Total enrollment
4,921
+267 (+6%) vs SY 2017-18
Brookings County
South Dakota · Public K-12
Public-school families in Brookings County pick from 21 schools serving the county's roughly 4,921 K-12 students, with a mix of 11 elementary, 5 middle, and 5 high.
7-year change in Brookings County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
20
+2 (+11%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
80%
was 84%
% Hispanic
9%
was 5%
% Black
2%
was 2%
% Asian
2%
was 3%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
21
4 districts
Enrollment
4,921
NCES CCD
Median income
$70,064
Above South Dakota avg
Free/reduced lunch
20.5%
Below South Dakota avg
Elementary
11
2,354 students
Middle
5
1,052 students
High
5
1,515 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Brookings School District 05-1
3,546 students · 4 districts in Brookings County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Brookings 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+
42.5%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
5.2%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.7%
civilian labor
Median age
28
21.1% under 18
Test scores in Brookings County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 10 schools ranked. South Dakota state average: 50.4%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Dakota Prairie Elementary - 07· 62.2%
- Sioux Valley Elementary - 02· 60.2%
- Sioux Valley Middle School - 04· 59.4%
- Medary Elementary - 05· 50.7%
- Camelot Intermediate - 06· 50.3%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Elkton Jr. High - 03· 27.4%
- Hillcrest Elementary - 04· 36.9%
- Elkton Elementary - 02· 42.6%
- Deubrook Jr. High - 02· 45.7%
- George S. Mickelson Middle School - 02· 50.1%
Cities in Brookings County
About Brookings County
Across the compact South Dakota county of Brookings County of about 35,353 residents, the public-school footprint covers 21 schools and about 4,921 students.
Looking at the wider area, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $70,064, roughly 43% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the federal-poverty share is near 5%.
In terms of grade levels, Brookings County comprises 11 elementary schools (2,354 students), 5 middle schools (1,052), and 5 high schools (1,515).
Brookings School District 05-1 is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 3,546 students across Brookings County.
Five-year track record. Total public-school enrollment in Brookings County has increased 6% since SY 2017-18, moving from about 4,654 students to 4,921. The school count climbed from 18 to 20 across the same 7-year window. On the demographic side, Hispanic enrollment moved from 5% to 9% over the same window.
On this page, the community for Brookings County discusses enrollment trends, district policy changes, and bus-route updates. Members of the local community share what they see day-to-day.
Frequently asked questions
Brookings County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data