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Lincoln County

South Dakota · Public K-12

Lincoln County reports 26 public K-12 schools to NCES, against a population of 70,638, with an average school size of 405 students. The level mix is 13 elementary, 7 middle, and 5 high schools.

7-year change in Lincoln County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
10,530
+2,277 (+28%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
25
+5 (+25%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
83%
was 91%
% Hispanic
5%
was 3%
% Black
3%
was 2%
% Asian
2%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Residents
70,638
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
26
5 districts
Enrollment
10,530
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$99,166
Above South Dakota avg
Free/reduced lunch
18.4%
Below South Dakota avg
Elementary
13
4,744 students
Middle
7
2,612 students
High
5
3,165 students
Combined / other
1
9 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Harrisburg School District 41-2
6,222 students · 5 districts in Lincoln County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Lincoln 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
90%
Hispanic
3%
Black
2%
Asian
2%
Two or more
5%
Native American
1%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
83%
Hispanic
5%
Black
3%
Asian
1%
Two or more
5%
Native American
2%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
44.4%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
4.1%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
1.7%
civilian labor
Median age
36
26.5% under 18

Test scores in Lincoln County

Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 19 schools ranked. South Dakota state average: 50.4%.

See all 19 schools in Lincoln County ranked by score →

All schools (26)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
Harrisburg High School - 01HarrisburgHigh09-121,806·
Tea Area High School - 03TeaHigh09-12717·
Tea Area Middle School - 02TeaMiddle06-08583·
Liberty Elementary - 02HarrisburgElementaryPK-05559·
Tea Area Legacy Elementary - 01TeaElementaryKG-05538·
Harrisburg North Middle School - 08Sioux FallsMiddle06-08534·
Harrisburg South Middle School - 03HarrisburgMiddle06-08519·
Horizon Elementary - 09Sioux FallsElementaryPK-05458·
Freedom Elementary - 06HarrisburgElementaryKG-05442·
Adventure Elementary - 10Sioux FallsElementaryKG-05440·
Harrisburg East Middle School - 11Sioux FallsMiddle06-08428·
Lawrence Elementary - 02CantonElementaryKG-05411·
Tea Area Venture Elementary - 06TeaElementaryKG-05379·
Lennox Elementary - 02LennoxElementaryPK-04362·
Endeavor Elementary - 07Sioux FallsElementaryPK-05358·
Lennox High School - 01LennoxHigh09-12357·
Journey Elementary - 05Sioux FallsElementaryKG-05340·
Explorer Elementary - 04Sioux FallsElementaryKG-05338·
Canton High School - 01CantonHigh09-12283·
Canton Middle School - 04CantonMiddle06-08194·
Lennox Intermediate - 09LennoxMiddle05-06185·
Lennox Jr. High - 08LennoxMiddle07-08169·
Worthing Elementary - 05WorthingElementaryPK-04119·
Avera Behavioral Health Program - 82Sioux FallsCombinedKG-129·
Avera Adolescent Addiction Care Program - 81Sioux FallsHigh06-122·
Tea Area Preschool - 07TeaElementaryPK-PK0·

Cities in Lincoln County

Sioux Falls9 schoolsTea5 schoolsHarrisburg4 schoolsLennox4 schoolsCanton3 schoolsWorthing1 school

About Lincoln County

In South Dakota, Lincoln County is a middle-population county of about 70,638 residents. 26 public schools across the county educates about 10,530 students between them.

Looking at the broader picture, census numbers show median household income runs near $99,166, 44% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the federal-poverty share is near 4%. That income level is 42% higher than the South Dakota median.

In terms of grade levels, Lincoln County spans 13 elementary schools (4,744 students), 7 middle schools (2,612), 5 high schools (3,165), and 1 combined or other schools.

Harrisburg School District 41-2 is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 6,222 students across Lincoln County.

Looking at the last 7 years. Combined enrollment now sits at 10,530 students, climbed 28% from the 8,253 reported in SY 2017-18. Lincoln County now counts 25 public schools, up from 20 in SY 2017-18. The White share of public-school enrollment declined from 91% to 83%.

Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Lincoln County discusses school events, board meetings, and seasonal calendars. Members of the local community share what they see day-to-day.

Frequently asked questions

How many public schools are in Lincoln County?
Lincoln County, South Dakota has 26 public K-12 schools serving approximately 10,530 students.
How many high schools are in Lincoln County?
Lincoln County, South Dakota has 5 public high schools, serving approximately 3,165 students.
How many middle schools are in Lincoln County?
Lincoln County, South Dakota has 7 public middle schools, serving approximately 2,612 students.
How many elementary schools are in Lincoln County?
Lincoln County, South Dakota has 13 public elementary schools, serving approximately 4,744 students.
What is the largest school district in Lincoln County?
Harrisburg School District 41-2 is the largest school district in Lincoln County, serving approximately 6,222 students. The county contains 5 school districts overall.
What is the population of Lincoln County?
Lincoln County, South Dakota has a population of approximately 70,638, with a median age of 36. About 26.5% of residents are under 18.
What is the median household income in Lincoln County?
Median household income in Lincoln County is $99,166, above the South Dakota average of $70,004. About 4.1% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Lincoln County?
Approximately 44.4% of adults 25 and older in Lincoln County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Lincoln County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 18.4% of students in Lincoln 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 Lincoln County schools?
Across Lincoln County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 14.9 to 1.

Lincoln County school rankings

Largest schoolsAll rankings →
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data