7% since 2020.
Students
White 84%Hispanic 10%Two or more races 3%American Indian/Alaska Native 2%Asian <1%Black <1%
Schools in the district
2 public schools.
Towns served
Nearby districts
Compare spending and schools next door.
District facts: U.S. Department of Education (NCES directory and district boundaries) and the U.S. Census Bureau school finance survey. Test scores and graduation: EDFacts via the Urban Institute Education Data Portal. Neighbor ratings are opinions.