Total enrollment
1,466
+1,042 (+246%) vs SY 2020-21
Dewey County
South Dakota · Public K-12
From the largest high school to the smallest elementary school, Dewey County's 10 public schools collectively enroll about 1,466 K-12 students, with Cheyenne-Eagle Butte School the heaviest district by enrollment. By level, that breaks down as 2 elementary, 3 middle, and 3 high schools.
4-year change in Dewey County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
9
+2 (+29%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Dewey County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In South Dakota | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 1,466 | #22 of 31 | #2,500 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 9 | #26 of 31 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 9.6:1 | #1 of 31 | #75 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 83.6% | #3 of 31 | #442 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 22.2% | #21 of 30 | #2,052 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.
Dewey County school rankings
Residents
5,205
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
10
4 districts
Enrollment
1,466
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$54,104
Below South Dakota avg
Free/reduced lunch
83.6%
Above South Dakota avg
Elementary
2
270 students
Middle
3
75 students
High
3
126 students
Combined / other
2
995 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Cheyenne-Eagle Butte School
829 students · 4 districts in Dewey County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Dewey 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+
18.8%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
28.6%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
13.9%
civilian labor
Median age
28
38.3% under 18
Test scores in Dewey County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 3 schools ranked. South Dakota state average: 50.4%.
Top 3 schools (ELA)
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheyenne-Eagle Butte School | Eagle Butte | Combined | KG-12 | 829 | · |
| Timber Lake Elementary - 02 | Timber Lake | Elementary | PK-05 | 185 | · |
| Tiospaye Topa School | Laplant | Combined | KG-12 | 166 | · |
| Timber Lake High School - 01 | Timber Lake | High | 09-12 | 117 | · |
| Eagle Butte Primary - 02 | Eagle Butte | Elementary | KG-02 | 85 | · |
| Timber Lake Middle School - 03 | Timber Lake | Middle | 06-08 | 70 | · |
| Eagle Butte High School - 01 | Eagle Butte | High | 09-12 | 6 | · |
| Eagle Butte Jr. High - 06 | Eagle Butte | Middle | 07-08 | 5 | · |
| E. A. G. L. E. Center High School - 07 | Eagle Butte | High | 09-12 | 3 | · |
| E.A.G.L.E. Center - 09 | Eagle Butte | Middle | 05-08 | 0 | · |
Cities in Dewey County
About Dewey County
Across the thinly populated South Dakota county of Dewey County of about 5,205 residents, the public-school footprint covers 10 schools and about 1,466 students.
For perspective, census numbers show median household income runs near $54,104, about 19% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and roughly 29% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 23% meaningfully below the South Dakota median.
Looking at the level breakdown, Dewey County consists of 2 elementary schools (270 students), 3 middle schools (75), 3 high schools (126), and 2 combined or other schools.
Cheyenne-Eagle Butte School dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 829 students on its own.
Five-year track record. Combined enrollment now sits at 1,466 students, grew 246% from the 424 reported in SY 2020-21. The school count climbed from 7 to 9 across the same 4-year window.
On this page, the community for Dewey County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Discussions cut across districts, schools, and grade levels.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data