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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).

7-year change in Brown County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
5,346
-243 (-4%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
21
-1 (-5%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
75%
was 82%
% Hispanic
9%
was 5%
% Black
2%
was 2%
% Asian
3%
was 3%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
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
White
85%
Hispanic
5%
Black
2%
Asian
3%
Two or more
5%
Native American
3%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
74%
Hispanic
9%
Black
2%
Asian
3%
Two or more
6%
Native American
5%
Pacific Islander
1%
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%.

See all 13 schools in Brown County ranked by score →

All schools (22)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
Central High School - 01AberdeenHigh09-121,384·
Holgate Middle School - 02AberdeenMiddle06-08497·
Simmons Middle School - 03AberdeenMiddle06-08464·
Simmons Elementary - 10AberdeenElementaryKG-05386·
C C Lee Elementary - 05AberdeenElementaryKG-05356·
May Overby Elementary - 09AberdeenElementaryKG-05327·
O M Tiffany Elementary - 11AberdeenElementaryKG-05304·
Mike Miller Elementary - 07AberdeenElementaryKG-05282·
Groton Area Elementary - 02GrotonElementaryPK-05278·
Lincoln Elementary - 08AberdeenElementaryPK-05233·
Groton Area High School - 01GrotonHigh09-12168·
Warner Elementary - 02WarnerElementaryKG-05145·
Groton Area Middle School - 04GrotonMiddle06-08132·
Frederick Area Elementary - 02FrederickElementaryPK-0598·
Warner High School - 01WarnerHigh09-1285·
Warner Middle School - 03WarnerMiddle06-0883·
Frederick High School - 01FrederickHigh09-1259·
Frederick Area Middle School - 03FrederickMiddle06-0830·
Hutterville Colony Elementary - 06StratfordElementaryKG-0816·
SDSBVI Elementary - 01AberdeenElementaryPK-0810·
SDSBVI High School - 02AberdeenHigh09-129·
New Beginnings - 89AberdeenHigh05-128·

Cities in Brown County

Aberdeen12 schoolsFrederick3 schoolsGroton3 schoolsWarner3 schoolsStratford1 school

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 7-year window, public-school enrollment decreased 4%: 5,589 students in SY 2017-18 versus 5,346 in SY 2024-25. Brown County now counts 21 public schools, down from 22 in SY 2017-18. The White share of public-school enrollment contracted from 82% to 75%.

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

How many K-12 schools serve Brown County?
There are 22 public K-12 schools in Brown County, South Dakota, with a combined enrollment of about 5,354.
How many high schools are in Brown County?
Brown County, South Dakota has 6 public high schools, serving approximately 1,713 students.
How many middle schools are in Brown County?
Brown County, South Dakota has 5 public middle schools, serving approximately 1,206 students.
How many elementary schools are in Brown County?
Brown County, South Dakota has 11 public elementary schools, serving approximately 2,435 students.
What is the largest school district in Brown County?
Aberdeen School District 06-1 is the largest school district in Brown County, serving approximately 4,241 students. The county contains 6 school districts overall.
How many people live in Brown County?
Brown County has roughly 37,877 residents according to the latest Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What is the median household income in Brown County?
Median household income in Brown County is $70,898, above the South Dakota average of $70,004. About 6.8% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Brown County?
Approximately 33.8% of adults 25 and older in Brown County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Brown County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 35.1% of students in Brown County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is lower than the South Dakota county average of 42.3%.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Brown County schools?
Across Brown County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 14.1 to 1.

Brown County school rankings

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