Pelican Rapids Public School District

Public school districtGrades PK–12Regional · 15 towns

Serves Pelican Rapids, Cormorant Township, Dunn Township, Elizabeth Township, Lida Township, Scambler Township, Dora Township, Star Lake Township, Erhards Grove Township, Pelican Township, Norwegian Grove Township, Maplewood Township, Tansem Township, Erhard and Trondhjem Township, and parts of Lake Eunice Township and Friberg Township.

Students

842

Schools

Spent per student

$15,162

MN $17,091

Students per teacher

12:1

Free or reduced lunch

58%

Debt

$19.4M

fiscal 2024

The gist

What stands out about Pelican Rapids Public School District

School Grade B: better than 64% of South Dakota districts
Spends 11% less per student than the MN average
12 students per teacher
Enrollment down 6.4% since 2020
Debt of $19.4M, about $22,986 per student

Where would my kid go?

The school path for Veblen.

PK–4Westside Elementary - 03Sisseton School District 54-2

5–8Sisseton Middle School - 02Sisseton School District 54-2

9–12Sisseton High School - 01Sisseton School District 54-2

Test scores vs. MN

2020–21

Math proficiency45%

State average 44.2%

Reading / language arts54%

State average 52.5%

Graduation rate (4-year)87%

State average 84.4%

Where the money goes

fiscal 2024

$15,162 per student · 11% below MN

Spending

Classroom instruction 63%Support & administration 30%Other 7%

Paid for by

Local (mostly property tax) 32%State 62%Federal 5%

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

Enrollment over time

900’20

867’21

865’22

860’23

842’24

Down 6.4% since 2020.

Students

White 51%Hispanic 35%Black 8%Two or more races 3%Asian 2%American Indian/Alaska Native <1%

Schools in the district

4 public schools.

Viking Elementary School

Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Pelican Rapids

A−

468 students11:1

Pelican Rapids Alt Center Mid-Level

Middle · Grades 7–8 · Pelican Rapids

0 students0:1

Pelican Rapids Secondary

High · Grades 7–12 · Pelican Rapids

C+

374 students13:1

Pelican Rapids Alt Learning Center

High · Grades 9–12 · Pelican Rapids

0 students0:1

Towns served

Pelican Rapids 2,586Cormorant Township 1,031Dunn Township 929Elizabeth Township 894Lida Township 827Scambler Township 628Dora Township 580Star Lake Township 490Erhards Grove Township 489Pelican Township 486Norwegian Grove Township 313Maplewood Township 264Tansem Township 233Erhard 154Trondhjem Township 152

Nearby districts

Compare spending and schools next door.

Barnesville Public School DistrictHumboldt Township, Parke Township, Prairie View Township

$13,637per student

Fergus Falls Public School DistrictAurdal Township, Fergus Falls Township, Oscar Township

$13,197per student

Perham-Dent Public School DistrictCandor Township, Dead Lake Township, Edna Township

$13,423per student

Rothsay Public School DistrictOscar Township, Rothsay, Tanberg Township

$13,833per 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.