Dell Rapids School District 49-3

1216 N Garfield Ave
Dell Rapids, SD 57022
(District boundaries shown in map)
10/
10
Top 10%

Top Rankings

Dell Rapids School District 49-3 ranks among the top 20% of public school district in South Dakota for:

Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Highest overall rank (Top 10%)
Math Proficiency
Highest math proficiency (Top 20%)
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 10%)
Science Proficiency
Highest science proficiency (Top 10%)
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 10%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2026 school year, there is 1 public middle school serving 295 students in Dell Rapids School District 49-3. This district's average middle testing ranking is 10/10, which is in the top 10% of public middle schools in South Dakota.
Public Middle School in Dell Rapids School District 49-3 have an average math proficiency score of 63% (versus the South Dakota public middle school average of 39%), and reading proficiency score of 62% (versus the 49% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 7% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the South Dakota public middle school average of 42% (majority American Indian).

Overview

This School District
This State (SD)
# Schools
3 Schools
293 Schools
# Students
965 Students
39,762 Students
# Teachers
65 Teachers
2,944 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
15:1
15:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Dell Rapids School District 49-3, which is ranked within the top 10% 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 87% has decreased from 90-94% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (SD)
#11 out of 148 school districts
(Top 10%)
62%
42%
66%
51%
55%
42%
87%
82%
(2022-23)
11.2%
22.5%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.16
0.60
% American Indian
1%
26%
% Asian
n/a
1%
% Hispanic
4%
7%
% Black
n/a
3%
% White
92%
58%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
3%
5%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $13,171 is higher than the state median of $13,054. The school district revenue/student has grown by 11% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $13,794 is higher than the state median of $12,558. The school district spending/student has grown by 11% over four school years.
This School District
This State (SD)
Total Revenue
$13 MM
$1,916 MM
Spending
$13 MM
$1,844 MM
Revenue / Student
$13,171
$13,054
Spending / Student
$13,794
$12,558

Best Dell Rapids School District 49-3 Public Middle Schools (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Dell Rapids Middle School - 03
(Math: 63% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
1216 N Garfield Ave
Dell Rapids, SD 57022
(605) 428-5473
Gr: 5-8 | 295 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 7%

Recent Articles

How to Read a School Improvement Plan Before Choosing a School
How to Read a School Improvement Plan Before Choosing a School
Learn how to read a school improvement plan, identify meaningful goals, and evaluate whether a school's improvement efforts align with your child's educational needs.
Should You Move for a Better Public School? A Cost vs. Benefit Analysis
Should You Move for a Better Public School? A Cost vs. Benefit Analysis
Considering a move to a better public school? Explore the financial, academic, and lifestyle tradeoffs before making one of your family's biggest decisions.
When a Higher-Rated School Isn't the Better Fit
When a Higher-Rated School Isn't the Better Fit
Discover why the highest-rated public school may not always be the best choice and learn how to evaluate schools based on your child's unique needs.

Quick Facts (2026)

  • District size: 3 schools
  • Grades: K-12
  • Enrollment: 965 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 15:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 9%
  • : 87% (Top 10% in SD)
  • : Top 10%
  • : 62% (Top 20%)
  • : 66% (Top 10%)
  • : 55% (Top 10%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), SD Dept. of Education

Quick Links