Grant County Schools & Education
Grant County, South Dakota
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
53/100
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
$7,044
National avg $13,239
State avg $7,409
School Score
53/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 38/100
State Score Position
#13
of 65 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Grant County
Measured School Summary
Grant County performs at an average level with a school score of 53/100 and a solid graduation rate of 92.0%.
Funding Context
At $7,044 per pupil, Grant County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 41% above the South Dakota average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 9.6 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 5% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Grant 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
7 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
53/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #13 of 65 South Dakota counties with school score data.
Completion
92.0%
9.6 pts above the state average
Funding context
$7,044
$365 below the state average
School coverage
7
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
Grant County has 7 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 Grant 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
Grant 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
#13
of 65 South Dakota counties with school score data. The county score is 15 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.
Milbank School District 25-4
Elementary to high school visible
1,033 students
4 listed schools in this county slice.
Big Stone City School District 25-1
Elementary and middle visible
85 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Milbank School District 25-4 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 Grant County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Grant 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 Grant 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.
Grant County's Academic Foundation
Seven public schools serve Grant County, including four elementary, two middle, and one high school. These schools support a total enrollment of 1,130 students across two districts.
Milbank School District Leadership
The Milbank School District 25-4 is the county's largest, enrolling 1,033 students across four schools. Traditional public schools represent 100% of the county's options as there are no charters.
A Blend of Town Hubs and Rural Sites
Students are spread across three town-based schools and four rural sites, with an average school size of 161. Milbank Elementary is the largest at 437 students, while Big Stone City Middle School remains tiny with just 19 students.
School Overview
Total Schools
7
in Grant County
Reported Enrollment
1,130
7 schools reporting
School Districts
2
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
2 School Districts in Grant County
Milbank School District 25-4
Big Stone City School District 25-1
7 Public Schools in Grant 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 7 of 7 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milbank Elementary - 03 | Record | Milbank School District 25-4 | Milbank, 57252Town: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 437 |
| Milbank High School - 01 | Record | Milbank School District 25-4 | Milbank, 57252Town: Remote | 9–12 | High | 359 |
| Milbank Middle School - 02 | Record | Milbank School District 25-4 | Milbank, 57252Town: Remote | 6–8 | Middle | 229 |
| Big Stone City Elementary - 01 | Record | Big Stone City School District 25-1 | Big Stone City, 57216Rural: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 66 |
| Big Stone City Middle School - 03 | Record | Big Stone City School District 25-1 | Big Stone City, 57216Rural: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 19 |
| Sunrise Colony - 15 | Record | Watertown School District 14-4 | Watertown, 57266Rural: Remote | KG–8 | Primary | 12 |
| Blue Sky Colony - 04 | Record | Milbank School District 25-4 | Revillo, 57259Rural: Distant | KG–8 | Primary | 8 |
Milbank Elementary - 03
Milbank School District 25-4
Milbank, 57252 / Town: Remote
Milbank High School - 01
Milbank School District 25-4
Milbank, 57252 / Town: Remote
Milbank Middle School - 02
Milbank School District 25-4
Milbank, 57252 / Town: Remote
Big Stone City Elementary - 01
Big Stone City School District 25-1
Big Stone City, 57216 / Rural: Distant
Big Stone City Middle School - 03
Big Stone City School District 25-1
Big Stone City, 57216 / Rural: Distant
Sunrise Colony - 15
Watertown School District 14-4
Watertown, 57266 / Rural: Remote
Blue Sky Colony - 04
Milbank School District 25-4
Revillo, 57259 / Rural: Distant
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$7,044
State avg $7,409
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Grant 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 Grant County?
What is the graduation rate in Grant County?
How much does Grant County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Grant County, South Dakota — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Grant County, South Dakota?
Seven public schools serve Grant County, including four elementary, two middle, and one high school. These schools support a total enrollment of 1,130 students across two districts.
What are the major school districts in Grant County, South Dakota?
The Milbank School District 25-4 is the county's largest, enrolling 1,033 students across four schools. Traditional public schools represent 100% of the county's options as there are no charters.
What is the school experience like in Grant County?
Students are spread across three town-based schools and four rural sites, with an average school size of 161. Milbank Elementary is the largest at 437 students, while Big Stone City Middle School remains tiny with just 19 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.