Total enrollment
461
+105 (+29%) vs SY 2017-18
Jerauld County
South Dakota · Public K-12
Jerauld County, South Dakota hosts 7 public K-12 schools and around 461 students, averaging roughly 66 per campus. Wessington Springs School District 36-2 runs the largest share. By grade band, the county runs 3 elementary, 2 middle, and 2 high schools.
7-year change in Jerauld County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
7
+1 (+17%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
92%
was 95%
% Hispanic
4%
was 4%
% Black
0%
was 0%
% Asian
0%
was 0%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Residents
1,772
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
7
1 districts
Enrollment
461
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$73,750
Above South Dakota avg
Free/reduced lunch
21.4%
Below South Dakota avg
Elementary
3
166 students
Middle
2
63 students
High
2
232 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Wessington Springs School District 36-2
461 students · 1 district in Jerauld County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Jerauld 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+
21.3%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
6.2%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
1.7%
civilian labor
Median age
47
22.8% under 18
Test scores in Jerauld County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 2 schools ranked. South Dakota state average: 50.4%.
Top 2 schools (ELA)
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wessington Springs Elementary - 02 | Wessington Springs | Elementary | PK-06 | 145 | · |
| Wessington Springs High School Cyber School - 92 | Wessington Springs | High | 09-12 | 138 | · |
| Wessington Springs High School - 01 | Wessington Springs | High | 09-12 | 94 | · |
| Wessington Springs Jr. High - 04 | Wessington Springs | Middle | 07-08 | 41 | · |
| Wessington Springs Middle School Cyber School - 93 | Wessington Springs | Middle | 07-08 | 22 | · |
| Spring Valley Colony Elementary - 05 | Wessington Springs | Elementary | KG-08 | 16 | · |
| Wessington Springs Elementary Cyber School - 94 | Wessington Springs | Elementary | KG-06 | 5 | · |
Cities in Jerauld County
About Jerauld County
Across the small South Dakota county of Jerauld County of about 1,772 residents, the public-school footprint covers 7 schools and about 461 students.
Looking at the wider area, census numbers show the median household earns about $73,750 a year, roughly 21% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the federal-poverty share is near 6%. That income level is 5% noticeably above the South Dakota median.
For a sense of the school types, Jerauld County is built around 3 elementary schools (166 students), 2 middle schools (63), and 2 high schools (232).
Wessington Springs School District 36-2 is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 461 students across Jerauld County.
Looking at the last 7 years. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment climbed 29%: 356 students in SY 2017-18 versus 461 in SY 2024-25. The school count climbed from 6 to 7 across the same 7-year window. Demographically, the White share of enrollment shrank from 95% to 92%.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Jerauld County discusses school events, board meetings, and seasonal calendars. Discussions cut across districts, schools, and grade levels.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data