schoolsbycounty

Brown County Schools & Education

Brown County, South Dakota

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

School Score

36/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Lower Signal

Graduation Rate

90.9%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

90.9%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 82.4%

Per-Pupil Spending

$6,045

National avg $13,239

State avg $7,409

School Score

36/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 38/100

State Score Position

#37

of 65 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Brown County

Measured School Summary

Despite a lower school score of 36/100, Brown County maintains a strong graduation rate of 90.9%, suggesting effective student support systems.

Funding Context

At $6,045 per pupil, Brown County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 5% below the South Dakota average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 8.5 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 18% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Brown 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

22 public schools and 5 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

36/100

Lower measured signal. Ranks #37 of 65 South Dakota counties with school score data.

Completion

90.9%

8.5 pts above the state average

Funding context

$6,045

$1,364 below the state average

School coverage

22

5 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

Brown County has 22 public schools across 5 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.

View Public SchoolsCompare Counties
Parent decision brief

What Brown 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.

Review-carefully county

Brown County has a lower measured county-level school signal. Use the school table to look for specific districts or grade bands that may differ from the county average.

State position

#37

of 65 South Dakota counties with school score data. The county score is 2 points below 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.

Aberdeen School District 06-1

Elementary to high school visible

4,326 students

Elementary 6Middle 2High 2Other 0

10 listed schools in this county slice.

Groton Area School District 06-6

Elementary to high school visible

597 students

Elementary 1Middle 1High 1Other 0

3 listed schools in this county slice.

Warner School District 06-5

Elementary to high school visible

314 students

Elementary 1Middle 1High 1Other 0

3 listed schools in this county slice.

Frederick Area School District 06-2

Elementary to high school visible

171 students

Elementary 1Middle 1High 1Other 0

3 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

Aberdeen School District 06-1 is the largest listed district slice, with 10 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 Brown County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Brown 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 Brown 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.

Comprehensive Education in Northern South Dakota

Brown County hosts 22 public schools, including 11 elementary, five middle, and six high schools, serving 5,445 students. This extensive system is managed by five different school districts, ensuring broad coverage across the county's large geographic area. The county also includes one alternative school and two specialized special education facilities.

Aberdeen School District Leads the Region

The Aberdeen School District 06-1 is the largest in the county, serving 4,326 students across 10 schools. Groton Area and Frederick Area districts also contribute to the local landscape, serving 597 and 171 students respectively. No charter schools operate in Brown County, with all 22 schools functioning as traditional public entities.

A Dynamic Mix of Town and Country

Brown County offers a diverse geographic mix with 12 town schools and 10 rural schools. Central High School in Aberdeen is the largest with 1,388 students, providing a large-school experience with diverse extracurriculars. In contrast, the average school size countywide is 248, blending urban-style amenities with rural community values.

School Overview

Total Schools

22

in Brown County

Reported Enrollment

5,445

22 schools reporting

School Districts

5

districts

Charter Schools

0

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary11
Middle5
High6
Other0

5 School Districts in Brown County

Aberdeen School District 06-1

Guide
10 schools
4,326 students
Open district guide

Groton Area School District 06-6

3 schools
597 students

Warner School District 06-5

3 schools
314 students

Frederick Area School District 06-2

3 schools
171 students

SD SCH FOR THE BLIND & VISUALLY IMPAIRED

2 schools
20 students

22 Public Schools in Brown County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 1 high-enrollment school; every NCES public school remains listed here.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Level

Showing 20 of 22 matching schools

Central High School - 01

Aberdeen School District 06-1

Aberdeen, 57401 / Town: Remote

Profile9–12High1,388 students

Holgate Middle School - 02

Aberdeen School District 06-1

Aberdeen, 57401 / Town: Remote

Record6–8Middle512 students

Simmons Middle School - 03

Aberdeen School District 06-1

Aberdeen, 57401 / Town: Remote

Record6–8Middle483 students

Simmons Elementary - 10

Aberdeen School District 06-1

Aberdeen, 57401 / Town: Remote

RecordKG–5Primary395 students

C C Lee Elementary - 05

Aberdeen School District 06-1

Aberdeen, 57401 / Town: Remote

RecordKG–5Primary371 students

May Overby Elementary - 09

Aberdeen School District 06-1

Aberdeen, 57401 / Town: Remote

RecordKG–5Primary357 students

O M Tiffany Elementary - 11

Aberdeen School District 06-1

Aberdeen, 57401 / Town: Remote

RecordKG–5Primary312 students

Groton Area Elementary - 02

Groton Area School District 06-6

Groton, 57445 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–5Primary295 students

Lincoln Elementary - 08

Aberdeen School District 06-1

Aberdeen, 57401 / Town: Remote

RecordPK–5Primary256 students

Mike Miller Elementary - 07

Aberdeen School District 06-1

Aberdeen, 57401 / Town: Remote

RecordKG–5Primary244 students

Groton Area High School - 01

Groton Area School District 06-6

Groton, 57445 / Rural: Remote

Record9–12High175 students

Warner Elementary - 02

Warner School District 06-5

Warner, 57479 / Rural: Distant

RecordKG–5Primary155 students

Groton Area Middle School - 04

Groton Area School District 06-6

Groton, 57445 / Rural: Remote

Record6–8Middle127 students

Warner High School - 01

Warner School District 06-5

Warner, 57479 / Rural: Distant

Record9–12High87 students

Frederick Elementary - 02

Frederick Area School District 06-2

Frederick, 57441 / Rural: Remote

RecordKG–6Primary79 students

Warner Middle School - 03

Warner School District 06-5

Warner, 57479 / Rural: Distant

Record6–8Middle72 students

Frederick High School - 01

Frederick Area School District 06-2

Frederick, 57441 / Rural: Remote

Record9–12High63 students

Frederick Jr. High - 03

Frederick Area School District 06-2

Frederick, 57441 / Rural: Remote

Record7–8Middle29 students

Hutterville Colony Elementary - 06

Northwestern Area School District 56-7

Stratford, 57474 / Rural: Remote

RecordKG–8Primary17 students

SDSBVI High School - 02

SD SCH FOR THE BLIND & VISUALLY IMPAIRED

Aberdeen, 57401 / Town: Remote

Record9–12Special Education11 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$6,045

State avg $7,409

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Brown County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

View Schools

Frequently Asked Questions

Which South Dakota counties have the highest graduation rates?
Deuel County (95.0%), Stanley County (95.0%), and Hamlin County (92.8%) currently lead South Dakota among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.
What is per-pupil spending like in South Dakota?
Across South Dakota counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $7,409. The highest current county values are Ziebach County ($13,420), Corson County ($10,486), and Sully County ($10,373). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.
How should I read the school score in Brown County?
Brown County has a school score of 36/100, which is a lower measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.
What is the graduation rate in Brown County?
The high school graduation rate in Brown County is 90.9%, which is above the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.
How much does Brown County spend per student?
Brown County spends $6,045 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools in Brown County, South Dakota — FAQ

What does the school system look like in Brown County, South Dakota?

Brown County hosts 22 public schools, including 11 elementary, five middle, and six high schools, serving 5,445 students. This extensive system is managed by five different school districts, ensuring broad coverage across the county's large geographic area. The county also includes one alternative school and two specialized special education facilities.

What are the major school districts in Brown County, South Dakota?

The Aberdeen School District 06-1 is the largest in the county, serving 4,326 students across 10 schools. Groton Area and Frederick Area districts also contribute to the local landscape, serving 597 and 171 students respectively. No charter schools operate in Brown County, with all 22 schools functioning as traditional public entities.

What is the school experience like in Brown County?

Brown County offers a diverse geographic mix with 12 town schools and 10 rural schools. Central High School in Aberdeen is the largest with 1,388 students, providing a large-school experience with diverse extracurriculars. In contrast, the average school size countywide is 248, blending urban-style amenities with rural community values.

Counties with Similar School Profile

Hughes County

South Dakota

-0 pts

36/100

School score

Jones County

South Dakota

-1 pts

36/100

School score

Turner County

South Dakota

+1 pts

37/100

School score

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

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.

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