Rapid City Area School District 51-4

Item: Rapid City Area School District 51-4
Rating: 3
Author: Public School Review

625 9th St Ste 208
Rapid City, SD 57701

( shown in map)

Bottom 50%

Tel: (605) 394-4031

www.rcas.org

Top Rankings

Rapid City Area School District 51-4 ranks among the top 20% of public school district in South Dakota for:

Overview

This School District

This State (SD)

# Schools

28 Schools

729 Schools

# Students

12,456 Students

145,763 Students

# Teachers

800 Teachers

10,615 Teachers

Student-Teacher Ratio

16:1

Student By Grade

View Data

Comparison of Students By Grade Trends
Grade	Rapid City Area School District 51-4	South Dakota
Pre-K	96	18
Kind	902	69
1	888	63
2	986	64
3	910	61
4	925	62
5	1,011	63
6	967	63
7	910	64
8	1,003	65
9	1,253	71
10	982	66
11	867	61
12	756	57

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District Rank

Rapid City Area School District 51-4, 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 2022-2023 school year.

The school district's graduation rate of 71% has decreased from 75% over five school years.

This School District

State Average (SD)

#109 out of 148 school districts
(Bottom 50%)

View Data

Overall School District Rank Trends
Year	Rapid City Area School District 51-4
2023	#109
2022	#109
2021	#115
2019	#108
2018	#92
2017	#90
2016	#89
2015	#92
2014	#6
2013	#125
2012	#129

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37%

42%

View Data

Math Proficiency Trends
Year	Rapid City Area School District 51-4	South Dakota
2023	37%	42%
2022	36%	42%
2021	34%	43%
2019	42%	46%
2018	44%	47%
2017	46%	47%
2016	44%	45%
2015	40%	42%
2014	72%	51%
2013	66%	73%
2012	69%	75%

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46%

51%

View Data

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Trends
Year	Rapid City Area School District 51-4	South Dakota
2022	46%	51%
2021	46%	52%
2019	50%	54%
2018	44%	54%
2017	49%	53%
2016	48%	52%
2015	44%	49%
2014	82%	52%
2013	69%	74%
2012	70%	75%
2011	72%	75%

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38%

42%

View Data

Science Proficiency Trends
Year	Rapid City Area School District 51-4	South Dakota
2022	38%	42%
2021	38%	42%

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71%

82%

View Data

Graduation Rate Trends
Year	Rapid City Area School District 51-4	South Dakota
2023	71%	82%
2022	70%	82%
2021	71%	80%
2020	77%	84%
2019	77%	83%
2018	75%	82%
2017	75%	82%
2016	76%	82%
2015	74%	82%
2014	71%	81%
2013	69%	81%

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Students by Ethnicity:

0.60

0.53

View Data

Comparison of Diversity Score Trends
Year	Rapid City Area School District 51-4	South Dakota
2023	0.60	0.51
2022	0.59	0.50
2021	0.58	0.50
2020	0.57	0.50
2019	0.57	0.50
2018	0.51	0.47
2017	0.51	0.47
2016	0.50	0.42
2015	0.50	0.41
2014	0.49	0.40
2013	0.48	0.38
2012	0.46	0.38
2011	0.44	0.40
2010	0.40	0.37
2009	0.40	0.38
2008	0.38	0.30
2007	0.36	0.28
2006	0.35	0.34
2005	0.36	0.28
2004	0.35	0.34
2003	0.36	0.32
2002	0.35	0.31
2001	0.34	0.31
2000	0.34	0.27
1999	0.32	0.29
1998	0.32	0.29
1997	0.32	0.29
1996	0.31	0.28
1995	0.31	0.28
1994	0.30	0.27
1993	0.27	0.25

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% American Indian

17%

14%

View Data

American Indian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1993-2023)
Year	Rapid City Area School District 51-4	South Dakota
2023	17%	14%
2022	18%	14%
2021	17%	14%
2020	19%	16%
2019	19%	16%
2018	20%	16%
2017	20%	16%
2016	19%	12%
2015	20%	11%
2014	19%	11%
2013	19%	11%
2012	20%	12%
2011	19%	17%
2010	19%	16%
2009	19%	17%
2008	18%	12%
2007	16%	11%
2006	17%	17%
2005	17%	11%
2004	16%	16%
2003	17%	16%
2002	16%	15%
2001	16%	15%
2000	16%	14%
1999	15%	14%
1998	16%	14%
1997	15%	14%
1996	15%	14%
1995	15%	14%
1994	14%	13%
1993	12%	12%

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% Asian

View Data

Asian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1995-2023)
Year	Rapid City Area School District 51-4	South Dakota
2023	1%	2%
2022	1%	2%
2021	1%	2%
2020	1%	2%
2019	1%	2%
2018	1%	2%
2017	1%	2%
2016	1%	2%
2015	1%	2%
2014	1%	2%
2013	1%	2%
2012	1%	2%
2011	1%	1%
2010	2%	1%
2009	1%	1%
2008	1%	1%
2007	1%	1%
2006	1%	1%
2005	1%	1%
2004	1%	1%
2003	1%	1%
2002	1%	1%
2001	1%	1%
1999	1%	1%
1998	1%	1%
1997	1%	1%
1996	1%	1%
1995	1%	1%

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% Hispanic

10%

View Data

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1995-2023)
Year	Rapid City Area School District 51-4	South Dakota
2023	10%	8%
2022	9%	7%
2021	9%	7%
2020	8%	6%
2019	8%	6%
2018	6%	5%
2017	6%	5%
2016	6%	5%
2015	6%	5%
2014	6%	5%
2013	5%	4%
2012	4%	4%
2011	4%	3%
2010	3%	3%
2009	3%	3%
2008	2%	2%
2007	2%	2%
2006	2%	2%
2005	2%	2%
2004	2%	2%
2003	2%	1%
2002	2%	1%
2001	2%	1%
1999	2%	1%
1998	1%	1%
1997	1%	1%
1996	1%	1%
1995	1%	1%

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% Black

View Data

Black Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1997-2023)
Year	Rapid City Area School District 51-4	South Dakota
2023	1%	3%
2022	1%	3%
2021	1%	3%
2020	1%	3%
2019	1%	3%
2018	1%	3%
2017	1%	3%
2016	1%	3%
2015	1%	3%
2014	1%	3%
2013	1%	3%
2012	1%	3%
2011	1%	2%
2010	2%	2%
2009	2%	2%
2008	2%	2%
2007	2%	2%
2005	2%	2%
2004	2%	1%
2003	2%	1%
2002	2%	1%
2001	1%	1%
1999	1%	1%
1998	1%	1%
1997	1%	1%

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% White

59%

67%

View Data

White Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1993-2023)
Year	Rapid City Area School District 51-4	South Dakota
2023	60%	68%
2022	60%	69%
2021	61%	69%
2020	62%	69%
2019	62%	69%
2018	67%	71%
2017	67%	71%
2016	68%	75%
2015	68%	76%
2014	69%	77%
2013	70%	78%
2012	71%	78%
2011	72%	76%
2010	74%	78%
2009	75%	77%
2008	77%	83%
2007	79%	84%
2006	79%	80%
2005	78%	84%
2004	79%	80%
2003	78%	81%
2002	79%	82%
2001	80%	82%
2000	79%	86%
1999	81%	83%
1998	81%	83%
1997	82%	83%
1996	82%	84%
1995	82%	84%
1994	83%	84%
1993	85%	86%

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% Hawaiian

n/a

% Two or more races

12%

View Data

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2013-2023)
Year	Rapid City Area School District 51-4	South Dakota
2023	11%	5%
2022	11%	5%
2021	11%	5%
2020	9%	4%
2019	9%	4%
2018	5%	3%
2017	5%	3%
2016	5%	3%
2015	4%	3%
2014	4%	2%
2013	4%	2%

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All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $12,671 in this school district is less than the state median of $13,146. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.

The school district's spending/student of $11,689 is less than the state median of $12,647. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.

This School District

This State (SD)

Total Revenue

$158 MM

$1,916 MM

View Data

Total Revenues Trends
Year	Rapid City Area School District 51-4	South Dakota
2023	$158 MM	$6 MM
2022	$148 MM	$5 MM
2021	$158 MM	$6 MM
2020	$148 MM	$5 MM
2019	$147 MM	$5 MM
2018	$144 MM	$5 MM
2017	$139 MM	$5 MM
2016	$131 MM	$4 MM
2015	$123 MM	$4 MM
2014	$126 MM	$4 MM
2012	$126 MM	$4 MM
2011	$127 MM	$4 MM
2010	$123 MM	$4 MM
2009	$118 MM	$3 MM
2008	$112 MM	$3 MM
2007	$107 MM	$3 MM
2006	$102 MM	$3 MM
2005	$100 MM	$3 MM
2004	$94 MM	$3 MM
2003	$90 MM	$2 MM
2002	$86 MM	$2 MM
2001	$81 MM	$2 MM
2000	$80 MM	$2 MM
1999	$79 MM	$2 MM
1998	$73 MM	$2 MM
1997	$72 MM	$2 MM
1996	$69 MM	$2 MM
1995	$69 MM	$2 MM

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Spending

$146 MM

$1,844 MM

View Data

Total Expenditure Trends
Year	Rapid City Area School District 51-4	South Dakota
2023	$146 MM	$5 MM
2022	$141 MM	$5 MM
2021	$146 MM	$5 MM
2020	$141 MM	$5 MM
2019	$146 MM	$5 MM
2018	$141 MM	$5 MM
2017	$136 MM	$5 MM
2016	$132 MM	$4 MM
2015	$111 MM	$3 MM
2014	$125 MM	$4 MM
2012	$157 MM	$3 MM
2011	$140 MM	$4 MM
2010	$111 MM	$3 MM
2009	$108 MM	$3 MM
2008	$111 MM	$3 MM
2007	$108 MM	$3 MM
2006	$102 MM	$3 MM
2005	$93 MM	$3 MM
2004	$94 MM	$2 MM
2003	$88 MM	$3 MM
2002	$87 MM	$2 MM
2001	$82 MM	$2 MM
2000	$82 MM	$2 MM
1999	$83 MM	$2 MM
1998	$71 MM	$2 MM
1997	$68 MM	$2 MM
1996	$67 MM	$2 MM
1995	$73 MM	$2 MM

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Revenue / Student

$12,671

$13,146

View Data

Average Revenue Per Student Trends
Year	Rapid City Area School District 51-4	South Dakota
2023	$12,386	$15,739
2022	$10,881	$14,965
2021	$12,324	$16,342
2020	$10,881	$14,965
2019	$10,624	$14,816
2018	$10,482	$15,113
2017	$10,086	$15,388
2016	$9,633	$14,130
2015	$8,901	$11,732
2014	$9,416	$11,720
2012	$9,211	$11,685
2011	$9,467	$11,891
2010	$9,268	$11,732
2009	$8,745	$10,941
2008	$8,470	$10,856
2007	$8,158	$10,306
2006	$7,919	$10,049
2005	$7,517	$9,356
2004	$7,163	$8,456
2003	$6,541	$8,337
2002	$6,405	$7,799
2001	$5,992	$7,600
2000	$5,798	$7,183
1999	$5,645	$6,671
1998	$5,148	$5,954
1997	$5,000	$5,709
1995	$4,740	$5,253
1992	$3,789	$4,776

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Spending / Student

$11,689

$12,647

View Data

Average Expenditure Per Student Trends
Year	Rapid City Area School District 51-4	South Dakota
2023	$11,426	$14,560
2022	$10,372	$14,171
2021	$11,369	$15,118
2020	$10,372	$14,171
2019	$10,586	$14,567
2018	$10,278	$15,244
2017	$9,875	$14,997
2016	$9,663	$13,890
2015	$8,025	$11,206
2014	$9,336	$11,268
2012	$11,549	$10,790
2011	$10,457	$11,832
2010	$8,356	$11,206
2009	$7,966	$10,706
2008	$8,380	$10,238
2007	$8,245	$9,578
2006	$7,917	$9,559
2005	$7,050	$9,435
2004	$7,131	$8,315
2003	$6,353	$8,840
2002	$6,472	$8,399
2001	$6,070	$8,153
2000	$5,939	$7,670
1999	$5,965	$6,645
1998	$5,033	$5,696
1997	$4,761	$5,234
1995	$5,024	$5,109
1992	$4,062	$5,221

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools belong to Rapid City Area School District 51-4?

Rapid City Area School District 51-4 manages 28 public schools serving 12,456 students.

What is the rank of Rapid City Area School District 51-4?

Rapid City Area School District 51-4 is ranked #106 out of 146 school districts in South Dakota (bottom 50%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2022-2023 school year. This district ranks in the top 20% of South Dakota school districts for: Most diverse schools (Top 1%) and Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)

What is the racial composition of students in Rapid City Area School District 51-4?

59% of Rapid City Area School District 51-4 students are White, 17% of students are American Indian, 12% of students are Two or more races, 10% of students are Hispanic, 1% of students are Asian, and 1% of students are Black.

What is the student/teacher ratio of Rapid City Area School District 51-4?

Rapid City Area School District 51-4 has a student/teacher ratio of 16:1, which is higher than the South Dakota state average of 14:1.

What is Rapid City Area School District 51-4's spending/student ratio?

The school district's spending/student of $11,689 is less than the state median of $12,647. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.

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Quick Facts (2025-26)

District size: 28 schools
Grades: PK-12
Enrollment: 12,456 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 16:1
Minority Enrollment: 41%
: 71% (Top 30% in SD)
: Bottom 50%
: 37% (Btm 50%)
: 46% (Btm 50%)
: 38% (Btm 50%)
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), SD Dept. of Education