Total enrollment
3,395
+13 (+0%) vs SY 2020-21
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.
4-year change in Meade County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
15
-1 (-6%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Meade County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In South Dakota | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 49.0% | #13 of 22 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 3,395 | #9 of 31 | #1,713 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 15 | #11 of 31 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 14.0:1 | #20 of 31 | #1,367 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 32.3% | #21 of 31 | #2,350 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 26.6% | #18 of 30 | #1,917 of 2,707 |
Counties need at least 3 schools and 1,000 students to be ranked. Test proficiency is ranked within the state only, since each state gives a different test. Each rank links to the full list.
Meade County school rankings
Residents
30,546
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
16
4 districts
Enrollment
3,395
students · 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
School enrollment
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%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Piedmont Valley Elementary - 05· 52.4%
- Sturgis Williams Middle School - 02· 51.7%
- Stagebarn Middle School - 10· 50.2%
- Faith Elementary - 02· 50.0%
- Sturgis Elementary - 03· 46.5%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Black Hawk Elementary - 03· 41.2%
- Sturgis Elementary - 03· 46.5%
- Faith Elementary - 02· 50.0%
- Stagebarn Middle School - 10· 50.2%
- Sturgis Williams Middle School - 02· 51.7%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sturgis Brown High School - 01 | Sturgis | High | 09-12 | 845 | · |
| Sturgis Elementary - 03 | Sturgis | Elementary | KG-04 | 531 | · |
| Piedmont Valley Elementary - 05 | Piedmont | Elementary | KG-04 | 514 | · |
| Sturgis Williams Middle School - 02 | Sturgis | Middle | 05-08 | 490 | · |
| Stagebarn Middle School - 10 | Summerset | Middle | 05-08 | 432 | · |
| Black Hawk Elementary - 03 | Black Hawk | Elementary | KG-05 | 305 | · |
| Faith High School - 01 | Faith | High | 09-12 | 77 | · |
| Faith Elementary - 02 | Faith | Elementary | PK-06 | 69 | · |
| Central Meade County School - 09 | Union Center | Elementary | KG-08 | 49 | · |
| Faith Jr. High - 06 | Faith | Middle | 07-08 | 18 | · |
| Maurine Elementary - 04 | Faith | Elementary | KG-08 | 17 | · |
| Hereford Elementary - 08 | Hereford | Elementary | KG-08 | 13 | · |
| Opal Elementary - 15 | Opal | Elementary | KG-08 | 13 | · |
| Atall Elementary - 17 | Union Center | Elementary | KG-08 | 12 | · |
| Elm Springs Elementary - 13 | Wasta | Elementary | KG-08 | 10 | · |
| Developmental Disabilities Program - 01 | Sturgis | Combined | PK-12 | 0 | · |
Cities in Meade County
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 4-year window. Combined enrollment now sits at 3,395 students, remained close to its prior level from the 3,382 reported in SY 2020-21. Meade County now counts 15 public schools, down from 16 in SY 2020-21.
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
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data