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%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 2 public high schools serving 281 students in Custer School District 16-1. This district's average high testing ranking is 6/10, which is in the top 50% of public high schools in South Dakota.
Public High Schools in Custer School District 16-1 have an average math proficiency score of 37% (versus the South Dakota public high school average of 40%), and reading proficiency score of 77% (versus the 63% statewide average).
Public High School in Custer School District 16-1 have a Graduation Rate of 77%, which is less than the South Dakota average of 81%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Custer High School - 01, with 75-79% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in South Dakota or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 16% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the South Dakota public high school average of 35% (majority American Indian).
Overview
This School District
This State (SD)
# Schools
6 Schools
218 Schools
# Students
906 Students
47,000 Students
# Teachers
75 Teachers
3,332 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
12:1
12:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Custer School District 16-1, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 146 school districts in South Dakota (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 75-79% has decreased from 90% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#89 out of 148 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
41%
42%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
51%
51%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
52%
42%
Graduation Rate
75-79%
82%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.27
0.54
% American Indian
2%
19%
% Asian
1%
1%
% Hispanic
7%
7%
% Black
n/a
3%
% White
85%
65%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
5%
5%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $15,472 is higher than the state median of $13,121. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $21,682 is higher than the state median of $12,623. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$14 MM
$1,916 MM
Spending
$20 MM
$1,844 MM
Revenue / Student
$15,472
$13,121
Spending / Student
$21,682
$12,623
Best Custer School District 16-1 Public High Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Custer High School - 01
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1645 Wildcat Ln
Custer, SD 57730
(605) 673-4473
Custer, SD 57730
(605) 673-4473
Grades: 9-12
| 262 students
Rank: #22.
A.c.e. High Academy - 06
Alternative School
(Math: ≥50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
527 Montgomery St
Custer, SD 57730
(605) 673-4473
Custer, SD 57730
(605) 673-4473
Grades: 9-12
| 19 students
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