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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.

7-year change in Beadle County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
3,544
+454 (+15%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
16
+2 (+14%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
46%
was 55%
% Hispanic
31%
was 22%
% Black
1%
was 2%
% Asian
18%
was 18%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
17
5 districts
Enrollment
3,544
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
White
72%
Hispanic
15%
Black
1%
Asian
10%
Two or more
9%
Native American
2%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
46%
Hispanic
31%
Black
1%
Asian
17%
Two or more
3%
Native American
1%
Pacific Islander
1%
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%.

See all 7 schools in Beadle County ranked by score →

All schools (17)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
Huron High School - 01HuronHigh09-12852·
Huron Middle School - 02HuronMiddle06-08716·
Madison 2-3 Center - 19HuronElementary02-03474·
Buchanan K-1 Center - 18HuronElementaryKG-01467·
Washington 4-5 Center - 20HuronElementary04-05453·
Wolsey Wessington Elementary - 02WolseyElementaryPK-05145·
Hitchcock-Tulare Elementary - 05HitchcockElementaryPK-06116·
Wolsey Wessington High School - 01WolseyHigh09-1296·
Wolsey Wessington Middle School - 03WolseyMiddle06-0875·
Huron Virtual High School - 92HuronHigh09-1253·
Our Home ASAP - 12HuronHigh05-1223·
Shamrock Colony Elementary - 05CarpenterElementaryKG-0821·
Riverside Colony Elementary - 15HuronElementaryKG-0818·
Huron Colony Elementary - 13HuronElementaryKG-0816·
Pearl Creek Colony Elementary - 05IroquoisMiddle04-0813·
Our Home Rediscovery - 77HuronHigh05-126·
McKinley Learning Center - 05HuronElementaryPK-PK0·

Cities in Beadle County

Huron11 schoolsWolsey3 schoolsCarpenter1 schoolHitchcock1 schoolIroquois1 school

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 7-year window. Total public-school enrollment in Beadle County has climbed 15% since SY 2017-18, moving from about 3,090 students to 3,544. Over that span, Beadle County gained 2 schools, going from 14 to 16. Demographically, the Hispanic share of enrollment rose from 22% to 31%.

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

How many public schools are in Beadle County?
Beadle County, South Dakota has 17 public K-12 schools serving approximately 3,544 students.
How many high schools are in Beadle County?
Beadle County, South Dakota has 5 public high schools, serving approximately 1,030 students.
How many middle schools are in Beadle County?
Beadle County, South Dakota has 3 public middle schools, serving approximately 804 students.
How many elementary schools are in Beadle County?
Beadle County, South Dakota has 9 public elementary schools, serving approximately 1,710 students.
What is the largest school district in Beadle County?
Huron School District 02-2 is the largest school district in Beadle County, serving approximately 3,078 students. The county contains 5 school districts overall.
What is the population of Beadle County?
Beadle County, South Dakota has a population of approximately 19,309, with a median age of 38. About 28.0% of residents are under 18.
What is the median household income in Beadle County?
Median household income in Beadle County is $67,681, below the South Dakota average of $70,004. About 7.0% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Beadle County?
Approximately 27.2% of adults 25 and older in Beadle County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Beadle County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 62.0% of students in Beadle County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is higher than the South Dakota county average of 42.3%.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Beadle County schools?
Across Beadle County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 23.4 to 1.

Beadle County school rankings

Largest schoolsAll rankings →
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data