Total enrollment
326
-27 (-8%) vs SY 2017-18
Potter County
South Dakota · Public K-12
Potter County sits inside South Dakota and runs 6 public K-12 schools, enrolling about 326 students. Gettysburg School District 53-1 alone accounts for 214 of those students. That works out to 2 elementary, 2 middle, and 2 high schools.
7-year change in Potter County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
6
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
89%
was 90%
% Hispanic
5%
was 3%
% Black
1%
was 1%
% Asian
0%
was 0%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
6
2 districts
Enrollment
326
NCES CCD
Median income
$72,045
Above South Dakota avg
Free/reduced lunch
26.7%
Below South Dakota avg
Elementary
2
157 students
Middle
2
68 students
High
2
101 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Gettysburg School District 53-1
214 students · 2 districts in Potter County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Potter 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+
27.2%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
3.2%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
2.6%
civilian labor
Median age
50
20.4% under 18
Test scores in Potter County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 3 schools ranked. South Dakota state average: 50.4%.
Top 3 schools (ELA)
- Gettysburg Elementary - 02· 65.4%
- Gettysburg Middle School - 03· 61.1%
- Hoven Elementary - 02· 56.8%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gettysburg Elementary - 02 | Gettysburg | Elementary | KG-05 | 88 | · |
| Gettysburg High School - 01 | Gettysburg | High | 09-12 | 72 | · |
| Hoven Elementary - 02 | Hoven | Elementary | PK-06 | 69 | · |
| Gettysburg Middle School - 03 | Gettysburg | Middle | 06-08 | 54 | · |
| Hoven High School - 01 | Hoven | High | 09-12 | 29 | · |
| Hoven Jr. High - 03 | Hoven | Middle | 07-08 | 14 | · |
Cities in Potter County
About Potter County
Across the thinly populated South Dakota county of Potter County of about 2,388 residents, the public-school footprint covers 6 schools and about 326 students.
Looking at the broader picture, census numbers show median household income runs near $72,045, about 27% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and roughly 3% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
In terms of grade levels, Potter County consists of 2 elementary schools (157 students), 2 middle schools (68), and 2 high schools (101).
Gettysburg School District 53-1 dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 214 students on its own.
Trend over the past 7 years. Total public-school enrollment in Potter County has contracted 8% since SY 2017-18, moving from about 353 students to 326.
On this page, the community for Potter County discusses school events, board meetings, and seasonal calendars. Parents, students, and educators in the area can post or comment.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data