Top Rankings
White River School District 47-1 ranks among the top 20% of public school district in South Dakota for:
Category
Attribute
Student Attention
Lowest student-teacher ratio (Top 1%)
For the 2025-26 school year, there are 3 public elementary schools serving 298 students in White River School District 47-1. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 1/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public elementary schools in South Dakota.
Public Elementary Schools in White River School District 47-1 have an average math proficiency score of 17% (versus the South Dakota public elementary school average of 43%), and reading proficiency score of 29% (versus the 49% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 89% of the student body (majority American Indian), which is more than the South Dakota public elementary school average of 36% (majority American Indian).
Overview
This School District
This State (SD)
# Schools
4 Schools
497 Schools
# Students
416 Students
101,009 Students
# Teachers
41 Teachers
7,507 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.
Overall District Rank
#142 out of 148 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
13%
42%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
29%
51%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
15-19%
42%
Graduation Rate
70%
82%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.36
0.55
% American Indian
79%
17%
% Asian
n/a
2%
% Hispanic
1%
8%
% Black
1%
3%
% White
11%
64%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
8%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $17,608 is higher 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 $15,981 is higher than the state median of $12,623. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$7 MM
$1,916 MM
Spending
$7 MM
$1,844 MM
Revenue / Student
$17,608
$13,121
Spending / Student
$15,981
$12,623
Best White River School District 47-1 Public Elementary Schools (2025-26)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Norris Elementary - 08
(Math: <50% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
331 School Loop
White River, SD 57579
(605) 462-6455
White River, SD 57579
(605) 462-6455
Gr: K-5 | 46 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1
Rank: #22.
White River Middle School - 04
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
501 E 3rd St
White River, SD 57579
(605) 259-3135
White River, SD 57579
(605) 259-3135
Gr: 6-8 | 88 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 93%
Rank: #33.
White River Elementary - 02
(Math: 11-19% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
501 E 3rd St
White River, SD 57579
(605) 259-3137
White River, SD 57579
(605) 259-3137
Gr: PK-5 | 164 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 84%
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