C−
De Smet School District 38-2
Public school districtGrades PK–12Regional · 8 towns
Serves De Smet, De Smet, Spirit Lake, Mathews, Le Sueur, Manchester, Esmond and Bancroft, and parts of Hartland.
Students
362
Schools
3
Spent per student
$13,958
SD $13,040
Students per teacher
13:1
Free or reduced lunch
28%
Debt
$9.0M
fiscal 2024
What stands out about De Smet School District 38-2
- School Grade C−: better than 18% of South Dakota districts
- Math proficiency 10 pts below the state
- Graduation rate (4-year) 6 pts above the state
- Spends 7% more per student than the SD average
- 13 students per teacher
- Enrollment up 21.9% since 2020
- Debt of $9.0M, about $24,862 per student
Where would my kid go?
The school path for Virgil.
PK–5Wolsey Wessington Elementary - 02Wolsey-Wessington School District 02-6
6–8Wolsey Wessington Middle School - 03Wolsey-Wessington School District 02-6
Test scores vs. SD
2020–21Math proficiency32%
State average 42.2%
Graduation rate (4-year)90%
State average 84.5% · small group: the state reports 80–100%
Where the money goes
fiscal 2024$13,958 per student · 7% above SD
Spending
Classroom instruction 55%Support & administration 39%Other 5%
Paid for by
Local (mostly property tax) 62%State 25%Federal 13%
U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances.
Enrollment over time
297’20
311’21
327’22
354’23
362’24
Up 21.9% since 2020.
Students
White 89%Hispanic 6%Two or more races 4%Black 1%Asian <1%American Indian/Alaska Native <1%
Schools in the district
3 public schools.
Towns served
Nearby districts
Compare spending and schools next door.
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.