Day County Schools & Education
Day County, South Dakota
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
38/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Lower Signal
Graduation Rate
91.2%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
91.2%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 82.4%
Per-Pupil Spending
$6,132
National avg $13,239
State avg $7,409
School Score
38/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 38/100
State Score Position
#34
of 65 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Day County
Measured School Summary
Despite a lower school score of 38/100, Day County maintains a strong graduation rate of 91.2%, suggesting effective student support systems.
Funding Context
At $6,132 per pupil, Day County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 1% above the South Dakota average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 8.8 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 17% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Day 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
38/100
Lower measured signal. Ranks #34 of 65 South Dakota counties with school score data.
Completion
91.2%
8.8 pts above the state average
Funding context
$6,132
$1,277 below the state average
School coverage
6
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
Day 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 Day 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
Day 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
#34
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.
Webster Area 18-5
Elementary to high school visible
551 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
Waubay School District 18-3
Elementary to high school visible
183 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Waubay School District 18-3 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 Day County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Day 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 Day 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.
Day County's Rural Education Network
Six public schools serve a total enrollment of 734 students across two districts. The infrastructure is evenly split between two elementary, two middle, and two high schools.
Strong Graduation Rates with Efficient Spending
Day County boasts a 91.2% graduation rate, significantly outpacing the state average of 82.4% and the national mark of 87%. The county achieves these results with a per-pupil expenditure of $6,132, which is lower than both the state and national averages.
Webster Area Leads the Local Districts
Webster Area 18-5 is the largest district, educating 551 students across three schools. There are currently no charter schools in the county, with all public education provided through traditional local districts.
The Intimacy of Rural Classrooms
Every school in the county is located in a rural setting, maintaining an average school size of 122 students. Webster Area Elementary is the largest facility with 265 students, while Waubay High School offers a highly personalized experience for its 64 students.
School Overview
Total Schools
6
in Day County
Reported Enrollment
734
6 schools reporting
School Districts
2
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
2 School Districts in Day County
Webster Area 18-5
Waubay School District 18-3
6 Public Schools in Day 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Webster Area Elementary - 03 | Record | Webster Area 18-5 | Webster, 57274Rural: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 265 |
| Webster Area High School - 01 | Record | Webster Area 18-5 | Webster, 57274Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 161 |
| Webster Area Middle School - 02 | Record | Webster Area 18-5 | Webster, 57274Rural: Remote | 6–8 | Middle | 125 |
| Waubay Elementary - 02 | Record | Waubay School District 18-3 | Waubay, 57273Rural: Remote | PK–6 | Primary | 87 |
| Waubay High School - 01 | Record | Waubay School District 18-3 | Waubay, 57273Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 64 |
| Waubay Middle School - 03 | Record | Waubay School District 18-3 | Waubay, 57273Rural: Remote | 7–8 | Middle | 32 |
Webster Area Elementary - 03
Webster Area 18-5
Webster, 57274 / Rural: Remote
Webster Area High School - 01
Webster Area 18-5
Webster, 57274 / Rural: Remote
Webster Area Middle School - 02
Webster Area 18-5
Webster, 57274 / Rural: Remote
Waubay Elementary - 02
Waubay School District 18-3
Waubay, 57273 / Rural: Remote
Waubay High School - 01
Waubay School District 18-3
Waubay, 57273 / Rural: Remote
Waubay Middle School - 03
Waubay School District 18-3
Waubay, 57273 / Rural: Remote
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$6,132
State avg $7,409
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Day 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 Day County?
What is the graduation rate in Day County?
How much does Day County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Day County, South Dakota — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Day County, South Dakota?
Six public schools serve a total enrollment of 734 students across two districts. The infrastructure is evenly split between two elementary, two middle, and two high schools.
How do schools in Day County perform academically?
Day County boasts a 91.2% graduation rate, significantly outpacing the state average of 82.4% and the national mark of 87%. The county achieves these results with a per-pupil expenditure of $6,132, which is lower than both the state and national averages.
What are the major school districts in Day County, South Dakota?
Webster Area 18-5 is the largest district, educating 551 students across three schools. There are currently no charter schools in the county, with all public education provided through traditional local districts.
What is the school experience like in Day County?
Every school in the county is located in a rural setting, maintaining an average school size of 122 students. Webster Area Elementary is the largest facility with 265 students, while Waubay High School offers a highly personalized experience for its 64 students.
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.