Rapid City Area School District 51-4

625 9th St Ste 208
Rapid City, SD 57701
(District boundaries shown in map)
3/
10
Bottom 50%

Top Rankings

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

Category
Attribute
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 1%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 6 public high schools serving 3,925 students in Rapid City Area School District 51-4. This district's average high testing ranking is 5/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public high schools in South Dakota.
Public High Schools in Rapid City Area School District 51-4 have an average math proficiency score of 37% (versus the South Dakota public high school average of 40%), and reading proficiency score of 69% (versus the 63% statewide average).
Public High School in Rapid City Area School District 51-4 have a Graduation Rate of 76%, which is less than the South Dakota average of 81%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Stevens High School - 42, with 86% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in South Dakota or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 37% of the student body (majority American Indian), which is more than the South Dakota public high school average of 35% (majority American Indian).

Overview

This School District
This State (SD)
# Schools
29 Schools
218 Schools
# Students
12,485 Students
47,000 Students
# Teachers
802 Teachers
3,332 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
16:1
16:1

Student By Grade

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 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 70% has decreased from 75% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (SD)
#109 out of 148 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
36%
42%
46%
51%
38%
42%
70%
82%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.60
0.54
% American Indian
17%
19%
% Asian
1%
1%
% Hispanic
10%
7%
% Black
1%
3%
% White
59%
65%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
12%
5%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $12,642 in this school district is less 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 $11,662 is less than the state median of $12,623. 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
Spending
$146 MM
$1,844 MM
Revenue / Student
$12,642
$13,121
Spending / Student
$11,662
$12,623

Best Rapid City Area School District 51-4 Public High Schools (2025)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Stevens High School - 42
(Math: 46% | Reading: 80%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
4215 Raider Rd
Rapid City, SD 57702
(605) 394-4051
Grades: 9-12
| 1,763 students
Rank: #22.
Rapid City Online High School - 92
(Math: <50% | Reading: ≥50%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
625 9th St Ste 208
Rapid City, SD 57701
(605) 394-4048
Grades: 9-12
| 67 students
Rank: #33.
Central High School - 41
(Math: 27% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
433 Mt Rushmore Rd
Rapid City, SD 57701
(605) 394-4023
Grades: 9-12
| 2,020 students
Rank: #44.
Jefferson Building - 64
Special Education School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 45-49% )
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
21 St Joseph St
Rapid City, SD 57701
(605) 394-1813
Grades: PK-12
| 35 students
Rank: n/an/a
Lincoln Building - 44
Special Education School
851 West St
Rapid City, SD 57701
(605) 394-1813
Grades: 12
| 29 students
Rank: n/an/a
Wellfully - 65
Alternative School
22 Waterloo St
Rapid City, SD 57701
(605) 394-4048
Grades: 1-12
| 11 students

Recent Articles

What is Project-Based Learning?
What is Project-Based Learning?
Project-based learning has been highly touted by some educators as a viable option to traditional learning models. We’ll take a look at what project-based learning is and why it is getting so much attention today.
What is an Online High School
What is an Online High School
Find information about Online High Schools - what they are and how they work.
“Smart Snacks” Standards Coming to School Vending Machines Nationwide
“Smart Snacks” Standards Coming to School Vending Machines Nationwide
We explore new federal regulations that will ban junk food from public schools. This means no more sweets and soda in cafeteria lines, vending machines and snacks sold in other locations around the schools.

Quick Stats (2025)

  • District size: 29 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 12,485 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 16:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 41%
  • : 70% (Btm 50% in SD)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 36% (Btm 50%)
  • : 46% (Btm 50%)
  • : 38% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), SD Dept. of Education

Quick Links