Rapid City Area School District 51-4

625 9th St Ste 208
Rapid City, SD 57701
(District boundaries shown in map)
3/
10
Bottom 50%

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 preschools serving 1,598 students in Rapid City Area School District 51-4. This district's average pre testing ranking is 1/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public pre schools in South Dakota.
Public Preschools in Rapid City Area School District 51-4 have an average math proficiency score of 27% (versus the South Dakota public pre school average of 45%), and reading proficiency score of 32% (versus the 45% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 52% of the student body (majority American Indian), which is more than the South Dakota public preschool average of 34% (majority American Indian and Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (SD)
# Schools
29 Schools
146 Schools
# Students
12,485 Students
30,673 Students
# Teachers
802 Teachers
2,365 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.
This School District
State Average (SD)
#109 out of 148 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
This chart displays the overall district rank of Rapid City Area School District 51-4, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
36%
42%
This chart displays the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Rapid City Area School District 51-4 and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of South Dakota by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
46%
51%
This chart displays the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Rapid City Area School District 51-4 and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of South Dakota by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
38%
42%
This chart displays the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of Rapid City Area School District 51-4 and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of South Dakota by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
70%
82%
This chart displays public school graduation rate of Rapid City Area School District 51-4 and public school graduation rate of South Dakota by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.

Students by Ethnicity:

0.60
0.54
# American Indian Students
2,069 Students
4,061 Students
% American Indian Students
17%
13%
# Asian Students
155 Students
393 Students
% Asian Students
1%
1%
# Hispanic Students
1,272 Students
2,670 Students
% Hispanic Students
10%
9%
# Black Students
127 Students
1,561 Students
% Black Students
1%
5%
# White Students
7,396 Students
20,183 Students
% White Students
59%
66%
# Hawaiian Students
10 Students
34 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
1,456 Students
1,771 Students
% of Two or more races Students
12%
6%

Students by Grade:

# Students in PK Grade:
96
3,169
# Students in K Grade:
902
5,257
# Students in 1st Grade:
888
4,537
# Students in 2nd Grade:
986
4,500
# Students in 3rd Grade:
910
4,204
# Students in 4th Grade:
925
4,421
# Students in 5th Grade:
1,011
3,746
# Students in 6th Grade:
967
451
# Students in 7th Grade:
910
182
# Students in 8th Grade:
1,003
206
# Students in 9th Grade:
1,253
-
# Students in 10th Grade:
982
-
# Students in 11th Grade:
867
-
# Students in 12th Grade:
785
-
# 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.
This School District
This State (SD)
Total Revenue
$158 MM
$1,916 MM
This chart displays total revenue of Rapid City Area School District 51-4 and median value from total revenues of all school districts in South Dakota by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Spending
$146 MM
$1,844 MM
This chart displays total spending of Rapid City Area School District 51-4 and median value from total spendings of all school districts in South Dakota by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Revenue / Student
$12,642
$13,121
This chart displays average revenue per public school student in Rapid City Area School District 51-4 and average revenue per public school student of all school districts in South Dakota by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Spending / Student
$11,662
$12,623
This chart displays average spending per public school student in Rapid City Area School District 51-4 and average spending per public school student of all school districts in South Dakota by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.

Best Rapid City Area School District 51-4 Public Preschools (2025)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Rapid Valley Elementary - 12
(Math: 42% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
2601 Covington St
Rapid City, SD 57703
(605) 393-2221
Grades: PK-5
| 487 students
Rank: #22.
Canyon Lake Elementary - 04
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
1500 Evergreen Dr
Rapid City, SD 57702
(605) 394-1817
Grades: PK-5
| 297 students
Rank: #33.
Robbinsdale Elementary - 14
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
424 E Indiana St
Rapid City, SD 57701
(605) 394-1825
Grades: PK-5
| 324 students
Rank: #44.
General Beadle Elementary - 01
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
10 Van Buren St
Rapid City, SD 57701
(605) 394-1841
Grades: PK-5
| 441 students
Rank: #55.
Jefferson Building - 64
Special Education School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 45-49% )
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
21 St Joseph St
Rapid City, SD 57701
(605) 394-1813
Grades: PK-12
| 35 students
Rank: n/an/a
1500 Evergreen Dr
Rapid City, SD 57702
(605) 394-1817
Grades: K
| 14 students

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Quick Stats (2025)

  • District size: 29 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 12,485 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 16:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 41%
  • : 70% (Btm 50% in SD)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 36% (Btm 50%)
  • : 46% (Btm 50%)
  • : 38% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), SD Dept. of Education

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