Spearfish School District 40-2

525 E Illinois St
Spearfish, SD 57783
(District boundaries shown in map)
7/
10
Top 50%

Top Rankings

Spearfish School District 40-2 ranks among the top 20% of public school district in South Dakota for:

Category
Attribute
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 5%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2026 school year, there are 7 public schools serving 2,398 students in Spearfish School District 40-2. This district's average testing ranking is 7/10, which is in the top 50% of public schools in South Dakota.
Public Schools in Spearfish School District 40-2 have an average math proficiency score of 48% (versus the South Dakota public school average of 43%), and reading proficiency score of 55% (versus the 51% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 14% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the South Dakota public school average of 34% (majority American Indian).

Overview

This School District
This State (SD)
# Schools
7 Schools
726 Schools
# Students
2,398 Students
146,805 Students
# Teachers
171 Teachers
10,616 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
14:1
14:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Spearfish School District 40-2, which is ranked within the top 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 92% has increased from 90-94% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (SD)
#58 out of 148 school districts
(Top 50%)
48%
42%
55%
51%
50%
42%
92%
82%
(2022-23)
14.9%
22.5%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.26
0.53
% American Indian
3%
14%
% Asian
1%
2%
% Hispanic
5%
9%
% Black
n/a
3%
% White
86%
66%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
5%
6%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $11,253 in this school district is less than the state median of $13,053. The school district revenue/student has grown by 10% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $10,299 is less than the state median of $12,557. The school district spending/student has grown by 14% over four school years.
This School District
This State (SD)
Total Revenue
$27 MM
$1,916 MM
Spending
$25 MM
$1,844 MM
Revenue / Student
$11,253
$13,053
Spending / Student
$10,299
$12,557

Best Spearfish School District 40-2 Public Schools (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Creekside Elementary - 07
(Math: 54% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
2325 N Ave
Spearfish, SD 57783
(605) 717-1210
Gr: 3-5 | 553 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 14%
Rank: #22.
Spearfish High School - 01
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
1725 N Main
Spearfish, SD 57783
(605) 717-1212
Gr: 9-12 | 787 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 14%
Rank: #33.
Spearfish Academy At Canyon Hills Elementary - 09
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
2519 Windmill Dr
Spearfish, SD 57783
(605) 717-1229
Gr: 4-8 | 2 students Student-teacher ratio: 1:1 Minority enrollment: 50%
Rank: #44.
Spearfish Middle School - 05
(Math: 45% | Reading: 52%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
1600 N Canyon
Spearfish, SD 57783
(605) 717-1215
Gr: 6-8 | 545 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 13%
Rank: n/an/a
400 E Hudson
Spearfish, SD 57783
(605) 717-1209
Gr: K | 168 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 21%
Rank: n/an/a
Spearfish Academy At Canyon Hills High School - 10
Alternative School
2519 Windmill Dr
Spearfish, SD 57783
(605) 717-1229
Gr: 9-12 | 21 students Student-teacher ratio: 7:1 Minority enrollment: 43%
Rank: n/an/a
West Elementary - 03
920 W King St
Spearfish, SD 57783
(605) 717-1205
Gr: 1-2 | 322 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 12%

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools belong to Spearfish School District 40-2?
Spearfish School District 40-2 manages 7 public schools serving 2,398 students.
What is the rank of Spearfish School District 40-2?
Spearfish School District 40-2 is ranked #56 out of 146 school districts in South Dakota (top 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: Highest graduation rate (Top 5%) and Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
What is the racial composition of students in Spearfish School District 40-2?
86% of Spearfish School District 40-2 students are White, 5% of students are Hispanic, 5% of students are Two or more races, 3% of students are American Indian, and 1% of students are Asian.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Spearfish School District 40-2?
Spearfish School District 40-2 has a student/teacher ratio of 14:1, which is equal to the South Dakota state average of 14:1.
What is Spearfish School District 40-2's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $10,299 is less than the state median of $12,557. The school district spending/student has grown by 14% over four school years.

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Quick Facts (2026)

  • District size: 7 schools
  • Grades: K-12
  • Enrollment: 2,398 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 14:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 14%
  • : 92% (Top 5% in SD)
  • : Top 50%
  • : 48% (Top 50%)
  • : 55% (Top 50%)
  • : 50% (Top 30%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), SD Dept. of Education

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