Aurora County Schools & Education
Aurora County, South Dakota
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
39/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Lower Signal
Graduation Rate
71.0%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
71.0%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 82.4%
Per-Pupil Spending
$8,748
National avg $13,239
State avg $7,409
School Score
39/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 38/100
State Score Position
#33
of 65 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Aurora County
Measured School Summary
Aurora County faces educational challenges with a school score of 39/100 and a graduation rate of 71.0%, falling below typical benchmarks.
Funding Context
Aurora County spends $8,748 per student, which is on the lower end of adequate and may require careful resource allocation to maintain quality.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 1% above the South Dakota average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 11.4 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 18% higher than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Aurora County before comparing districts
County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.
Local context that changes the interpretation
11 public schools and 2 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.
Overall screen
39/100
Lower measured signal. Ranks #33 of 65 South Dakota counties with school score data.
Completion
71.0%
11.4 pts below the state average
Funding context
$8,748
$1,339 above the state average
School coverage
11
2 districts represented in the county school list.
Start with measured county context
The county-level signal is lower, so review individual schools and local records before interpreting the score. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.
Check the local school mix
Aurora County has 11 public schools across 2 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.
Verify local rules
Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.
What Aurora County school data means before you move
County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.
Dominant-district county
Plankinton School District 01-1 carries most of the listed public-school system, with 7 of 11 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.
State position
#33
of 65 South Dakota counties with school score data. The county score is roughly in line with the state average.
Data confidence
Usable
3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.
K-12 continuity check
These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.
Plankinton School District 01-1
Elementary to high school visible
288 students
7 listed schools in this county slice.
White Lake School District 01-3
Elementary to high school visible
129 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Plankinton School District 01-1 is the largest listed district slice, with 7 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.
What the data cannot tell you
NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.
Questions to ask before choosing an address
Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Aurora County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Aurora County district systems?
What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?
If we need a program not visible in the NCES flags, which district office can confirm current offerings?
Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?
Education Overview
About Schools in Aurora County, South Dakota
This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.
Small-Scale Education in Aurora County
Aurora County serves 587 students across a network of 11 public schools, including three elementary, four middle, and four high schools. These facilities are managed by just two school districts, reflecting a highly concentrated administrative structure. The county maintains several specialized facilities, including two alternative schools and two special education centers.
Plankinton Leads the Local Districts
The Plankinton School District 01-1 is the county's largest provider, managing seven schools and educating 288 students. White Lake School District 01-3 follows with 129 students across three schools. There are currently no charter schools operating within the county's boundaries.
The Intimacy of Rural Learning
Every school in Aurora County is classified as rural, creating an intimate educational environment with an average school size of only 53 students. Corsica-Stickney Elementary is the largest campus with 170 students, while the Plankinton Junior High serves just 51. This small-town atmosphere ensures that nearly every student receives personalized attention from staff.
School Overview
Total Schools
11
in Aurora County
Reported Enrollment
587
11 schools reporting
School Districts
2
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
2 School Districts in Aurora County
Plankinton School District 01-1
White Lake School District 01-3
11 Public Schools in Aurora County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Every NCES public school remains listed here; no school-level profile pages are included in the current generated coverage for this county.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 11 of 11 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corsica-Stickney Elementary - 02 | Record | Corsica-Stickney 21-3 | Stickney, 57375Rural: Remote | PK–6 | Primary | 170 |
| Plankinton Elementary - 02 | Record | Plankinton School District 01-1 | Plankinton, 57368Rural: Remote | PK–6 | Primary | 141 |
| Plankinton High School - 01 | Record | Plankinton School District 01-1 | Plankinton, 57368Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 75 |
| White Lake Elementary - 02 | Record | White Lake School District 01-3 | White Lake, 57383Rural: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 63 |
| Plankinton Jr. High - 03 | Record | Plankinton School District 01-1 | Plankinton, 57368Rural: Remote | 7–8 | Middle | 51 |
| White Lake High School - 01 | Record | White Lake School District 01-3 | White Lake, 57383Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 36 |
| White Lake Middle School - 03 | Record | White Lake School District 01-3 | White Lake, 57383Rural: Remote | 6–8 | Middle | 30 |
| Aurora Plains Academy High School - 05 | Record | Plankinton School District 01-1 | Plankinton, 57368Rural: Remote | 9–12 | Alternative | 9 |
| Aurora Plains Academy Middle School - 04 | Record | Plankinton School District 01-1 | Plankinton, 57368Rural: Remote | 4–8 | Alternative | 7 |
| Dakota Reach - 06 | Record | Plankinton School District 01-1 | Plankinton, 57368Rural: Remote | 9–12 | Special Education | 3 |
| Dakota Reach Middle School - 07 | Record | Plankinton School District 01-1 | Plankinton, 57368Rural: Remote | 5–8 | Special Education | 2 |
Corsica-Stickney Elementary - 02
Corsica-Stickney 21-3
Stickney, 57375 / Rural: Remote
Plankinton Elementary - 02
Plankinton School District 01-1
Plankinton, 57368 / Rural: Remote
Plankinton High School - 01
Plankinton School District 01-1
Plankinton, 57368 / Rural: Remote
White Lake Elementary - 02
White Lake School District 01-3
White Lake, 57383 / Rural: Remote
Plankinton Jr. High - 03
Plankinton School District 01-1
Plankinton, 57368 / Rural: Remote
White Lake High School - 01
White Lake School District 01-3
White Lake, 57383 / Rural: Remote
White Lake Middle School - 03
White Lake School District 01-3
White Lake, 57383 / Rural: Remote
Aurora Plains Academy High School - 05
Plankinton School District 01-1
Plankinton, 57368 / Rural: Remote
Aurora Plains Academy Middle School - 04
Plankinton School District 01-1
Plankinton, 57368 / Rural: Remote
Dakota Reach - 06
Plankinton School District 01-1
Plankinton, 57368 / Rural: Remote
Dakota Reach Middle School - 07
Plankinton School District 01-1
Plankinton, 57368 / Rural: Remote
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$8,748
State avg $7,409
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Aurora County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.
Open CompareBrowse Public Schools
See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.
View SchoolsFrequently Asked Questions
Which South Dakota counties have the highest graduation rates?
What is per-pupil spending like in South Dakota?
How should I read the school score in Aurora County?
What is the graduation rate in Aurora County?
How much does Aurora County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Aurora County, South Dakota — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Aurora County, South Dakota?
Aurora County serves 587 students across a network of 11 public schools, including three elementary, four middle, and four high schools. These facilities are managed by just two school districts, reflecting a highly concentrated administrative structure. The county maintains several specialized facilities, including two alternative schools and two special education centers.
What are the major school districts in Aurora County, South Dakota?
The Plankinton School District 01-1 is the county's largest provider, managing seven schools and educating 288 students. White Lake School District 01-3 follows with 129 students across three schools. There are currently no charter schools operating within the county's boundaries.
What is the school experience like in Aurora County?
Every school in Aurora County is classified as rural, creating an intimate educational environment with an average school size of only 53 students. Corsica-Stickney Elementary is the largest campus with 170 students, while the Plankinton Junior High serves just 51. This small-town atmosphere ensures that nearly every student receives personalized attention from staff.
Counties with Similar School Profile
Data Sources
Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.
Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.