Total enrollment
345
-27 (-7%) vs SY 2017-18
McPherson County
South Dakota · Public K-12
Public education in McPherson County reaches 345 students across 10 schools. Leola School District 44-2 is the largest district at 170 students. By level, that breaks down as 5 elementary, 2 middle, and 3 high schools.
7-year change in McPherson County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
10
+1 (+11%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
88%
was 96%
% Hispanic
2%
was 1%
% Black
0%
was 0%
% Asian
0%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
10
3 districts
Enrollment
345
NCES CCD
Median income
$66,906
Below South Dakota avg
Free/reduced lunch
43.9%
Above South Dakota avg
Elementary
5
205 students
Middle
2
48 students
High
3
92 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Leola School District 44-2
170 students · 3 districts in McPherson County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of McPherson 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+
26.5%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
6.6%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
1.1%
civilian labor
Median age
50
19.3% under 18
Test scores in McPherson County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 1 schools ranked. South Dakota state average: 50.4%.
Top 1 schools (ELA)
- Eureka Elementary - 02· 57.1%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eureka Elementary - 02 | Eureka | Elementary | PK-06 | 94 | · |
| Leola Elementary - 02 | Leola | Elementary | PK-05 | 57 | · |
| Eureka High School - 01 | Eureka | High | 09-12 | 43 | · |
| Leola High School - 01 | Leola | High | 09-12 | 38 | · |
| Long Lake Colony Elementary - 05 | Wetonka | Elementary | KG-08 | 30 | · |
| Eureka Jr. High - 03 | Eureka | Middle | 07-08 | 26 | · |
| Leola Jr. High - 03 | Leola | Middle | 06-08 | 22 | · |
| Boulder Colony School - 06 | Hosmer | Elementary | KG-08 | 12 | · |
| Grassland Colony Elementary - 06 | Westport | Elementary | KG-08 | 12 | · |
| Leola Alternative School - 07 | Leola | High | 09-12 | 11 | · |
Cities in McPherson County
About McPherson County
McPherson County is a sparse South Dakota county of about 2,145 residents, home to 10 public schools and roughly 345 students.
Zooming out, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $66,906, about 27% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and roughly 7% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
Looking at the level breakdown, McPherson County consists of 5 elementary schools (205 students), 2 middle schools (48), and 3 high schools (92).
Leola School District 44-2 dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 170 students on its own.
Trend over the past 7 years. Total public-school enrollment in McPherson County has declined 7% since SY 2017-18, moving from about 372 students to 345. The school count climbed from 9 to 10 across the same 7-year window. The White share of public-school enrollment contracted from 96% to 88%.
In the discussion threads here, the community for McPherson County discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Members of the local community share what they see day-to-day.
Frequently asked questions
McPherson County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data