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Davison County

South Dakota · Public K-12

Public K-12 enrollment in Davison County totals about 3,137 students across 13 schools, an average of 241 per campus. Mitchell School District 17-2 is the largest district. By level, that breaks down as 6 elementary, 3 middle, and 4 high schools.

7-year change in Davison County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
3,137
-94 (-3%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
13
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
79%
was 84%
% Hispanic
10%
was 5%
% Black
1%
was 1%
% Asian
1%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Residents
19,952
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
13
3 districts
Enrollment
3,137
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$66,208
Below South Dakota avg
Free/reduced lunch
37.6%
Below South Dakota avg
Elementary
6
1,385 students
Middle
3
675 students
High
4
1,077 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Mitchell School District 17-2
2,595 students · 3 districts in Davison County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Davison 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
90%
Hispanic
5%
Black
1%
Asian
1%
Two or more
4%
Native American
4%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
79%
Hispanic
10%
Black
1%
Asian
1%
Two or more
4%
Native American
6%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
22.6%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
6.7%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
0.9%
civilian labor
Median age
40
23.6% under 18

Test scores in Davison County

Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 8 schools ranked. South Dakota state average: 50.4%.

See all 8 schools in Davison County ranked by score →

All schools (13)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
Mitchell High School - 01MitchellHigh09-12879·
Mitchell Middle School - 02MitchellMiddle06-08578·
L. B. Williams Elementary - 03MitchellElementaryKG-05438·
Gertie Belle Rogers Elementary - 04MitchellElementaryKG-05379·
Longfellow Elementary - 05MitchellElementaryKG-05290·
Ethan Elementary - 02EthanElementaryPK-06155·
Mount Vernon Elementary - 02Mount VernonElementaryPK-05110·
Ethan High School - 01EthanHigh09-1293·
Mount Vernon High School- 01Mount VernonHigh09-1287·
Mount Vernon Middle School - 03Mount VernonMiddle06-0858·
Ethan Jr. High - 03EthanMiddle07-0839·
Abbott House High School - 07MitchellHigh09-1218·
Abbott House Elementary - 06MitchellElementaryKG-0813·

Cities in Davison County

Mitchell7 schoolsEthan3 schoolsMount Vernon3 schools

About Davison County

In South Dakota, Davison County is a rural-scale county of about 19,952 residents. 13 public schools across the county educates about 3,137 students between them.

For perspective, census numbers show median household income runs near $66,208, roughly 23% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the poverty rate is around 7%. That income level is 5% noticeably below the South Dakota median.

On the school-mix side, Davison County covers 6 elementary schools (1,385 students), 3 middle schools (675), and 4 high schools (1,077).

Mitchell School District 17-2 dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 2,595 students on its own.

Trend over the past 7 years. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment declined 3%: 3,231 students in SY 2017-18 versus 3,137 in SY 2024-25. Demographically, the White share of enrollment declined from 84% to 79%.

On this page, the community for Davison County discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.

Frequently asked questions

How many K-12 schools serve Davison County?
There are 13 public K-12 schools in Davison County, South Dakota, with a combined enrollment of about 3,137.
How many high schools are in Davison County?
Davison County, South Dakota has 4 public high schools, serving approximately 1,077 students.
How many middle schools are in Davison County?
Davison County, South Dakota has 3 public middle schools, serving approximately 675 students.
How many elementary schools are in Davison County?
Davison County, South Dakota has 6 public elementary schools, serving approximately 1,385 students.
What is the largest school district in Davison County?
Mitchell School District 17-2 is the largest school district in Davison County, serving approximately 2,595 students. The county contains 3 school districts overall.
What is the population of Davison County?
Davison County, South Dakota has a population of approximately 19,952, with a median age of 40. About 23.6% of residents are under 18.
What is the median household income in Davison County?
Median household income in Davison County is $66,208, below the South Dakota average of $70,004. About 6.7% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Davison County?
Approximately 22.6% of adults 25 and older in Davison County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Davison County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 37.6% of students in Davison 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 Davison County schools?
Across Davison County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 14.1 to 1.

Davison County school rankings

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