Custer Jr. High - 05

Located at 1645 Wildcat Ln, in Custer, South Dakota, Custer Jr. High - 05 is a modestly sized middle school that serves 101 students (grades 7 through 8), one of the schools within Custer School District 16-1. Compared to the state average of about 187 students per school, that is 46% below typical.

Within Custer School District 16-1, which oversees 6 schools and 887 students, Custer Jr. High - 05 is one campus in the system.

In terms of who attends, Custer Jr. High - 05 lists that nearly all students (88%) are White; the rest looks like 7% Native American, 4% Hispanic. That composition is broadly in line with Custer County as a whole.

Looking at the economic backdrop, On paper, Custer Jr. High - 05 has 8 full-time-equivalent teachers, translating to a class-load average of around 13.4:1. That tracks the state average closely. Roughly 28% of students at Custer Jr. High - 05 qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a number frequently used as a low-income enrollment indicator.

With demographic context factored in, Custer Jr. High - 05 sits in the middle band of the BeatsExpectations distribution. Schools with this campus's student mix typically land near 51.7%; this one delivers 60.7%.

Around the school, ACS estimates for Custer County put the typical household earns roughly $84,112 per year, about 32% of the adult population holds a bachelor's degree or above, and census figures put the poverty rate at about 7%. Across Custer County's 8 public schools (combined enrollment of about 903 students), Custer Jr. High - 05 is one campus in the mix.

The closest other public school is Custer High School - 01, roughly 0.0 miles away. Counting just inside five miles, 3 other public schools cluster around Custer Jr. High - 05. Ranking that nearby cluster on reported proficiency puts Custer Jr. High - 05 at 1st of 6; the average score across the group is 46.2%.

Geographically, the school is in a low-density area.

Looking at the recent track record. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at Custer Jr. High - 05 has contracted 6%, going from 108 students in 2018 to 101 in 2025.

In the discussion threads here, posts here usually surface around science fair prep, picture-day reminders, and bus-route questions. Contributors range from current parents to recent graduates and teachers.