Total enrollment
5,346
-249 (-4%) vs SY 2020-21
Brown County
South Dakota · Public K-12
Parents in Brown County researching K-12 options have 22 public schools to consider, with combined enrollment near 5,354 (11 elementary, 5 middle, and 6 high).
4-year change in Brown County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
21
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Brown County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In South Dakota | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 49.6% | #11 of 22 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 5,354 | #4 of 31 | #1,259 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 22 | #4 of 31 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 13.2:1 | #16 of 31 | #978 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 35.1% | #15 of 31 | #2,265 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 42.8% | #9 of 30 | #1,386 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.
Brown County school rankings
Residents
37,877
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
22
6 districts
Enrollment
5,354
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$70,898
Above South Dakota avg
Free/reduced lunch
35.1%
Below South Dakota avg
Elementary
11
2,435 students
Middle
5
1,206 students
High
6
1,713 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Aberdeen School District 06-1
4,241 students · 6 districts in Brown County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Brown 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+
33.8%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
6.8%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.3%
civilian labor
Median age
38
23.6% under 18
Test scores in Brown County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 13 schools ranked. South Dakota state average: 50.4%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Warner Elementary - 02· 87.3%
- Warner Middle School - 03· 75.9%
- Groton Area Elementary - 02· 69.2%
- C C Lee Elementary - 05· 66.0%
- Holgate Middle School - 02· 63.2%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Mike Miller Elementary - 07· 37.4%
- O M Tiffany Elementary - 11· 41.6%
- May Overby Elementary - 09· 43.2%
- Simmons Middle School - 03· 46.4%
- Simmons Elementary - 10· 47.1%
Cities in Brown County
About Brown County
Across the rural-scale South Dakota county of Brown County of about 37,877 residents, the public-school footprint covers 22 schools and about 5,354 students.
Stepping back, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $70,898, roughly 34% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the poverty rate is around 7%.
Looking at the level breakdown, Brown County covers 11 elementary schools (2,435 students), 5 middle schools (1,206), and 6 high schools (1,713).
Aberdeen School District 06-1 is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 4,241 students across Brown County.
Five-year track record. Across the same 4-year window, public-school enrollment decreased 4%: 5,595 students in SY 2020-21 versus 5,346 in SY 2024-25.
On allk12, the community for Brown 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
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data