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 8 public middle schools serving 2,923 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 42% of the student body (majority American Indian), which is equal to the South Dakota public middle school average of 42% (majority American Indian).
Overview
This School District
This State (SD)
# Schools
29 Schools
297 Schools
# Students
12,485 Students
40,141 Students
# Teachers
802 Teachers
2,999 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
0.59
# American Indian Students
2,069 Students
10,455 Students
% American Indian Students
17%
26%
# Asian Students
155 Students
519 Students
% Asian Students
1%
1%
# Hispanic Students
1,272 Students
2,703 Students
% Hispanic Students
10%
7%
# Black Students
127 Students
1,024 Students
% Black Students
1%
3%
# White Students
7,396 Students
23,358 Students
% White Students
59%
58%
# Hawaiian Students
10 Students
46 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
1,456 Students
2,036 Students
% of Two or more races Students
12%
5%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
96
174
# Students in K Grade:
902
896
# Students in 1st Grade:
888
903
# Students in 2nd Grade:
986
918
# Students in 3rd Grade:
910
750
# Students in 4th Grade:
925
793
# Students in 5th Grade:
1,011
1,598
# Students in 6th Grade:
967
9,664
# Students in 7th Grade:
910
11,058
# Students in 8th Grade:
1,003
11,237
# Students in 9th Grade:
1,253
674
# Students in 10th Grade:
982
578
# Students in 11th Grade:
867
481
# Students in 12th Grade:
785
417
# 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 Middle Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Southwest Middle School - 38
(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
| 665 students
Rank: #22.
Rapid City Online Middle School - 93
(Math: <50% | Reading: ≥50%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
625 9th St Ste 208
Rapid City, SD 57701
(605) 394-4067
Rapid City, SD 57701
(605) 394-4067
Grades: 6-8
| 16 students
Rank: #33.
West Middle School - 37
(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
| 603 students
Rank: #44.
East Middle School - 30
(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
| 611 students
Rank: #55.
South Middle School - 36
(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
| 502 students
Rank: #66.
North Middle School - 35
(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
| 480 students
Rank: #77.
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
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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