Total enrollment
1,155
-53 (-4%) vs SY 2020-21
Spink County
South Dakota · Public K-12
Spink County reports 22 public K-12 schools and roughly 1,155 students enrolled, per NCES, with a mix of 8 elementary, 6 middle, and 8 high.
4-year change in Spink County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
19
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Spink County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In South Dakota | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 1,155 | #28 of 31 | #2,662 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 19 | #6 of 31 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 11.0:1 | #7 of 31 | #299 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 24.0% | #25 of 31 | #2,471 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 18.0% | #27 of 30 | #2,229 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.
Spink County school rankings
Residents
6,219
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
22
4 districts
Enrollment
1,155
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$70,139
Above South Dakota avg
Free/reduced lunch
24.0%
Below South Dakota avg
Elementary
8
554 students
Middle
6
188 students
High
8
413 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Redfield School District 56-4
523 students · 4 districts in Spink County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Spink 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+
28.2%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
5.1%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
1.3%
civilian labor
Median age
46
21.1% under 18
Test scores in Spink County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 5 schools ranked. South Dakota state average: 50.4%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Northwestern Middle School - 02· 66.7%
- Northwestern Elementary - 04· 55.3%
- Redfield Elementary - 03· 49.5%
- Doland Elementary - 03· 48.5%
- Redfield Middle School - 02· 40.0%
Cities in Spink County
About Spink County
Spink County is a low-population county of about 6,219 residents in South Dakota. Its public-school system enrolls approximately 1,155 students across 22 schools.
Zooming out, census numbers show median household income runs near $70,139, 28% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and roughly 5% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
On the school-mix side, Spink County spans 8 elementary schools (554 students), 6 middle schools (188), and 8 high schools (413).
Redfield School District 56-4 is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 523 students across Spink County.
Five-year track record. Combined enrollment now sits at 1,155 students, decreased 4% from the 1,208 reported in SY 2020-21.
Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Spink County discusses enrollment trends, district policy changes, and bus-route updates. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data