Top Rankings
Custer School District 16-1 ranks among the top 20% of public school district in South Dakota for:
Category
Attribute
Science Proficiency
Highest science proficiency (Top 20%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 2 public elementary schools serving 468 students in Custer School District 16-1. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public elementary schools in South Dakota.
Public Elementary Schools in Custer School District 16-1 have an average math proficiency score of 38% (versus the South Dakota public elementary school average of 43%), and reading proficiency score of 46% (versus the 49% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 15% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the South Dakota public elementary school average of 36% (majority American Indian).
Overview
This School District
This State (SD)
# Schools
6 Schools
497 Schools
# Students
906 Students
101,009 Students
# Teachers
75 Teachers
7,507 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
12:1
12:1
District Rank
Custer School District 16-1, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 146 school districts in South Dakota (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 75-79% has decreased from 90% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#89 out of 148 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
41%
42%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
51%
51%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
52%
42%
Graduation Rate
75-79%
82%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.27
0.55
# American Indian Students
22 Students
16,670 Students
% American Indian Students
2%
17%
# Asian Students
4 Students
1,571 Students
% Asian Students
1%
2%
# Hispanic Students
66 Students
8,335 Students
% Hispanic Students
7%
8%
# Black Students
1 Student
3,317 Students
% Black Students
n/a
3%
# White Students
769 Students
64,951 Students
% White Students
85%
64%
# Hawaiian Students
n/a
129 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
44 Students
6,036 Students
% of Two or more races Students
5%
6%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
-
2,878
# Students in K Grade:
84
11,668
# Students in 1st Grade:
63
10,796
# Students in 2nd Grade:
54
10,955
# Students in 3rd Grade:
67
10,445
# Students in 4th Grade:
58
10,671
# Students in 5th Grade:
66
10,790
# Students in 6th Grade:
76
10,958
# Students in 7th Grade:
76
9,781
# Students in 8th Grade:
81
9,926
# Students in 9th Grade:
80
674
# Students in 10th Grade:
56
577
# Students in 11th Grade:
77
475
# Students in 12th Grade:
68
415
# Ungraded Students:
-
-
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $15,472 is higher than the state median of $13,121. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $21,682 is higher than the state median of $12,623. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$14 MM
$1,916 MM
Spending
$20 MM
$1,844 MM
Revenue / Student
$15,472
$13,121
Spending / Student
$21,682
$12,623
Best Custer School District 16-1 Public Elementary Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Custer Elementary - 02
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
1415 Wildcat Ln
Custer, SD 57730
(605) 673-4483
Custer, SD 57730
(605) 673-4483
Grades: K-6
| 293 students
Rank: #22.
Hermosa Elementary - 04
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
11 4th St
Hermosa, SD 57744
(605) 255-4345
Hermosa, SD 57744
(605) 255-4345
Grades: K-6
| 175 students
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