A+

Murray County Central School District

Public school districtGrades PK–12Regional · 17 towns

Serves Slayton, Chandler, Lake Sarah Township, Slayton Township, Lake Wilson, Mason Township, Iona, Fenton Township, Chanarambie Township, Lowville Township, Leeds Township, Lime Lake Township, Iona Township, Avoca, Moulton Township, Cameron Township and Hadley, and parts of Leota Township, Bondin Township, Murray Township, Des Moines River Township and Ellsborough Township.

Students

721

Schools

Spent per student

$15,459

MN $17,091

Students per teacher

16:1

Free or reduced lunch

36%

Debt

$3.5M

fiscal 2024

The gist

What stands out about Murray County Central School District

School Grade A+: better than 97% of South Dakota districts
Math proficiency 24 pts above the state
Reading / language arts 8 pts above the state
Graduation rate (4-year) 11 pts above the state
Spends 10% less per student than the MN average
16 students per teacher
Debt of $3.5M, about $4,902 per student

Where would my kid go?

The school path for Union Township.

PK–53 elementary schoolsGroton Area School District 06-6

6–83 middle schoolsGroton Area School District 06-6

9–122 high schoolsGroton Area School District 06-6

Test scores vs. MN

2020–21

Math proficiency68%

State average 44.2%

Reading / language arts60%

State average 52.5%

Graduation rate (4-year)95%

State average 84.4% · small group: the state reports 90–100%

Where the money goes

fiscal 2024

$15,459 per student · 10% below MN

Spending

Classroom instruction 62%Support & administration 33%Other 5%

Paid for by

Local (mostly property tax) 19%State 76%Federal 5%

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

Enrollment over time

701’23

721’24

About steady.

Students

White 89%Hispanic 7%Two or more races 2%Black 1%American Indian/Alaska Native <1%

Schools in the district

4 public schools.

West Elementary

Elementary · Grades 2–6 · Slayton

256 students9:1

Murray County Central Elementary

Elementary · Grades PK–1 · Slayton

137 students

Murray County Central High School

High · Grades 7–12 · Slayton

A−

328 students18:1

Out-of-State Care and Treatment

Other · Grades K–12 · Slayton

0 students

Towns served

Slayton 2,141Chandler 331Lake Sarah Township 308Slayton Township 273Lake Wilson 237Mason Township 232Iona 214Fenton Township 194Chanarambie Township 186Lowville Township 184Leeds Township 134Lime Lake Township 129Iona Township 120Avoca 100Moulton Township 98 Cameron Township 68 Hadley 29

Nearby districts

Compare spending and schools next door.

Tracy Area Public School DistrictCuster Township, Shelburne Township, Shetek Township

$13,969per student

Fulda Public School DistrictBelfast Township, Bloom Township, Seward Township

$16,610per student

Adrian Public School DistrictLismore Township, Wilmont Township

$15,232per student

Edgerton Public School DistrictBattle Plain Township, Burke Township, Osborne Township

$15,833per 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.