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Meade County

South Dakota · Public K-12

In Meade County, 16 public K-12 schools make up the local education system, comprising 10 elementary, 3 middle, and 2 high. Combined enrollment is about 3,395 students.

7-year change in Meade County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
3,395
+80 (+2%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
15
-2 (-12%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
85%
was 86%
% Hispanic
5%
was 4%
% Black
0%
was 1%
% Asian
1%
was 0%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
16
4 districts
Enrollment
3,395
NCES CCD
Median income
$74,790
Above South Dakota avg
Free/reduced lunch
32.3%
Below South Dakota avg
Elementary
10
1,533 students
Middle
3
940 students
High
2
922 students
Combined / other
1
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Meade School District 46-1
2,909 students · 4 districts in Meade County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Meade 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
86%
Hispanic
5%
Black
2%
Asian
1%
Two or more
8%
Native American
2%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
85%
Hispanic
5%
Black
0%
Asian
1%
Two or more
6%
Native American
3%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
27.8%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
4.0%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.2%
civilian labor
Median age
37
21.2% under 18

Test scores in Meade County

Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 6 schools ranked. South Dakota state average: 50.4%.

See all 6 schools in Meade County ranked by score →

All schools (16)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
Sturgis Brown High School - 01SturgisHigh09-12845·
Sturgis Elementary - 03SturgisElementaryKG-04531·
Piedmont Valley Elementary - 05PiedmontElementaryKG-04514·
Sturgis Williams Middle School - 02SturgisMiddle05-08490·
Stagebarn Middle School - 10SummersetMiddle05-08432·
Black Hawk Elementary - 03Black HawkElementaryKG-05305·
Faith High School - 01FaithHigh09-1277·
Faith Elementary - 02FaithElementaryPK-0669·
Central Meade County School - 09Union CenterElementaryKG-0849·
Faith Jr. High - 06FaithMiddle07-0818·
Maurine Elementary - 04FaithElementaryKG-0817·
Hereford Elementary - 08HerefordElementaryKG-0813·
Opal Elementary - 15OpalElementaryKG-0813·
Atall Elementary - 17Union CenterElementaryKG-0812·
Elm Springs Elementary - 13WastaElementaryKG-0810·
Developmental Disabilities Program - 01SturgisCombinedPK-120·

Cities in Meade County

Faith4 schoolsSturgis4 schoolsUnion Center2 schoolsBlack Hawk1 schoolHereford1 schoolOpal1 schoolPiedmont1 schoolSummerset1 schoolWasta1 school

About Meade County

Meade County is a compact South Dakota county of about 30,546 residents, home to 16 public schools and roughly 3,395 students.

Looking at the wider area, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $74,790, roughly 28% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the federal-poverty share is near 4%. That income level is 7% higher than the South Dakota median.

For a sense of the school types, Meade County comprises 10 elementary schools (1,533 students), 3 middle schools (940), 2 high schools (922), and 1 combined or other schools.

Meade School District 46-1 is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 2,909 students across Meade County.

Over the past 7-year window. Combined enrollment now sits at 3,395 students, remained close to its prior level from the 3,315 reported in SY 2017-18. Meade County now counts 15 public schools, down from 17 in SY 2017-18.

On this page, the community for Meade County discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Discussions cut across districts, schools, and grade levels.

Frequently asked questions

How many public schools are in Meade County?
Meade County, South Dakota has 16 public K-12 schools serving approximately 3,395 students.
How many high schools are in Meade County?
Meade County, South Dakota has 2 public high schools, serving approximately 922 students.
How many middle schools are in Meade County?
Meade County, South Dakota has 3 public middle schools, serving approximately 940 students.
How many elementary schools are in Meade County?
Meade County, South Dakota has 10 public elementary schools, serving approximately 1,533 students.
What is the largest school district in Meade County?
Meade School District 46-1 is the largest school district in Meade County, serving approximately 2,909 students. The county contains 4 school districts overall.
What is the population of Meade County?
Meade County, South Dakota has a population of approximately 30,546, with a median age of 37. About 21.2% of residents are under 18.
What is the median household income in Meade County?
Median household income in Meade County is $74,790, above the South Dakota average of $70,004. About 4.0% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Meade County?
Approximately 27.8% of adults 25 and older in Meade County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Meade County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 32.3% of students in Meade 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 Meade County schools?
Across Meade County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 14.4 to 1.

Meade County school rankings

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