Total enrollment
903
-11 (-1%) vs SY 2017-18
Custer County
South Dakota · Public K-12
Custer County, South Dakota operates 8 public K-12 schools today, enrolling approximately 903 students (about 113 per campus). By level, that breaks down as 3 elementary, 2 middle, and 3 high schools.
7-year change in Custer County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
8
+1 (+14%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
86%
was 85%
% Hispanic
7%
was 7%
% Black
0%
was 1%
% Asian
0%
was 0%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
8
2 districts
Enrollment
903
NCES CCD
Median income
$84,112
Above South Dakota avg
Free/reduced lunch
30.3%
Below South Dakota avg
Elementary
3
464 students
Middle
2
149 students
High
3
290 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Custer School District 16-1
887 students · 2 districts in Custer County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Custer 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+
31.6%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
6.6%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
2.3%
civilian labor
Median age
58
13.8% under 18
Test scores in Custer County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 4 schools ranked. South Dakota state average: 50.4%.
Top 4 schools (ELA)
- Custer Jr. High - 05· 66.0%
- Custer Elementary - 02· 64.4%
- Hermosa Middle School - 07· 55.8%
- Hermosa Elementary - 04· 53.5%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Custer High School - 01 | Custer | High | 09-12 | 272 | · |
| Custer Elementary - 02 | Custer | Elementary | PK-06 | 269 | · |
| Hermosa Elementary - 04 | Hermosa | Elementary | PK-06 | 181 | · |
| Custer Jr. High - 05 | Custer | Middle | 07-08 | 101 | · |
| Hermosa Middle School - 07 | Hermosa | Middle | 07-08 | 48 | · |
| A.C.E. High Academy - 06 | Custer | High | 09-12 | 16 | · |
| Elk Mountain Elementary - 01 | Dewey | Elementary | PK-08 | 14 | · |
| Elk Mountain High School - 04 | Dewey | High | 09-12 | 2 | · |
Cities in Custer County
About Custer County
In South Dakota, Custer County is a thinly populated county of about 8,892 residents. 8 public schools across the county enrolls about 903 students between them.
Looking at the broader picture, census numbers show the median household earns about $84,112 a year, 32% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate is around 7%. That income level is 20% above the South Dakota median.
On the level-by-level breakdown, Custer County spans 3 elementary schools (464 students), 2 middle schools (149), and 3 high schools (290).
The largest single district in Custer County is Custer School District 16-1, which alone enrolls about 887 students.
Over the past 7-year window. Total public-school enrollment in Custer County has stayed largely flat since SY 2017-18, moving from about 914 students to 903. Custer County now counts 8 public schools, up from 7 in SY 2017-18.
On allk12, the community for Custer County discusses school events, board meetings, and seasonal calendars. Anyone with firsthand knowledge of these schools is welcome to weigh in.
Frequently asked questions
Custer County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data