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Rapid City Area School District 51-4 (2026) - Rapid City, SD

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 2026 school year, there are 6 public high schools serving 3,970 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 35% (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 77%, which is less than the South Dakota average of 82%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Stevens High School - 42, with 90% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in South Dakota or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 38% of the student body (majority American Indian), which is more than the South Dakota public high school average of 36% (majority American Indian).

Overview

This School District
This State (SD)
# Schools
25 Schools
215 Schools
# Students
12,313 Students
47,253 Students
# Teachers
768 Teachers
3,334 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 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%)
37%
42%
46%
51%
38%
42%
71%
82%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.61
0.55
% American Indian
17%
19%
% Asian
1%
1%
% Hispanic
11%
8%
% Black
1%
3%
% White
58%
64%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
12%
5%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $12,819 in this school district is less than the state median of $13,047. The school district revenue/student has grown by 17% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $11,825 is less than the state median of $12,552. The school district spending/student has grown by 14% 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
$12,819
$13,047
Spending / Student
$11,825
$12,552

Best Rapid City Area School District 51-4 Public High Schools (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
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
Gr: 9-12 | 1,771 student Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 22%
Rank: #22.
Central High School - 41
(Math: 24% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
433 Mt Rushmore Rd
Rapid City, SD 57701
(605) 394-4023
Gr: 9-12 | 1,998 student Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 52%
Rank: #33.
Rapid City Online High School - 92
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≥50%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
625 9th St Ste 208
Rapid City, SD 57701
(605) 394-4048
Gr: 9-12 | 73 students Student-teacher ratio: 73:1 Minority enrollment: 43%
Rank: n/an/a
Jefferson Building - 64
Special Education School
21 St Joseph St
Rapid City, SD 57701
(605) 394-1813
Gr: PK-12 | 98 students Student-teacher ratio: 7:1 Minority enrollment: 51%
Rank: n/an/a
Lincoln Building - 44
Special Education School
851 West St
Rapid City, SD 57701
(605) 394-1813
Gr: 12 | 23 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 44%
Rank: n/an/a
Wellfully - 65
Alternative School
22 Waterloo St
Rapid City, SD 57701
(605) 394-4048
Gr: 1-12 | 7 students Student-teacher ratio: 7:1 Minority enrollment: 57%

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Quick Facts (2026)

  • District size: 25 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 12,313 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 16:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 42%
  • : 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

Quick Links


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