Total enrollment
602
-42 (-7%) vs SY 2017-18
Hanson County
South Dakota · Public K-12
Across all districts in Hanson County, public schools number 10 and enroll approximately 602 K-12 students (5 elementary, 2 middle, and 3 high).
7-year change in Hanson County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
10
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
93%
was 95%
% Hispanic
2%
was 2%
% Black
1%
was 1%
% Asian
0%
was 0%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Residents
3,472
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
10
3 districts
Enrollment
602
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$81,071
Above South Dakota avg
Free/reduced lunch
23.6%
Below South Dakota avg
Elementary
5
220 students
Middle
2
156 students
High
3
226 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Hanson School District 30-1
384 students · 3 districts in Hanson County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Hanson 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+
22.5%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
4.7%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
1.8%
civilian labor
Median age
38
28.7% under 18
Test scores in Hanson County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 3 schools ranked. South Dakota state average: 50.4%.
Top 3 schools (ELA)
- Hanson Middle School - 02· 76.5%
- Hanson Elementary - 06· 67.7%
- Bridgewater-Emery Middle School - 04· 58.8%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hanson Elementary - 06 | Alexandria | Elementary | PK-05 | 151 | · |
| Hanson High School - 01 | Alexandria | High | 09-12 | 122 | · |
| Bridgewater-Emery High School - 01 | Emery | High | 09-12 | 100 | · |
| Bridgewater-Emery Middle School - 04 | Emery | Middle | 06-08 | 85 | · |
| Hanson Middle School - 02 | Alexandria | Middle | 06-08 | 71 | · |
| Oaklane Colony Elementary - 05 | Alexandria | Elementary | KG-08 | 30 | · |
| Rosedale Colony Elementary - 11 | Mitchell | Elementary | KG-08 | 21 | · |
| Rockport Colony Elementary- 10 | Alexandria | Elementary | KG-08 | 12 | · |
| Millbrook Colony Elementary - 04 | Mitchell | Elementary | KG-08 | 6 | · |
| Hanson Colony Alternative High School - 07 | Mitchell | High | 09-12 | 4 | · |
Cities in Hanson County
About Hanson County
Hanson County is a sparse South Dakota county of about 3,472 residents, home to 10 public schools and roughly 602 students.
Looking at the wider area, census numbers show the median household earns about $81,071 a year, about 23% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the federal-poverty share is near 5%. That income level is 16% above the South Dakota median.
Looking at the level breakdown, Hanson County spans 5 elementary schools (220 students), 2 middle schools (156), and 3 high schools (226).
The largest single district in Hanson County is Hanson School District 30-1, which alone enrolls about 384 students.
Looking at the last 7 years. Total public-school enrollment in Hanson County has fell 7% since SY 2017-18, moving from about 644 students to 602.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Hanson County discusses school events, board meetings, and seasonal calendars. Parents, students, and educators in the area can post or comment.
Frequently asked questions
Hanson County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data