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Hand County

South Dakota · Public K-12

South Dakota's Hand County runs 5 public K-12 schools between its districts, the largest being Miller School District 29-4 at 483 students. The level mix is 3 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.

4-year change in Hand County

SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
483
+60 (+14%) vs SY 2020-21
School count
4
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Residents
3,140
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
5
2 districts
Enrollment
483
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$74,635
Above South Dakota avg
Free/reduced lunch
20.0%
Below South Dakota avg
Elementary
3
268 students
Middle
1
74 students
High
1
141 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Miller School District 29-4
483 students · 2 districts in Hand County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Hand 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
92%
Hispanic
2%
Black
1%
Asian
0%
Two or more
2%
Native American
1%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
93%
Hispanic
5%
Black
1%
Asian
0%
Two or more
0%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
1%
Bachelor's+
28.4%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
1.2%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
0.8%
civilian labor
Median age
43
25.3% under 18

Test scores in Hand County

Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 2 schools ranked. South Dakota state average: 50.4%.

Top 2 schools (ELA)
  1. Miller Jr. High - 04· 67.1%
  2. Miller Elementary - 02· 64.9%

See all 2 schools in Hand County ranked by score →

All schools (5)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
Miller Elementary - 02MillerElementaryKG-06231·
Miller High School - 01MillerHigh09-12141·
Miller Jr. High - 04MillerMiddle07-0874·
Millerdale Colony Elementary - 11MillerElementaryKG-0837·
Miller Skillbuilders PK - 05MillerElementaryPK-PK0·

Cities in Hand County

Miller5 schools

About Hand County

In South Dakota, Hand County is a sparse county of about 3,140 residents. 5 public schools across the county hosts about 483 students between them.

In context, census numbers show the median household earns about $74,635 a year, about 28% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the poverty rate is around 1%. That income level is 7% above the South Dakota median.

In terms of grade levels, Hand County consists of 3 elementary schools (268 students), 1 middle school (74), and 1 high school (141).

The largest single district in Hand County is Miller School District 29-4, which alone enrolls about 483 students.

Five-year track record. Total public-school enrollment in Hand County has expanded 14% since SY 2020-21, moving from about 423 students to 483.

Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Hand County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Discussions cut across districts, schools, and grade levels.

Frequently asked questions

How many public schools are in Hand County?
Hand County, South Dakota has 5 public K-12 schools serving approximately 483 students.
How many high schools are in Hand County?
Hand County, South Dakota has 1 public high school, serving approximately 141 students.
How many middle schools are in Hand County?
Hand County, South Dakota has 1 public middle school, serving approximately 74 students.
How many elementary schools are in Hand County?
Hand County, South Dakota has 3 public elementary schools, serving approximately 268 students.
What is the largest school district in Hand County?
Miller School District 29-4 is the largest school district in Hand County, serving approximately 483 students. The county contains 2 school districts overall.
What is the population of Hand County?
Hand County, South Dakota has a population of approximately 3,140, with a median age of 43. About 25.3% of residents are under 18.
What is the median household income in Hand County?
Median household income in Hand County is $74,635, above the South Dakota average of $70,004. About 1.2% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Hand County?
Approximately 28.4% of adults 25 and older in Hand County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Hand County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 20.0% of students in Hand 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 Hand County schools?
Across Hand County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 13.4 to 1.
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data