Dewey County Schools & Education
Dewey County, South Dakota
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
68/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
90.0%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
90.0%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 82.4%
Per-Pupil Spending
$9,756
National avg $13,239
State avg $7,409
School Score
68/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 38/100
State Score Position
#4
of 65 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Dewey County
Measured School Summary
Dewey County performs at an average level with a school score of 68/100 and a solid graduation rate of 90.0%.
Funding Context
Dewey County spends $9,756 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 79% above the South Dakota average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 7.6 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 32% higher than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Dewey 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
8 public schools and 1 district 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
68/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #4 of 65 South Dakota counties with school score data.
Completion
90.0%
7.6 pts above the state average
Funding context
$9,756
$2,347 above the state average
School coverage
8
1 district 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
Dewey County has 8 public schools across 1 district, 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 Dewey 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
Dewey 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
#4
of 65 South Dakota counties with school score data. The county score is 30 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.
Timber Lake School District 20-3
Elementary to high school visible
362 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Timber Lake School District 20-3 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 Dewey County?
Which attendance zones, transfer rules, and transportation policies apply inside the local district?
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 Dewey 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.
A Diverse District Infrastructure
Dewey County supports eight public schools, including two alternative schools, serving 482 students in a single district. The landscape features a mix of three high schools, three middle schools, and two elementary schools.
Timber Lake District Spotlight
Timber Lake School District 20-3 is the primary district, enrolling 362 students. There are no charter schools in the county, keeping education focused on traditional public and alternative pathways.
A Mix of Town and Rural Settings
Education takes place across five town-based schools and three rural campuses, with a very small average school size of 69 students. Timber Lake Elementary is the largest with 168 students, while Eagle Butte High School serves a tiny cohort of just 13 students.
School Overview
Total Schools
8
in Dewey County
Reported Enrollment
482
8 schools reporting
School Districts
1
district
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
1 School District in Dewey County
Timber Lake School District 20-3
8 Public Schools in Dewey 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 8 of 8 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Timber Lake Elementary - 02 | Record | Timber Lake School District 20-3 | Timber Lake, 57656Rural: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 168 |
| Timber Lake High School - 01 | Record | Timber Lake School District 20-3 | Timber Lake, 57656Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 113 |
| Eagle Butte Primary - 02 | Record | Eagle Butte School District 20-1 | Eagle Butte, 57625Town: Remote | KG–2 | Primary | 96 |
| Timber Lake Middle School - 03 | Record | Timber Lake School District 20-3 | Timber Lake, 57656Rural: Remote | 6–8 | Middle | 81 |
| Eagle Butte High School - 01 | Record | Eagle Butte School District 20-1 | Eagle Butte, 57625Town: Remote | 9–12 | High | 13 |
| Eagle Butte Jr. High - 06 | Record | Eagle Butte School District 20-1 | Eagle Butte, 57625Town: Remote | 7–8 | Middle | 10 |
| E. A. G. L. E. Center High School - 07 | Record | Eagle Butte School District 20-1 | Eagle Butte, 57625Town: Remote | 9–12 | Alternative | 1 |
| E.A.G.L.E. Center - 09 | Record | Eagle Butte School District 20-1 | Eagle Butte, 57625Town: Remote | 5–8 | Alternative | 0 |
Timber Lake Elementary - 02
Timber Lake School District 20-3
Timber Lake, 57656 / Rural: Remote
Timber Lake High School - 01
Timber Lake School District 20-3
Timber Lake, 57656 / Rural: Remote
Eagle Butte Primary - 02
Eagle Butte School District 20-1
Eagle Butte, 57625 / Town: Remote
Timber Lake Middle School - 03
Timber Lake School District 20-3
Timber Lake, 57656 / Rural: Remote
Eagle Butte High School - 01
Eagle Butte School District 20-1
Eagle Butte, 57625 / Town: Remote
Eagle Butte Jr. High - 06
Eagle Butte School District 20-1
Eagle Butte, 57625 / Town: Remote
E. A. G. L. E. Center High School - 07
Eagle Butte School District 20-1
Eagle Butte, 57625 / Town: Remote
E.A.G.L.E. Center - 09
Eagle Butte School District 20-1
Eagle Butte, 57625 / Town: Remote
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$9,756
State avg $7,409
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Dewey 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 Dewey County?
What is the graduation rate in Dewey County?
How much does Dewey County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Dewey County, South Dakota — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Dewey County, South Dakota?
Dewey County supports eight public schools, including two alternative schools, serving 482 students in a single district. The landscape features a mix of three high schools, three middle schools, and two elementary schools.
What are the major school districts in Dewey County, South Dakota?
Timber Lake School District 20-3 is the primary district, enrolling 362 students. There are no charter schools in the county, keeping education focused on traditional public and alternative pathways.
What is the school experience like in Dewey County?
Education takes place across five town-based schools and three rural campuses, with a very small average school size of 69 students. Timber Lake Elementary is the largest with 168 students, while Eagle Butte High School serves a tiny cohort of just 13 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.