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 2025-26 school year, there are 3 public high schools serving 820 students in Spearfish School District 40-2. 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 Spearfish School District 40-2 have an average math proficiency score of 37% (versus the South Dakota public high school average of 40%), and reading proficiency score of 66% (versus the 63% statewide average).
Public High School in Spearfish School District 40-2 have a Graduation Rate of 92%, which is more than the South Dakota average of 82%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Spearfish High School - 01, with 90-94% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in South Dakota or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 15% of the student body (majority Hispanic and American Indian), which is less than the South Dakota public high school average of 35% (majority American Indian).
Overview
This School District
This State (SD)
# Schools
8 Schools
217 Schools
# Students
2,433 Students
46,971 Students
# Teachers
174 Teachers
3,330 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.
Overall District Rank
#58 out of 148 school districts
(Top 50%)
(Top 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
48%
42%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
55%
51%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
50%
42%
Graduation Rate
92%
82%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.25
0.54
% American Indian
2%
19%
% Asian
1%
1%
% Hispanic
5%
7%
% Black
1%
3%
% White
87%
65%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
4%
5%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $11,091 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 $10,151 is less than the state median of $12,647. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$27 MM
$1,916 MM
Spending
$25 MM
$1,844 MM
Revenue / Student
$11,091
$13,146
Spending / Student
$10,151
$12,647
Best Spearfish School District 40-2 Public High Schools (2025-26)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Spearfish High School - 01
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
1725 N Main
Spearfish, SD 57783
(605) 717-1212
Spearfish, SD 57783
(605) 717-1212
Gr: 9-12 | 771 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 14%
Rank: #22.
Black Hills Education Connections - 06
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
2910 4th Ave
Spearfish, SD 57783
(605) 642-8286
Spearfish, SD 57783
(605) 642-8286
Gr: 10-12 | 31 students Student-teacher ratio: 31:1 Minority enrollment: 16%
Rank: n/an/a
Spearfish Academy At Canyon Hills High School - 10
Alternative School
2519 Windmill Dr
Spearfish, SD 57783
(605) 717-1229
Spearfish, SD 57783
(605) 717-1229
Gr: 9-12 | 18 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 33%
Recent Articles

2025 Classroom Size Trends: Are Classes Still Growing?
A 2025 update on U.S. classroom sizes, policy battles, student outcomes, and whether class sizes continue to expand.

Personalized Learning in 2025: Revolutionizing Education
Explore how personalized learning is reshaping education in 2025—insights, policy, impact, and real-world models for students, parents, and educators.

How Bullying Impacts Student Academic Performance in 2025
Explore how bullying harms student achievement, attendance, and well-being — and strategies schools use in 2025 to mitigate its effects.