C
Heron Lake-Okabena School District
Public school districtGrades PK–12Regional · 9 towns
Serves Heron Lake, Alba, Okabena, Rost, West Heron Lake, Weimer, Ewington, La Crosse and Southbrook, and parts of Springfield.
Students
260
Schools
2
Spent per student
$17,300
MN $17,091
Students per teacher
12:1
Free or reduced lunch
48%
Debt
$3.0M
fiscal 2024
What stands out about Heron Lake-Okabena School District
- School Grade C: better than 26% of South Dakota districts
- Math proficiency 17 pts below the state
- Reading / language arts 16 pts below the state
- Graduation rate (4-year) 6 pts above the state
- 12 students per teacher
- Enrollment down 18.8% since 2020
- Debt of $3.0M, about $11,708 per student
Where would my kid go?
The school path for Nunda.
PK–83 schoolsOldham-Ramona-Rutland 39-6 school district
83 middle schoolsOldham-Ramona-Rutland 39-6 school district
9–122 high schoolsOldham-Ramona-Rutland 39-6 school district
Test scores vs. MN
2020–21Math proficiency27%
State average 44.2%
Reading / language arts37%
State average 52.5%
Graduation rate (4-year)90%
State average 84.4% · small group: the state reports 80–100%
Where the money goes
fiscal 2024$17,300 per student · 1% above MN
Spending
Classroom instruction 63%Support & administration 32%Other 5%
Paid for by
Local (mostly property tax) 25%State 69%Federal 6%
U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances.
Enrollment over time
320’20
324’21
294’22
290’23
260’24
Down 18.8% since 2020.
Students
White 75%Hispanic 15%Two or more races 4%American Indian/Alaska Native 3%Black 2%Asian 2%
Schools in the district
2 public schools.
Towns served
Nearby districts
Compare spending and schools next door.
Jackson County Central School DistrictDelafield, Heron Lake, Hunter
$14,183per student
Round Lake-Brewster Public SchoolsBrewster, Graham Lakes, Hersey
$12,308per student
Windom Public School DistrictAmo, Delafield, Great Bend
$15,728per student
Fulda Public School DistrictBelfast, Graham Lakes
$16,610per student
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.