Corson County Schools & Education
Corson County, South Dakota
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
45/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
67.6%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
67.6%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 82.4%
Per-Pupil Spending
$10,486
National avg $13,239
State avg $7,409
School Score
45/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 38/100
State Score Position
#22
of 65 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Corson County
Measured School Summary
Corson County has midrange measured school signals (score: 45/100) with a graduation rate of 67.6%, which warrants review in official state and district records.
Funding Context
Corson County spends $10,486 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 19% above the South Dakota average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 14.8 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 42% higher than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Corson 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
9 public schools and 3 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
45/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #22 of 65 South Dakota counties with school score data.
Completion
67.6%
14.8 pts below the state average
Funding context
$10,486
$3,077 above the state average
School coverage
9
3 districts represented in the county school list.
Start with measured county context
This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.
Check the local school mix
Corson County has 9 public schools across 3 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 Corson 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.
Mixed school landscape
Corson County has enough school-level records to compare the local mix, but no single county metric should be treated as the answer. Use district shape, grade span, and data coverage together.
State position
#22
of 65 South Dakota counties with school score data. The county score is 7 points above 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.
McLaughlin School District 15-2
Elementary to high school visible
442 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
Smee School District 15-3
Elementary to high school visible
188 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
McIntosh School District 15-1
Elementary to high school visible
135 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
McIntosh School District 15-1 is the largest listed district slice, with 3 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 Corson County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Corson 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 Corson 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.
Rural Infrastructure in Corson County
Corson County hosts nine public schools serving a total enrollment of 765 students. These schools are distributed across three districts, with three elementary, three middle, and three high schools providing coverage for the area.
High Investment Despite Graduation Gaps
Corson County spends a significant $10,486 per pupil, well above the state average of $7,409. However, the graduation rate currently stands at 67.6%, which is below both state and national benchmarks.
Focus on the McLaughlin School District
McLaughlin School District 15-2 is the largest in the county, educating 442 students across three schools. The county maintains a traditional educational structure with zero charter schools in operation.
Small Schools in a Vast Rural Setting
All schools in Corson County are classified as rural, featuring an intimate average school size of 85 students. McLaughlin Elementary is the largest school with 203 students, while many other facilities are much smaller.
School Overview
Total Schools
9
in Corson County
Reported Enrollment
765
9 schools reporting
School Districts
3
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
3 School Districts in Corson County
McLaughlin School District 15-2
Smee School District 15-3
McIntosh School District 15-1
9 Public Schools in Corson 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 9 of 9 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McLaughlin Elementary - 02 | Record | McLaughlin School District 15-2 | McLaughlin, 57642Rural: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 203 |
| McLaughlin High School - 01 | Record | McLaughlin School District 15-2 | McLaughlin, 57642Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 165 |
| Wakpala Elementary - 02 | Record | Smee School District 15-3 | Wakpala, 57658Rural: Distant | KG–5 | Primary | 85 |
| McLaughlin Middle School - 03 | Record | McLaughlin School District 15-2 | McLaughlin, 57642Rural: Remote | 6–8 | Middle | 74 |
| Wakpala High School - 01 | Record | Smee School District 15-3 | Wakpala, 57658Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 66 |
| McIntosh Elementary - 02 | Record | McIntosh School District 15-1 | McIntosh, 57641Rural: Remote | PK–4 | Primary | 52 |
| McIntosh High School - 01 | Record | McIntosh School District 15-1 | McIntosh, 57641Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 46 |
| McIntosh Middle School - 03 | Record | McIntosh School District 15-1 | McIntosh, 57641Rural: Remote | 5–8 | Middle | 37 |
| Wakpala Middle School - 04 | Record | Smee School District 15-3 | Wakpala, 57658Rural: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 37 |
McLaughlin Elementary - 02
McLaughlin School District 15-2
McLaughlin, 57642 / Rural: Remote
McLaughlin High School - 01
McLaughlin School District 15-2
McLaughlin, 57642 / Rural: Remote
Wakpala Elementary - 02
Smee School District 15-3
Wakpala, 57658 / Rural: Distant
McLaughlin Middle School - 03
McLaughlin School District 15-2
McLaughlin, 57642 / Rural: Remote
Wakpala High School - 01
Smee School District 15-3
Wakpala, 57658 / Rural: Distant
McIntosh Elementary - 02
McIntosh School District 15-1
McIntosh, 57641 / Rural: Remote
McIntosh High School - 01
McIntosh School District 15-1
McIntosh, 57641 / Rural: Remote
McIntosh Middle School - 03
McIntosh School District 15-1
McIntosh, 57641 / Rural: Remote
Wakpala Middle School - 04
Smee School District 15-3
Wakpala, 57658 / Rural: Distant
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$10,486
State avg $7,409
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Corson 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 Corson County?
What is the graduation rate in Corson County?
How much does Corson County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Corson County, South Dakota — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Corson County, South Dakota?
Corson County hosts nine public schools serving a total enrollment of 765 students. These schools are distributed across three districts, with three elementary, three middle, and three high schools providing coverage for the area.
How do schools in Corson County perform academically?
Corson County spends a significant $10,486 per pupil, well above the state average of $7,409. However, the graduation rate currently stands at 67.6%, which is below both state and national benchmarks.
What are the major school districts in Corson County, South Dakota?
McLaughlin School District 15-2 is the largest in the county, educating 442 students across three schools. The county maintains a traditional educational structure with zero charter schools in operation.
What is the school experience like in Corson County?
All schools in Corson County are classified as rural, featuring an intimate average school size of 85 students. McLaughlin Elementary is the largest school with 203 students, while many other facilities are much smaller.
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.