Total enrollment
180
-5 (-3%) vs SY 2017-18
Jones County
South Dakota · Public K-12
Of the 3 public K-12 schools in Jones County, the largest district by enrollment is Jones County School District 37-3 (180 students). Total county enrollment runs around 180. The level mix is 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
7-year change in Jones County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
3
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
80%
was 77%
% Hispanic
1%
was 3%
% Black
0%
was 1%
% Asian
0%
was 0%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
3
1 districts
Enrollment
180
NCES CCD
Median income
$65,119
Below South Dakota avg
Free/reduced lunch
56.1%
Above South Dakota avg
Elementary
1
74 students
Middle
1
57 students
High
1
49 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Jones County School District 37-3
180 students · 1 district in Jones County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Jones 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+
27.4%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
14.3%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
2.1%
civilian labor
Median age
34
31.8% under 18
Test scores in Jones County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 1 schools ranked. South Dakota state average: 50.4%.
Top 1 schools (ELA)
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jones County Elementary - 02 | Murdo | Elementary | KG-04 | 74 | · |
| Jones County Middle School - 04 | Murdo | Middle | 05-08 | 57 | · |
| Jones County High School - 01 | Murdo | High | 09-12 | 49 | · |
Cities in Jones County
About Jones County
Jones County is a sparse South Dakota county of about 1,004 residents, home to 3 public schools and roughly 180 students.
In context, census numbers show median household income runs near $65,119, 27% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and roughly 14% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 7% noticeably below the South Dakota median.
On the school-mix side, Jones County covers 1 elementary school (74 students), 1 middle school (57), and 1 high school (49).
The largest single district in Jones County is Jones County School District 37-3, which alone enrolls about 180 students.
Over the past 7-year window. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment fell 3%: 185 students in SY 2017-18 versus 180 in SY 2024-25.
Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Jones County discusses sports rivalries, cross-district programs, and shared facilities. Discussions cut across districts, schools, and grade levels.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data