White River School District 47-1

501 E 3rd St
White River, SD 57579
(District boundaries shown in map)
1/
10
Bottom 50%
For the 2026 school year, there are 4 public schools serving 420 students in White River School District 47-1. This district's average testing ranking is 1/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public schools in South Dakota.
Public Schools in White River School District 47-1 have an average math proficiency score of 17% (versus the South Dakota public school average of 43%), and reading proficiency score of 32% (versus the 51% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 88% of the student body (majority American Indian), which is more than the South Dakota public school average of 34% (majority American Indian).

Overview

This School District
This State (SD)
# Schools
4 Schools
726 Schools
# Students
420 Students
146,805 Students
# Teachers
41 Teachers
10,616 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
10:1
10:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

White River School District 47-1, 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 70% has decreased from 80% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (SD)
#142 out of 148 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
13%
42%
29%
51%
15-19%
42%
70%
82%
(2022-23)
34.2%
22.5%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.34
0.53
% American Indian
80%
14%
% Asian
n/a
2%
% Hispanic
1%
9%
% Black
n/a
3%
% White
12%
66%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
7%
6%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $17,440 is higher than the state median of $13,053. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $15,829 is higher than the state median of $12,557. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
This School District
This State (SD)
Total Revenue
$7 MM
$1,916 MM
Spending
$7 MM
$1,844 MM
Revenue / Student
$17,440
$13,053
Spending / Student
$15,829
$12,557

Best White River School District 47-1 Public Schools (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Norris Elementary - 08
(Math: <50% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
331 School Loop
White River, SD 57579
(605) 462-6455
Gr: K-5 | 43 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1
Rank: #22.
White River High School - 01
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: 40-59%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
501 E 3rd St
White River, SD 57579
(605) 259-3136
Gr: 9-12 | 112 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 88%
Rank: #33.
White River Middle School - 04
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
501 E 3rd St
White River, SD 57579
(605) 259-3135
Gr: 6-8 | 93 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
Rank: #44.
White River Elementary - 02
(Math: 11-19% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
501 E 3rd St
White River, SD 57579
(605) 259-3137
Gr: PK-5 | 172 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 81%

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools belong to White River School District 47-1?
White River School District 47-1 manages 4 public schools serving 420 students.
What is the rank of White River School District 47-1?
White River School District 47-1 is ranked #140 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.
What is the racial composition of students in White River School District 47-1?
80% of White River School District 47-1 students are American Indian, 12% of students are White, 7% of students are Two or more races, and 1% of students are Hispanic.
What is the student/teacher ratio of White River School District 47-1?
White River School District 47-1 has a student/teacher ratio of 10:1, which is lower than the South Dakota state average of 14:1.
What is White River School District 47-1's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $15,829 is higher than the state median of $12,557. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.

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Quick Facts (2026)

  • District size: 4 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 420 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 10:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 88%
  • : 70% (Top 30% in SD)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 13% (Btm 50%)
  • : 29% (Btm 50%)
  • : 15-19% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), SD Dept. of Education

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