Total enrollment
227
+40 (+21%) vs SY 2017-18
Harding County
South Dakota · Public K-12
Harding County serves about 227 K-12 students across 5 public schools, an average of roughly 45 students per campus. The level mix is 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
7-year change in Harding County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
3
-1 (-25%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
97%
was 97%
% Hispanic
0%
was 0%
% Black
0%
was 1%
% Asian
0%
was 0%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
5
1 districts
Enrollment
227
NCES CCD
Median income
$80,441
Above South Dakota avg
Free/reduced lunch
26.9%
Below South Dakota avg
Elementary
1
101 students
Middle
1
60 students
High
1
66 students
Combined / other
2
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Harding County School District 31-1
227 students · 1 district in Harding County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Harding 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+
30.4%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
4.2%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
0.9%
civilian labor
Median age
46
23.3% under 18
Test scores in Harding County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 2 schools ranked. South Dakota state average: 50.4%.
Top 2 schools (ELA)
- Harding County Middle School - 03· 61.0%
- Buffalo Elementary - 02· 50.0%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Elementary - 02 | Buffalo | Elementary | KG-05 | 101 | · |
| Harding County High School - 01 | Buffalo | High | 09-12 | 66 | · |
| Harding County Middle School - 03 | Buffalo | Middle | 06-08 | 60 | · |
| Camp Crook Elementary - 08 | Camp Crook | Combined | M-M | · | · |
| Ludlow Elementary - 06 | Ludlow | Combined | M-M | · | · |
Cities in Harding County
About Harding County
Harding County is a sparse county of about 1,148 residents in South Dakota. Its public-school system educates approximately 227 students across 5 schools.
For perspective, census numbers show median household income runs near $80,441, 30% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and roughly 4% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 15% noticeably above the South Dakota median.
On the school-mix side, Harding County covers 1 elementary school (101 students), 1 middle school (60), 1 high school (66), and 2 combined or other schools.
The largest single district in Harding County is Harding County School District 31-1, which alone enrolls about 227 students.
Looking at the last 7 years. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment increased 21%: 187 students in SY 2017-18 versus 227 in SY 2024-25. Harding County now counts 3 public schools, down from 4 in SY 2017-18.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Harding County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data