Aurora Plains Academy High School - 05

Aurora Plains Academy High School - 05 is a secondary school of minimally staffed scale in Plankinton, South Dakota, operated by Plankinton School District 01-1, caters to 10 students in grades 9 through 12. Compared to the state average of about 225 students per school, that is 96% smaller than typical.

Plankinton School District 01-1 comprises 7 schools with combined enrollment of 291 students; Aurora Plains Academy High School - 05 is among them.

In terms of who attends, Aurora Plains Academy High School - 05 logs that 70% of the student body identifies as White. Other groups include 20% Black, 10% Native American. That is meaningfully less White than the county at large, where the share is closer to 87%.

Looking at the economic backdrop, Staff filings list 3 full-time-equivalent teachers, which works out to roughly 3.0:1 students per teacher. The state averages around 20.6:1, so this campus is tighter than the state norm typical. Around 30% of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, often used as a Title I proxy.

In the surrounding community, the surrounding county (Aurora County) shows that median household earnings sit near $72,885, roughly 21% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 8% of residents live below the federal poverty line. In all, Aurora County runs 11 public schools (combined enrollment of about 566 students), of which Aurora Plains Academy High School - 05 is one.

Dakota Reach - 06 is the nearest neighboring public school, about 0.0 miles from this campus. 6 of the 8 nearest public schools sit inside a five-mile radius.

Geographically, the school is in a countryside area.

Looking at the recent track record. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at Aurora Plains Academy High School - 05 has declined 70%, going from 33 students in 2018 to 10 in 2025. White enrollment moved from 33% to 70% across the same window. Class-load math has narrowed: from 5.4:1 in 2018 to 3.0:1 in 2025.

Inside the community feed, posts here usually surface around science fair prep, picture-day reminders, and bus-route questions. Contributors range from current parents to recent graduates and teachers.