Total enrollment
3,544
+294 (+9%) vs SY 2020-21
Beadle County
South Dakota · Public K-12
Beadle County reports 17 public K-12 schools to NCES, against a population of 19,309, with an average school size of 208 students. By level, that breaks down as 9 elementary, 3 middle, and 5 high schools.
4-year change in Beadle County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
16
+2 (+14%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Beadle County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In South Dakota | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 34.9% | #22 of 22 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 3,544 | #8 of 31 | #1,669 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 16 | #9 of 31 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 16.3:1 | #29 of 31 | #2,131 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 62.0% | #6 of 31 | #1,019 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 66.2% | #1 of 30 | #262 of 2,707 |
Counties need at least 3 schools and 1,000 students to be ranked. Test proficiency is ranked within the state only, since each state gives a different test. Each rank links to the full list.
Beadle County school rankings
Residents
19,309
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
17
5 districts
Enrollment
3,544
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$67,681
Below South Dakota avg
Free/reduced lunch
62.0%
Above South Dakota avg
Elementary
9
1,710 students
Middle
3
804 students
High
5
1,030 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Huron School District 02-2
3,078 students · 5 districts in Beadle County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Beadle 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+
27.2%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
7.0%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
1.9%
civilian labor
Median age
38
28.0% under 18
Test scores in Beadle County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 7 schools ranked. South Dakota state average: 50.4%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huron High School - 01 | Huron | High | 09-12 | 852 | · |
| Huron Middle School - 02 | Huron | Middle | 06-08 | 716 | · |
| Madison 2-3 Center - 19 | Huron | Elementary | 02-03 | 474 | · |
| Buchanan K-1 Center - 18 | Huron | Elementary | KG-01 | 467 | · |
| Washington 4-5 Center - 20 | Huron | Elementary | 04-05 | 453 | · |
| Wolsey Wessington Elementary - 02 | Wolsey | Elementary | PK-05 | 145 | · |
| Hitchcock-Tulare Elementary - 05 | Hitchcock | Elementary | PK-06 | 116 | · |
| Wolsey Wessington High School - 01 | Wolsey | High | 09-12 | 96 | · |
| Wolsey Wessington Middle School - 03 | Wolsey | Middle | 06-08 | 75 | · |
| Huron Virtual High School - 92 | Huron | High | 09-12 | 53 | · |
| Our Home ASAP - 12 | Huron | High | 05-12 | 23 | · |
| Shamrock Colony Elementary - 05 | Carpenter | Elementary | KG-08 | 21 | · |
| Riverside Colony Elementary - 15 | Huron | Elementary | KG-08 | 18 | · |
| Huron Colony Elementary - 13 | Huron | Elementary | KG-08 | 16 | · |
| Pearl Creek Colony Elementary - 05 | Iroquois | Middle | 04-08 | 13 | · |
| Our Home Rediscovery - 77 | Huron | High | 05-12 | 6 | · |
| McKinley Learning Center - 05 | Huron | Elementary | PK-PK | 0 | · |
Cities in Beadle County
About Beadle County
Across the low-population South Dakota county of Beadle County of about 19,309 residents, the public-school footprint covers 17 schools and about 3,544 students.
Stepping back, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $67,681, about 27% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the federal-poverty share is near 7%.
On the school-mix side, Beadle County spans 9 elementary schools (1,710 students), 3 middle schools (804), and 5 high schools (1,030).
Huron School District 02-2 dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 3,078 students on its own.
Over the past 4-year window. Total public-school enrollment in Beadle County has climbed 9% since SY 2020-21, moving from about 3,250 students to 3,544. Over that span, Beadle County gained 2 schools, going from 14 to 16.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Beadle County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Discussions cut across districts, schools, and grade levels.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data