Total enrollment
345
-13 (-4%) vs SY 2020-21
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.
4-year change in McPherson County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
10
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
McPherson County school rankings
Residents
2,145
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
10
3 districts
Enrollment
345
students · 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 4 years. Total public-school enrollment in McPherson County has declined 4% since SY 2020-21, moving from about 358 students to 345.
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
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data