Total enrollment
566
-42 (-7%) vs SY 2017-18
Aurora County
South Dakota · Public K-12
Public-school enrollment in Aurora County clocks in around 566 students across 11 schools (3 elementary, 4 middle, and 4 high).
7-year change in Aurora County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
11
+2 (+22%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
80%
was 82%
% Hispanic
15%
was 12%
% Black
1%
was 2%
% Asian
0%
was 0%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Residents
2,642
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
11
3 districts
Enrollment
566
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$72,885
Above South Dakota avg
Free/reduced lunch
34.1%
Below South Dakota avg
Elementary
3
344 students
Middle
4
88 students
High
4
134 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Plankinton School District 01-1
291 students · 3 districts in Aurora County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Aurora County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
21.4%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
7.8%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
1.2%
civilian labor
Median age
42
25.5% under 18
Test scores in Aurora County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 3 schools ranked. South Dakota state average: 50.4%.
Top 3 schools (ELA)
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corsica-Stickney Elementary - 02 | Stickney | Elementary | PK-05 | 150 | · |
| Plankinton Elementary - 02 | Plankinton | Elementary | PK-05 | 132 | · |
| Plankinton High School - 01 | Plankinton | High | 09-12 | 86 | · |
| White Lake Elementary - 02 | White Lake | Elementary | PK-05 | 62 | · |
| Plankinton Middle School - 03 | Plankinton | Middle | 06-08 | 49 | · |
| White Lake High School - 01 | White Lake | High | 09-12 | 33 | · |
| White Lake Middle School - 03 | White Lake | Middle | 06-08 | 30 | · |
| Aurora Plains Academy High School - 05 | Plankinton | High | 09-12 | 10 | · |
| Aurora Plains Academy Middle School - 04 | Plankinton | Middle | 04-08 | 7 | · |
| Dakota Reach - 06 | Plankinton | High | 09-12 | 5 | · |
| Dakota Reach Middle School - 07 | Plankinton | Middle | 05-08 | 2 | · |
Cities in Aurora County
About Aurora County
In South Dakota, Aurora County is a rural-scale county of about 2,642 residents. 11 public schools across the county serves about 566 students between them.
Looking at the broader picture, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $72,885, about 21% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and roughly 8% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
In terms of grade levels, Aurora County is built around 3 elementary schools (344 students), 4 middle schools (88), and 4 high schools (134).
Plankinton School District 01-1 dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 291 students on its own.
Looking at the last 7 years. Total public-school enrollment in Aurora County has contracted 7% since SY 2017-18, moving from about 608 students to 566. The school count climbed from 9 to 11 across the same 7-year window.
On allk12, the community for Aurora County discusses school events, board meetings, and seasonal calendars. Parents, students, and educators in the area can post or comment.
Frequently asked questions
Aurora County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data