Mclaughlin School District 15-2

601 S Main St
Mclaughlin, SD 57642
(District boundaries shown in map)
1/
10
Bottom 50%

Top Rankings

Mclaughlin School District 15-2 ranks among the top 20% of public school district in South Dakota for:

Category
Attribute
Student Attention
Lowest student-teacher ratio (Top 1%)
For the 2026 school year, there are 3 public schools serving 427 students in Mclaughlin School District 15-2. This district's average testing ranking is 1/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public schools in South Dakota.
Public Schools in Mclaughlin School District 15-2 have an average math proficiency score of 6% (versus the South Dakota public school average of 43%), and reading proficiency score of 9% (versus the 51% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 99% of the student body (majority American Indian), which is more than the South Dakota public school average of 33% (majority American Indian).

Overview

This School District
This State (SD)
# Schools
3 Schools
729 Schools
# Students
427 Students
145,763 Students
# Teachers
46 Teachers
10,615 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
9:1
9:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Mclaughlin School District 15-2, 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 65% has increased from 50-59% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (SD)
#147 out of 148 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(21-22)
≤5%
42%
10-14%
51%
≤5%
42%
65%
82%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.08
0.53
% American Indian
96%
14%
% Asian
2%
2%
% Hispanic
n/a
8%
% Black
n/a
3%
% White
1%
67%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
1%
6%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $27,431 is higher than the state median of $13,146. The school district revenue/student has grown by 23% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $24,197 is higher than the state median of $12,647. The school district spending/student has grown by 11% over four school years.
This School District
This State (SD)
Total Revenue
$12 MM
$1,916 MM
Spending
$10 MM
$1,844 MM
Revenue / Student
$27,431
$13,146
Spending / Student
$24,197
$12,647

Best Mclaughlin School District 15-2 Public Schools (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Mclaughlin High School - 01
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: 11-19%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
701 Main
Mc Laughlin, SD 57642
(605) 823-4484
Gr: 9-12 | 147 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1
Rank: #2 - 32. - 3.
Mclaughlin Elementary - 02
(Math: ≤5% | Reading: 6-9%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
601 Main
Mc Laughlin, SD 57642
(605) 823-4484
Gr: PK-5 | 209 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #2 - 32. - 3.
Mclaughlin Middle School - 03
(Math: ≤5% | Reading: 6-9%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
701 Main
Mc Laughlin, SD 57642
(605) 823-4484
Gr: 6-8 | 71 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools belong to Mclaughlin School District 15-2?
Mclaughlin School District 15-2 manages 3 public schools serving 427 students.
What is the rank of Mclaughlin School District 15-2?
Mclaughlin School District 15-2 is ranked #144 out of 146 school districts in South Dakota (bottom 50%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2021-2022 school year. This district ranks in the top 20% of South Dakota school districts for: Lowest student-teacher ratio (Top 1%)
What is the racial composition of students in Mclaughlin School District 15-2?
96% of Mclaughlin School District 15-2 students are American Indian, 2% of students are Asian, 1% of students are White, and 1% of students are Two or more races.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Mclaughlin School District 15-2?
Mclaughlin School District 15-2 has a student/teacher ratio of 9:1, which is lower than the South Dakota state average of 14:1.
What is Mclaughlin School District 15-2's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $24,197 is higher than the state median of $12,647. The school district spending/student has grown by 11% over four school years.

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Quick Facts (2026)

  • District size: 3 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 427 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 9:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 99%
  • : 65% (Top 30% in SD)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : ≤5% (Btm 50%)
  • : 10-14% (Btm 50%)
  • : ≤5% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), SD Dept. of Education

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