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 middle schools serving 157 students in Custer School District 16-1. This district's average middle testing ranking is 8/10, which is in the top 30% of public middle schools in South Dakota.
Public Middle Schools in Custer School District 16-1 have an average math proficiency score of 47% (versus the South Dakota public middle school average of 39%), and reading proficiency score of 57% (versus the 49% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 15% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the South Dakota public middle school average of 42% (majority American Indian).
Overview
This School District
This State (SD)
# Schools
6 Schools
297 Schools
# Students
906 Students
40,141 Students
# Teachers
75 Teachers
2,999 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
0.59
# American Indian Students
22 Students
10,455 Students
% American Indian Students
2%
26%
# Asian Students
4 Students
519 Students
% Asian Students
1%
1%
# Hispanic Students
66 Students
2,703 Students
% Hispanic Students
7%
7%
# Black Students
1 Student
1,024 Students
% Black Students
n/a
3%
# White Students
769 Students
23,358 Students
% White Students
85%
58%
# Hawaiian Students
n/a
46 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
44 Students
2,036 Students
% of Two or more races Students
5%
5%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
-
174
# Students in K Grade:
84
896
# Students in 1st Grade:
63
903
# Students in 2nd Grade:
54
918
# Students in 3rd Grade:
67
750
# Students in 4th Grade:
58
793
# Students in 5th Grade:
66
1,598
# Students in 6th Grade:
76
9,664
# Students in 7th Grade:
76
11,058
# Students in 8th Grade:
81
11,237
# Students in 9th Grade:
80
674
# Students in 10th Grade:
56
578
# Students in 11th Grade:
77
481
# Students in 12th Grade:
68
417
# 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 Middle Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Custer Jr. High - 05
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
1645 Wildcat Ln
Custer, SD 57730
(605) 673-4473
Custer, SD 57730
(605) 673-4473
Grades: 7-8
| 103 students
Rank: n/an/a
11 4th St
Hermosa, SD 57744
(605) 255-4345
Hermosa, SD 57744
(605) 255-4345
Grades: 7-8
| 54 students
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