B−

Benson Public School District

Public school districtGrades PK–12Regional · 18 towns

Serves Benson, Torning Township, Cashel Township, Benson Township, Langhei Township, Hoff Township, Camp Lake Township, Clontarf Township, Six Mile Grove Township, Rolling Forks Township, Danvers, Kildare Township, Tara Township, Swenoda Township, Marysland Township, Grace Township, De Graff and Clontarf, and parts of Dublin Township, Kerkhoven Township, Mandt Township and West Bank Township.

Students

760

Schools

Spent per student

$15,871

MN $17,091

Students per teacher

14:1

Free or reduced lunch

40%

The gist

What stands out about Benson Public School District

School Grade B−: better than 47% of South Dakota districts
Math proficiency 7 pts below the state
Reading / language arts 12 pts below the state
Graduation rate (4-year) 8 pts above the state
Spends 7% less per student than the MN average
14 students per teacher
Enrollment down 6.4% since 2020

Where would my kid go?

The school path for Ramsey Township.

K–8Orland Colony Elementary - 04Montrose School District 43-2

9–12Montrose High School - 01Montrose School District 43-2

Test scores vs. MN

2020–21

Math proficiency37%

State average 44.2%

Reading / language arts41%

State average 52.5%

Graduation rate (4-year)92%

State average 84.4%

Where the money goes

fiscal 2024

$15,871 per student · 7% below MN

Spending

Classroom instruction 66%Support & administration 28%Other 6%

Paid for by

Local (mostly property tax) 29%State 66%Federal 5%

U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances.

Enrollment over time

812’20

819’21

808’22

774’23

760’24

Down 6.4% since 2020.

Students

White 80%Hispanic 11%Two or more races 4%Black 3%Asian 3%American Indian/Alaska Native <1%

Schools in the district

4 public schools.

Northside Elementary

Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Benson

B+

391 students17:1

Benson Secondary

High · Grades 6–12 · Benson

334 students13:1

Heartland Girls Ranch

High · Grades 7–12 · Benson

22 students8:1

Benson Area Learning Center

High · Grades 7–12 · Benson

13 students26:1

Towns served

Benson 3,441Torning Township 402Cashel Township 294Benson Township 261Langhei Township 251Hoff Township 248Camp Lake Township 159Clontarf Township 158Six Mile Grove Township 155Rolling Forks Township 148Danvers 126Kildare Township 107Tara Township 102Swenoda Township 87 Marysland Township 83 Grace Township 62 De Graff 58 Clontarf 45

Nearby districts

Compare spending and schools next door.

Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg school districtHayes Township, Louriston Township, Norway Lake Township

$14,117per student

Lac Qui Parle Valley School DistrictBig Bend Township, Edison Township, Fairfield Township

$15,487per student

Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa Public School DistrictGilchrist Township, Norway Lake Township

$13,265per student

Hancock Public School DistrictMoore Township, Walden Township

$13,737per 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.