Custer County Schools & Education
Custer County, South Dakota
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
57/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
92.0%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
92.0%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 82.4%
Per-Pupil Spending
$7,324
National avg $13,239
State avg $7,409
School Score
57/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 38/100
State Score Position
#9
of 65 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Custer County
Measured School Summary
Custer County performs at an average level with a school score of 57/100 and a solid graduation rate of 92.0%.
Funding Context
At $7,324 per pupil, Custer County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 50% above the South Dakota average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 9.6 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 1% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Custer 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
6 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
57/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #9 of 65 South Dakota counties with school score data.
Completion
92.0%
9.6 pts above the state average
Funding context
$7,324
$85 below the state average
School coverage
6
2 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
Custer County has 6 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 Custer 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.
Small-system county
Custer County has a compact public-school footprint. A single school change, boundary rule, or district update can move the lived experience more than the county score suggests.
State position
#9
of 65 South Dakota counties with school score data. The county score is 19 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.
Custer School District 16-1
Elementary to high school visible
911 students
4 listed schools in this county slice.
Elk Mountain School District 16-2
Elementary and high visible
11 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Custer School District 16-1 is the largest listed district slice, with 4 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 Custer County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Custer 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 Custer 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.
Educational Excellence in the Black Hills
Custer County provides education for 922 students across six public schools and two districts. The system includes three elementary schools, one middle school, and two high schools to serve its growing community.
Custer School District Dominance
Custer School District 16-1 manages four schools and 911 students, representing nearly the entire student population of the county. Charter schools are not present, as the county relies on its highly-rated traditional public districts.
From Mountain Towns to Tiny Rural Outposts
The county is entirely rural, yet school sizes vary wildly from Custer Elementary's 304 students to Elk Mountain Elementary, which serves just 9 students. This range provides a unique spectrum of educational experiences within a single county.
School Overview
Total Schools
6
in Custer County
Reported Enrollment
922
6 schools reporting
School Districts
2
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
2 School Districts in Custer County
Custer School District 16-1
Elk Mountain School District 16-2
6 Public Schools in Custer 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 6 of 6 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Custer Elementary - 02 | Record | Custer School District 16-1 | Custer, 57730Rural: Distant | KG–6 | Primary | 304 |
| Custer High School - 01 | Record | Custer School District 16-1 | Custer, 57730Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 284 |
| Hermosa Elementary - 04 | Record | Custer School District 16-1 | Hermosa, 57744Rural: Distant | KG–8 | Primary | 222 |
| Custer Jr. High - 05 | Record | Custer School District 16-1 | Custer, 57730Rural: Distant | 7–8 | Middle | 101 |
| Elk Mountain Elementary - 01 | Record | Elk Mountain School District 16-2 | Dewey, 57735Rural: Remote | PK–8 | Primary | 9 |
| Elk Mountain High School - 04 | Record | Elk Mountain School District 16-2 | Dewey, 57735Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 2 |
Custer Elementary - 02
Custer School District 16-1
Custer, 57730 / Rural: Distant
Custer High School - 01
Custer School District 16-1
Custer, 57730 / Rural: Distant
Hermosa Elementary - 04
Custer School District 16-1
Hermosa, 57744 / Rural: Distant
Custer Jr. High - 05
Custer School District 16-1
Custer, 57730 / Rural: Distant
Elk Mountain Elementary - 01
Elk Mountain School District 16-2
Dewey, 57735 / Rural: Remote
Elk Mountain High School - 04
Elk Mountain School District 16-2
Dewey, 57735 / Rural: Remote
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$7,324
State avg $7,409
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Custer 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 Custer County?
What is the graduation rate in Custer County?
How much does Custer County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Custer County, South Dakota — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Custer County, South Dakota?
Custer County provides education for 922 students across six public schools and two districts. The system includes three elementary schools, one middle school, and two high schools to serve its growing community.
What are the major school districts in Custer County, South Dakota?
Custer School District 16-1 manages four schools and 911 students, representing nearly the entire student population of the county. Charter schools are not present, as the county relies on its highly-rated traditional public districts.
What is the school experience like in Custer County?
The county is entirely rural, yet school sizes vary wildly from Custer Elementary's 304 students to Elk Mountain Elementary, which serves just 9 students. This range provides a unique spectrum of educational experiences within a single county.
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.