Top Rankings
Custer School District 16-1 ranks among the top 20% of public school district in South Dakota for:
Category
Attribute
Science Proficiency
Highest science proficiency (Top 20%)
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 5%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2026-27 school year, there are 2 public elementary schools serving 450 students in Custer School District 16-1. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 6/10, which is in the top 50% of public elementary schools in South Dakota.
Public Elementary Schools in Custer School District 16-1 have an average math proficiency score of 51% (versus the South Dakota public elementary school average of 43%), and reading proficiency score of 46% (versus the 49% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 13% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the South Dakota public elementary school average of 36% (majority American Indian).
Overview
This School District
This State (SD)
# Schools
6 Schools
494 Schools
# Students
887 Students
101,278 Students
# Teachers
76 Teachers
7,454 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
12:1
12:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Custer School District 16-1, which is ranked within the top 50% of all 146 school districts in South Dakota (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 92% has decreased from 95% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#77 out of 148 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
47%
42%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
51%
51%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
52%
42%
Graduation Rate
92%
82%
Chronically Absent Students
(2022-23)13.8%
22.5%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.26
0.56
% American Indian
3%
16%
% Asian
n/a
2%
% Hispanic
7%
9%
% Black
n/a
3%
% White
86%
64%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
4%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $15,804 is higher than the state median of $13,055. The school district revenue/student has grown by 11% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $22,147 is higher than the state median of $12,560. The school district spending/student has grown by 63% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$14 MM
$1,916 MM
Spending
$20 MM
$1,844 MM
Revenue / Student
$15,804
$13,055
Spending / Student
$22,147
$12,560
Best Custer School District 16-1 Public Elementary Schools (2026-27)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Custer Elementary - 02
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1415 Wildcat Ln
Custer, SD 57730
(605) 673-4483
Custer, SD 57730
(605) 673-4483
Gr: PK-6 | 269 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 16%
Rank: #22.
Hermosa Elementary - 04
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
11 4th St
Hermosa, SD 57744
(605) 255-4345
Hermosa, SD 57744
(605) 255-4345
Gr: PK-6 | 181 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 9%
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