Top Rankings
Rapid City Area School District 51-4 ranks among the top 20% of public school district in South Dakota for:
Category
Attribute
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 1%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 6 public high schools serving 3,925 students in Rapid City Area School District 51-4. This district's average high testing ranking is 5/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public high schools in South Dakota.
Public High Schools in Rapid City Area School District 51-4 have an average math proficiency score of 37% (versus the South Dakota public high school average of 40%), and reading proficiency score of 69% (versus the 63% statewide average).
Public High School in Rapid City Area School District 51-4 have a Graduation Rate of 76%, which is less than the South Dakota average of 81%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Stevens High School - 42, with 86% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in South Dakota or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 37% of the student body (majority American Indian), which is more than the South Dakota public high school average of 35% (majority American Indian).
Overview
This School District
This State (SD)
# Schools
29 Schools
218 Schools
# Students
12,485 Students
47,000 Students
# Teachers
802 Teachers
3,332 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
16:1
16:1
District Rank
Rapid City Area School District 51-4, 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 70% has decreased from 75% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#109 out of 148 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
36%
42%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
46%
51%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
38%
42%
Graduation Rate
70%
82%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.60
0.54
# American Indian Students
2,069 Students
8,926 Students
% American Indian Students
17%
19%
# Asian Students
155 Students
669 Students
% Asian Students
1%
1%
# Hispanic Students
1,272 Students
3,395 Students
% Hispanic Students
10%
7%
# Black Students
127 Students
1,382 Students
% Black Students
1%
3%
# White Students
7,396 Students
30,421 Students
% White Students
59%
65%
# Hawaiian Students
10 Students
65 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
1,456 Students
2,142 Students
% of Two or more races Students
12%
5%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
96
35
# Students in K Grade:
902
247
# Students in 1st Grade:
888
370
# Students in 2nd Grade:
986
358
# Students in 3rd Grade:
910
247
# Students in 4th Grade:
925
245
# Students in 5th Grade:
1,011
270
# Students in 6th Grade:
967
336
# Students in 7th Grade:
910
409
# Students in 8th Grade:
1,003
466
# Students in 9th Grade:
1,253
12,230
# Students in 10th Grade:
982
11,381
# Students in 11th Grade:
867
10,546
# Students in 12th Grade:
785
9,860
# Ungraded Students:
-
-
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $12,642 in this school district is less 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 $11,662 is less than the state median of $12,623. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$158 MM
$1,916 MM
Spending
$146 MM
$1,844 MM
Revenue / Student
$12,642
$13,121
Spending / Student
$11,662
$12,623
Best Rapid City Area School District 51-4 Public High Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Stevens High School - 42
(Math: 46% | Reading: 80%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
4215 Raider Rd
Rapid City, SD 57702
(605) 394-4051
Rapid City, SD 57702
(605) 394-4051
Grades: 9-12
| 1,763 students
Rank: #22.
Rapid City Online High School - 92
(Math: <50% | Reading: ≥50%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
625 9th St Ste 208
Rapid City, SD 57701
(605) 394-4048
Rapid City, SD 57701
(605) 394-4048
Grades: 9-12
| 67 students
Rank: #33.
Central High School - 41
(Math: 27% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
433 Mt Rushmore Rd
Rapid City, SD 57701
(605) 394-4023
Rapid City, SD 57701
(605) 394-4023
Grades: 9-12
| 2,020 students
Rank: #44.
Jefferson Building - 64
Special Education School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 45-49% )
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
21 St Joseph St
Rapid City, SD 57701
(605) 394-1813
Rapid City, SD 57701
(605) 394-1813
Grades: PK-12
| 35 students
Rank: n/an/a
Lincoln Building - 44
Special Education School
851 West St
Rapid City, SD 57701
(605) 394-1813
Rapid City, SD 57701
(605) 394-1813
Grades: 12
| 29 students
Rank: n/an/a
Wellfully - 65
Alternative School
22 Waterloo St
Rapid City, SD 57701
(605) 394-4048
Rapid City, SD 57701
(605) 394-4048
Grades: 1-12
| 11 students
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