| Vital Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Public schools | 734 |
| Public school teachers | 9,245 |
| Pre-K-12 students | 125,537 |
| Annual pre-K-12 expenditures | $0.9 billion |
| Minority students | 15.1% |
| Children in poverty | 15% |
| Students with disabilities | 13.6% |
| English-language learners | 3.6% |
Summary of Grades
South Dakota scores above average in only one of the four graded policy categories in Quality Counts.
Performing near the national average in standards and accountability, the state could improve on its assessment and accountability measures. For example, South Dakota does not sanction or provide assistance to all low-performing schools or reward high-performing or improving schools. However, South Dakota receives high marks for its academic standards.
South Dakota receives its lowest grade in teacher quality, ranking near the bottom in the nation. There is room from improvement on teacher assessments and accountability for teacher quality. For example, prospective teachers are not required to pass tests of basic skills or subject-specific pedagogy to earn an initial license.
South Dakota scores about average in school climate. In the area of school safety, the state loses points because it lacks specific penalties for incidents of school violence. It also is one of only 10 states without a charter school law.
The state posts an above-average score in resource equity. Its score on the wealth-neutrality measure indicates that poorer districts in the state tend to have higher per-pupil funding levels than do wealthier districts. South Dakota is one of only 10 states in which this pattern is found.
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| Quality Counts Grading Breakdown | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Note: Details may not sum to totals due to rounding.
