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 2024-25 school year, there are 7 public middle schools serving 2,980 students in Rapid City Area School District 51-4. This district's average middle testing ranking is 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public middle schools in South Dakota.
Public Middle Schools in Rapid City Area School District 51-4 have an average math proficiency score of 36% (versus the South Dakota public middle school average of 39%), and reading proficiency score of 46% (versus the 49% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 41% of the student body (majority American Indian), which is equal to the South Dakota public middle school average of 41% (majority American Indian).
Overview
This School District
This State (SD)
# Schools
27 Schools
300 Schools
# Students
12,743 Students
40,628 Students
# Teachers
806 Teachers
2,945 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 148 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
0.58
# American Indian Students
2,118 Students
10,541 Students
% American Indian Students
17%
26%
# Asian Students
151 Students
476 Students
% Asian Students
1%
1%
# Hispanic Students
1,252 Students
2,550 Students
% Hispanic Students
10%
6%
# Black Students
133 Students
980 Students
% Black Students
1%
3%
# White Students
7,606 Students
24,121 Students
% White Students
60%
59%
# Hawaiian Students
9 Students
37 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
1,474 Students
1,923 Students
% of Two or more races Students
11%
5%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
100
155
# Students in K Grade:
929
972
# Students in 1st Grade:
1,010
886
# Students in 2nd Grade:
905
847
# Students in 3rd Grade:
943
833
# Students in 4th Grade:
1,020
819
# Students in 5th Grade:
994
1,620
# Students in 6th Grade:
935
9,701
# Students in 7th Grade:
999
11,241
# Students in 8th Grade:
1,005
11,314
# Students in 9th Grade:
1,329
769
# Students in 10th Grade:
1,058
621
# Students in 11th Grade:
782
412
# Students in 12th Grade:
734
438
# Ungraded Students:
-
-
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $12,386 in this school district is less than the state median of $12,971. The school district revenue/student has grown by 13% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $11,426 is less than the state median of $12,479. The school district spending/student has grown by 10% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$158 MM
$1,916 MM
Spending
$146 MM
$1,844 MM
Revenue / Student
$12,386
$12,971
Spending / Student
$11,426
$12,479
Best Rapid City Area School District 51-4 Public Middle Schools (2024-25)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Southwest Middle School - 38
Magnet School
(Math: 59% | Reading: 70%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
4501 Park Dr
Rapid City, SD 57702
(605) 394-6792
Rapid City, SD 57702
(605) 394-6792
Grades: 6-8
| 660 students
Rank: #22.
West Middle School - 37
Magnet School
(Math: 43% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
1003 Soo San Dr
Rapid City, SD 57702
(605) 394-4033
Rapid City, SD 57702
(605) 394-4033
Grades: 6-8
| 612 students
Rank: #33.
East Middle School - 30
Magnet School
(Math: 32% | Reading: 41%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
4860 Homestead St
Rapid City, SD 57703
(605) 394-4092
Rapid City, SD 57703
(605) 394-4092
Grades: 6-8
| 600 students
Rank: #44.
South Middle School - 36
Magnet School
(Math: 24% | Reading: 37%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
2 Indiana St
Rapid City, SD 57701
(605) 394-4024
Rapid City, SD 57701
(605) 394-4024
Grades: 6-8
| 553 students
Rank: #55.
North Middle School - 35
Magnet School
(Math: 16% | Reading: 25%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
1501 N Maple St
Rapid City, SD 57701
(605) 394-4042
Rapid City, SD 57701
(605) 394-4042
Grades: 6-8
| 513 students
Rank: #66.
Jefferson Building - 64
Special Education School
Magnet School
Magnet 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
| 33 students
Rank: n/an/a
Wellfully - 65
Alternative School
Magnet School
Magnet School
22 Waterloo St
Rapid City, SD 57701
(605) 394-4048
Rapid City, SD 57701
(605) 394-4048
Grades: 1-12
| 9 students
Recent Articles
Vouchers for Special Education: Are They a Good Idea?
The article examines the pros and cons of using school vouchers for special education students. It discusses how vouchers can provide more educational options for families but also raises concerns about accountability, funding for public schools, and the implementation of special education laws in private school settings.
What is the Connection Between Home Values and School Performance?
This article explores the relationship between school performance and home values in neighborhoods. It discusses studies showing correlations between school expenditures, ratings, and housing prices, highlighting how this connection affects families' choices and contributes to educational disparities between communities.
September 27, 2024
Understanding RubricsThis article explores the fundamental principles of rubrics in education, focusing on their role as assessment tools. It breaks down the key components of rubrics, including criteria, performance levels, and descriptors. The piece also delves into the two main types of rubrics - holistic and analytic - providing authoritative definitions and explaining their unique applications in educational settings.