The bulletin board for America's public schools. Parents, teachers, students, and staff. One community per school.

Union County

South Dakota · Public K-12

Union County's public schools, 14 in all, serve approximately 3,037 K-12 students inside South Dakota, with Dakota Valley School District 61-8 the largest district by enrollment. That works out to 6 elementary, 4 middle, and 4 high schools.

7-year change in Union County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
3,037
+15 (+0%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
14
+1 (+8%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
83%
was 89%
% Hispanic
9%
was 5%
% Black
1%
was 1%
% Asian
1%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
14
4 districts
Enrollment
3,037
NCES CCD
Median income
$89,636
Above South Dakota avg
Free/reduced lunch
18.7%
Below South Dakota avg
Elementary
6
1,371 students
Middle
4
702 students
High
4
964 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Dakota Valley School District 61-8
1,341 students · 4 districts in Union County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Union 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
90%
Hispanic
5%
Black
1%
Asian
1%
Two or more
6%
Native American
1%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
83%
Hispanic
9%
Black
1%
Asian
1%
Two or more
4%
Native American
2%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
37.0%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
3.8%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.0%
civilian labor
Median age
42
24.1% under 18

Test scores in Union County

Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 9 schools ranked. South Dakota state average: 50.4%.

See all 9 schools in Union County ranked by score →

All schools (14)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
Dakota Valley High School - 01North Sioux CityHigh09-12431·
Dakota Valley Elementary - 02North Sioux CityElementaryKG-03386·
Dakota Valley Middle School - 03North Sioux CityMiddle06-08345·
Elk Point-Jefferson Elementary - 02Elk PointElementaryKG-05334·
Beresford Elementary - 02BeresfordElementaryKG-05273·
Beresford High School - 01BeresfordHigh09-12222·
Elk Point-Jefferson High School - 01Elk PointHigh09-12212·
Dakota Valley Upper Elementary - 04North Sioux CityElementary04-05179·
Alcester-Hudson Elementary - 04AlcesterElementaryKG-06166·
Beresford Middle School - 03BeresfordMiddle06-08153·
Elk Point-Jefferson Middle School - 03Elk PointMiddle06-08151·
Alcester-Hudson High School - 01AlcesterHigh09-1299·
Alcester-Hudson Jr. High - 03AlcesterMiddle07-0853·
Alcester-Hudson Preschool - 05AlcesterElementaryPK-PK33·

Cities in Union County

Alcester4 schoolsNorth Sioux City4 schoolsBeresford3 schoolsElk Point3 schools

About Union County

Union County is a low-population county of about 17,081 residents in South Dakota. Its public-school system educates approximately 3,037 students across 14 schools.

Stepping back, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $89,636, 37% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate is around 4%. That income level is 28% meaningfully above the South Dakota median.

On the level-by-level breakdown, Union County covers 6 elementary schools (1,371 students), 4 middle schools (702), and 4 high schools (964).

Dakota Valley School District 61-8 is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 1,341 students across Union County.

Looking at the last 7 years. Combined enrollment now sits at 3,037 students, stayed largely flat from the 3,022 reported in SY 2017-18. Over that span, Union County gained 1 school, going from 13 to 14. Demographically, the White share of enrollment contracted from 89% to 83%.

In the discussion threads here, the community for Union County discusses enrollment trends, district policy changes, and bus-route updates. Anyone with firsthand knowledge of these schools is welcome to weigh in.

Frequently asked questions

How many public schools are in Union County?
Union County, South Dakota has 14 public K-12 schools serving approximately 3,037 students.
How many high schools are in Union County?
Union County, South Dakota has 4 public high schools, serving approximately 964 students.
How many middle schools are in Union County?
Union County, South Dakota has 4 public middle schools, serving approximately 702 students.
How many elementary schools are in Union County?
Union County, South Dakota has 6 public elementary schools, serving approximately 1,371 students.
What is the largest school district in Union County?
Dakota Valley School District 61-8 is the largest school district in Union County, serving approximately 1,341 students. The county contains 4 school districts overall.
What is the population of Union County?
Union County, South Dakota has a population of approximately 17,081, with a median age of 42. About 24.1% of residents are under 18.
What is the median household income in Union County?
Median household income in Union County is $89,636, above the South Dakota average of $70,004. About 3.8% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Union County?
Approximately 37.0% of adults 25 and older in Union County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Union County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 18.7% of students in Union 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 Union County schools?
Across Union County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 14.4 to 1.

Union County school rankings

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