Top Rankings
Spearfish School District 40-2 ranks among the top 20% of public school district in South Dakota for:
Category
Attribute
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 20%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 8 public schools serving 2,433 students in Spearfish School District 40-2. This district's average testing ranking is 7/10, which is in the top 50% of public schools in South Dakota.
Public Schools in Spearfish School District 40-2 have an average math proficiency score of 50% (versus the South Dakota public school average of 43%), and reading proficiency score of 55% (versus the 51% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 14% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the South Dakota public school average of 33% (majority American Indian).
Overview
This School District
This State (SD)
# Schools
8 Schools
734 Schools
# Students
2,433 Students
146,041 Students
# Teachers
174 Teachers
10,645 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
14:1
14:1
District Rank
Spearfish School District 40-2, which is ranked within the top 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 85-89% has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#51 out of 148 school districts
(Top 50%)
(Top 50%)

Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
49%
42%

Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
55%
51%

Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
50%
42%

Graduation Rate
85-89%
82%

Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.25
0.53
# American Indian Students
59 Students
20,873 Students
% American Indian Students
2%
14%
# Asian Students
31 Students
2,252 Students
% Asian Students
1%
2%
# Hispanic Students
115 Students
11,917 Students
% Hispanic Students
5%
8%
# Black Students
19 Students
4,730 Students
% Black Students
1%
3%
# White Students
2,104 Students
97,780 Students
% White Students
87%
67%
# Hawaiian Students
3 Students
197 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
102 Students
8,292 Students
% of Two or more races Students
4%
6%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
-
3,175
# Students in K Grade:
166
11,936
# Students in 1st Grade:
158
10,796
# Students in 2nd Grade:
190
10,955
# Students in 3rd Grade:
175
10,445
# Students in 4th Grade:
175
10,671
# Students in 5th Grade:
169
10,790
# Students in 6th Grade:
178
10,961
# Students in 7th Grade:
202
11,058
# Students in 8th Grade:
200
11,237
# Students in 9th Grade:
188
12,230
# Students in 10th Grade:
217
11,381
# Students in 11th Grade:
223
10,546
# Students in 12th Grade:
192
9,860
# Ungraded Students:
-
-
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $11,091 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 $10,151 is less than the state median of $12,623. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$27 MM
$1,916 MM

Spending
$25 MM
$1,844 MM

Revenue / Student
$11,091
$13,121

Spending / Student
$10,151
$12,623

Best Spearfish School District 40-2 Public Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Spearfish High School - 01
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1725 N Main
Spearfish, SD 57783
(605) 717-1212
Spearfish, SD 57783
(605) 717-1212
Grades: 9-12
| 771 students
Rank: #22.
Creekside Elementary - 07
(Math: 54% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
2325 N Ave
Spearfish, SD 57783
(605) 717-1210
Spearfish, SD 57783
(605) 717-1210
Grades: 3-5
| 519 students
Rank: #33.
Black Hills Education Connections - 06
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
2910 4th Ave
Spearfish, SD 57783
(605) 642-8286
Spearfish, SD 57783
(605) 642-8286
Grades: 10-12
| 31 students
Rank: #44.
Spearfish Academy At Canyon Hills Elementary - 09
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
2519 Windmill Dr
Spearfish, SD 57783
(605) 717-1229
Spearfish, SD 57783
(605) 717-1229
Grades: 4-8
| 7 students
Rank: #55.
Spearfish Middle School - 05
(Math: 45% | Reading: 52%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
1600 N Canyon
Spearfish, SD 57783
(605) 717-1215
Spearfish, SD 57783
(605) 717-1215
Grades: 6-8
| 573 students
Rank: n/an/a
400 E Hudson
Spearfish, SD 57783
(605) 717-1209
Spearfish, SD 57783
(605) 717-1209
Grades: K
| 166 students
Rank: n/an/a
Spearfish Academy At Canyon Hills High School - 10
Alternative School
2519 Windmill Dr
Spearfish, SD 57783
(605) 717-1229
Spearfish, SD 57783
(605) 717-1229
Grades: 9-12
| 18 students
Rank: n/an/a
920 W King St
Spearfish, SD 57783
(605) 717-1205
Spearfish, SD 57783
(605) 717-1205
Grades: 1-2
| 348 students
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools belong to Spearfish School District 40-2?
Spearfish School District 40-2 manages 8 public schools serving 2,433 students.
What is the rank of Spearfish School District 40-2?
Spearfish School District 40-2 is ranked #49 out of 146 school districts in South Dakota (top 50%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2021-2022 school year. This district ranks in the top 20% of South Dakota school districts for: Highest graduation rate (Top 20%) and Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
What is the racial composition of students in Spearfish School District 40-2?
87% of Spearfish School District 40-2 students are White, 5% of students are Hispanic, 4% of students are Two or more races, 2% of students are American Indian, 1% of students are Asian, and 1% of students are Black.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Spearfish School District 40-2?
Spearfish School District 40-2 has a student/teacher ratio of 14:1, which is equal to the South Dakota state average of 14:1.
What is Spearfish School District 40-2's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $10,151 is less than the state median of $12,623. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
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