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Mellette County

South Dakota · Public K-12

Mellette County in South Dakota has 5 public K-12 schools in service today, collectively responsible for roughly 420 students with White River School District 47-1 the largest district. That works out to 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.

7-year change in Mellette County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
420
-11 (-3%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
4
-1 (-20%) vs SY 2017-18
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
5
2 districts
Enrollment
420
NCES CCD
Median income
$54,076
Below South Dakota avg
Free/reduced lunch
97.1%
Above South Dakota avg
Elementary
2
215 students
Middle
1
93 students
High
1
112 students
Combined / other
1
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
White River School District 47-1
420 students · 2 districts in Mellette County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Mellette 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
35%
Hispanic
1%
Black
0%
Asian
0%
Two or more
8%
Native American
56%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
12%
Hispanic
1%
Black
0%
Asian
0%
Two or more
7%
Native American
80%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
19.1%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
27.5%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
12.5%
civilian labor
Median age
38
28.7% under 18

Test scores in Mellette County

Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 2 schools ranked. South Dakota state average: 50.4%.

See all 2 schools in Mellette County ranked by score →

All schools (5)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
White River Elementary - 02White RiverElementaryPK-05172·
White River High School - 01White RiverHigh09-12112·
White River Middle School - 04White RiverMiddle06-0893·
Norris Elementary - 08NorrisElementaryKG-0543·
Wood Elementary - 05WoodCombinedM-M··

Cities in Mellette County

White River3 schoolsNorris1 schoolWood1 school

About Mellette County

In South Dakota, Mellette County is a rural-scale county of about 1,943 residents. 5 public schools across the county educates about 420 students between them.

Looking at the broader picture, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $54,076, roughly 19% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 28% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 23% meaningfully below the South Dakota median.

For a sense of the school types, Mellette County covers 2 elementary schools (215 students), 1 middle school (93), 1 high school (112), and 1 combined or other schools.

White River School District 47-1 is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 420 students across Mellette County.

Over the past 7-year window. Total public-school enrollment in Mellette County has decreased 3% since SY 2017-18, moving from about 431 students to 420. Mellette County now counts 4 public schools, down from 5 in SY 2017-18.

On allk12, the community for Mellette County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.

Frequently asked questions

How many K-12 schools serve Mellette County?
There are 5 public K-12 schools in Mellette County, South Dakota, with a combined enrollment of about 420.
How many high schools are in Mellette County?
Mellette County, South Dakota has 1 public high school, serving approximately 112 students.
How many middle schools are in Mellette County?
Mellette County, South Dakota has 1 public middle school, serving approximately 93 students.
How many elementary schools are in Mellette County?
Mellette County, South Dakota has 2 public elementary schools, serving approximately 215 students.
What is the largest school district in Mellette County?
White River School District 47-1 is the largest school district in Mellette County, serving approximately 420 students. The county contains 2 school districts overall.
What is the population of Mellette County?
Mellette County, South Dakota has a population of approximately 1,943, with a median age of 38. About 28.7% of residents are under 18.
What is the median household income in Mellette County?
Median household income in Mellette County is $54,076, below the South Dakota average of $70,004. About 27.5% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Mellette County?
Approximately 19.1% of adults 25 and older in Mellette County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Mellette County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 97.1% of students in Mellette County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is higher than the South Dakota county average of 42.3%.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Mellette County schools?
Across Mellette County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 10.5 to 1.
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data