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Yankton County

South Dakota · Public K-12

Of the public K-12 schools operating across South Dakota, 11 sit inside Yankton County, collectively enrolling roughly 3,321 students (7 elementary, 2 middle, and 2 high).

7-year change in Yankton County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
3,321
+124 (+4%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
10
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
77%
was 84%
% Hispanic
12%
was 7%
% Black
1%
was 1%
% Asian
1%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
11
3 districts
Enrollment
3,321
NCES CCD
Median income
$72,821
Above South Dakota avg
Free/reduced lunch
34.0%
Below South Dakota avg
Elementary
7
1,645 students
Middle
2
658 students
High
2
1,018 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Yankton School District 63-3
3,021 students · 3 districts in Yankton County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Yankton 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
88%
Hispanic
6%
Black
2%
Asian
0%
Two or more
6%
Native American
3%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
77%
Hispanic
12%
Black
1%
Asian
1%
Two or more
6%
Native American
4%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
31.4%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
7.6%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
1.4%
civilian labor
Median age
43
21.2% under 18

Test scores in Yankton County

Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 7 schools ranked. South Dakota state average: 50.4%.

See all 7 schools in Yankton County ranked by score →

All schools (11)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
Yankton High School - 01YanktonHigh09-12923·
Yankton Middle School - 02YanktonMiddle06-08608·
Lincoln Elementary - 04YanktonElementaryKG-05416·
Beadle Elementary - 03YanktonElementaryKG-05412·
Webster Elementary - 06YanktonElementaryPK-05391·
Stewart Elementary - 05YanktonElementaryKG-05271·
Gayville-Volin Elementary - 02GayvilleElementaryPK-05136·
Gayville-Volin High School - 01GayvilleHigh09-1295·
Gayville-Volin Middle School - 03GayvilleMiddle06-0850·
Jamesville Colony Elementary - 03UticaElementaryKG-0819·
Trailhead Learning CenterYanktonElementaryM-M··

Cities in Yankton County

Yankton7 schoolsGayville3 schoolsUtica1 school

About Yankton County

Yankton County is a rural-scale South Dakota county of about 23,414 residents, home to 11 public schools and roughly 3,321 students.

Zooming out, census numbers show median household income runs near $72,821, roughly 31% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the federal-poverty share is near 8%.

Looking at the level breakdown, Yankton County is made up of 7 elementary schools (1,645 students), 2 middle schools (658), and 2 high schools (1,018).

Yankton School District 63-3 dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 3,021 students on its own.

Over the past 7-year window. Combined enrollment now sits at 3,321 students, grew 4% from the 3,197 reported in SY 2017-18. On the demographic side, White enrollment moved from 84% to 77% over the same window.

On this page, the community for Yankton County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Discussions cut across districts, schools, and grade levels.

Frequently asked questions

How many public schools are in Yankton County?
Yankton County, South Dakota has 11 public K-12 schools serving approximately 3,321 students.
How many high schools are in Yankton County?
Yankton County, South Dakota has 2 public high schools, serving approximately 1,018 students.
How many middle schools are in Yankton County?
Yankton County, South Dakota has 2 public middle schools, serving approximately 658 students.
How many elementary schools are in Yankton County?
Yankton County, South Dakota has 7 public elementary schools, serving approximately 1,645 students.
What is the largest school district in Yankton County?
Yankton School District 63-3 is the largest school district in Yankton County, serving approximately 3,021 students. The county contains 3 school districts overall.
How many people live in Yankton County?
Yankton County has roughly 23,414 residents according to the latest Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What is the median household income in Yankton County?
Median household income in Yankton County is $72,821, above the South Dakota average of $70,004. About 7.6% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Yankton County?
Approximately 31.4% of adults 25 and older in Yankton County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Yankton County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 34.0% of students in Yankton 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 Yankton County schools?
Across Yankton County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 16.9 to 1.

Yankton County school rankings

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