A
Ponca Public Schools
Public school districtGrades PK–12Regional · 7 towns
Serves Ponca, Ponca, Jackson, Silvercreek, Ottercreek, Waterbury and Martinsburg, and parts of Newcastle and Galena.
Students
442
Schools
3
Spent per student
$16,950
NE $15,602
Students per teacher
11:1
Free or reduced lunch
21%
Debt
$5.8M
fiscal 2024
What stands out about Ponca Public Schools
- School Grade A: better than 94% of South Dakota districts
- Math proficiency 23 pts above the state
- Reading / language arts 11 pts above the state
- Graduation rate (4-year) 9 pts above the state
- Spends 9% more per student than the NE average
- 11 students per teacher
- Debt of $5.8M, about $13,152 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 proficiency69%
State average 46.1%
Reading / language arts59%
State average 48.2%
Graduation rate (4-year)95%
State average 86% · small group: the state reports 90–100%
Where the money goes
fiscal 2024$16,950 per student · 9% above NE
Spending
Classroom instruction 60%Support & administration 36%Other 4%
Paid for by
Local (mostly property tax) 63%State 33%Federal 4%
U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances.
Enrollment over time
453’20
451’21
442’22
441’23
442’24
About steady.
Students
White 94%Hispanic 2%Black 2%American Indian/Alaska Native 1%Two or more races <1%
Schools in the district
3 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.