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SDSouth Dakota rankings

Towns with the best public schools in South Dakota

Ranked by how far each town's public schools score above or below the South Dakota average in math and reading proficiency, weighted by enrollment. 34 towns with 2,500+ residents.

U.S. Census ACS 2020–2024 5-yearTest scores SY2020–21

Map of Brandon 1 Brandon +21.3 pts Math 62.2% · Reading 74.9% Dell Rapids 2 Dell Rapids +15.7 pts Math 59.1% · Reading 66.9% Map of Tea 3 Tea +14.8 pts Math 56.4% · Reading 67.8%
#Townvs. state averageMathReading
1 Map of Brandon BrandonBrandon Valley School District 49-2 +21.3 pts 62.2% 74.9%
2 Dell Rapids Dell RapidsDell Rapids School District 49-3 +15.7 pts 59.1% 66.9%
3 Map of Tea TeaTea Area School District 41-5 +14.8 pts 56.4% 67.8%
4 Split RockMinnehaha County · Brandon Valley School District 49-2 +13.8 pts 58% 64%
5 Map of Mitchell MitchellMitchell School District 17-2 +11.9 pts 53.8% 64.5%
6 Canton CantonCanton School District 41-1 +11.1 pts 52.7% 64%
7 Map of North Sioux City North Sioux CityDakota Valley School District 61-8 +10.8 pts 51.6% 64.5%
8 MobridgeMobridge-Pollock School District 62-6 +9.7 pts 48.7% 65.1%
9 VermillionVermillion School District 13-1 +9.5 pts 43.8% 69.7%
10 Sturgis SturgisMeade School District 46-1 +7.4 pts 48.6% 60.7%
11 Watertown WatertownWatertown School District 14-4 +6.4 pts 48.3% 58.9%
12 YanktonYankton School District 63-3 +6.0 pts 46.4% 60.1%
13 MilbankMilbank School District 25-4 +6.0 pts 43.9% 62.6%
14 PierrePierre School District 32-2 +4.4 pts 47% 56.4%
15 Spearfish SpearfishSpearfish School District 40-2 +4.3 pts 42% 61%
16 Map of Madison MadisonMadison Central School District 39-2 +3.4 pts 41.6% 59.7%
17 Map of Harrisburg HarrisburgHarrisburg School District 41-2 +3.0 pts 40.1% 60.4%
18 ChamberlainChamberlain School District 07-1 +2.9 pts 41.5% 58.8%
19 Map of Hartford HartfordWest Central School District 49-7 +2.6 pts 37% 62.7%
20 AberdeenAberdeen School District 06-1 +2.4 pts 42.8% 56.4%
21 BrookingsBrookings School District 05-1 +1.7 pts 46.3% 51.6%
22 Box Elder Box ElderDouglas School District 51-1 +1.1 pts 44.1% 52.6%
23 Elk Point Elk PointElk Point-Jefferson School District 61-7 +0.1 pts 40.8% 53.8%
24 Map of Winner WinnerWinner School District 59-2 −1.1 pts 38.2% 54.1%
25 Map of Sioux Falls Sioux FallsSioux Falls School District 49-5 −1.2 pts 41.5% 50.6%
26 Map of Rapid City Rapid CityRapid City Area School District 51-4 −3.1 pts 36.7% 51.7%
27 Belle FourcheBelle Fourche School District 09-1 −3.5 pts 36.1% 51.5%
28 SissetonSisseton School District 54-2 −5.4 pts 34.7% 49%
29 Map of Summerset SummersetMeade School District 46-1 −5.8 pts 35% 48%
30 Hot Springs Hot SpringsHot Springs School District 23-2 −6.1 pts 33.3% 48.9%
31 Map of Lead LeadLead-Deadwood School District 40-1 −6.8 pts 29.5% 51.5%
32 Map of Huron HuronHuron School District 02-2 −7.8 pts 30.2% 48.6%
33 Rapid Valley Rapid ValleyRapid City Area School District 51-4 −9.8 pts 36% 39%
34 BlackhawkRapid City Area School District 51-4 −20.3 pts 27% 27%

How this ranking works

For every public school in a town we take its latest math and reading proficiency and subtract the South Dakota average for the same test. The town’s score is the average of those gaps, weighted by each school’s enrollment, so a big high school counts more than a small annex. Private schools aren’t included.

Each state writes its own tests, so these scores compare towns within South Dakota only. We don’t rank a town unless at least 150 students in its schools were tested. Test data: EDFacts via Urban Institute Education Data Portal (SY2020-21).

Only towns with at least 2,500 residents are ranked; Census estimates for smaller places are too uncertain. Population and income: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates. Town photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each town’s page.

Same ranking in other states

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