Hamlin County Schools & Education
Hamlin County, South Dakota
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
40/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
92.8%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
92.8%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 82.4%
Per-Pupil Spending
$5,568
National avg $13,239
State avg $7,409
School Score
40/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 38/100
State Score Position
#31
of 65 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Hamlin County
Measured School Summary
Hamlin County performs at an average level with a school score of 40/100 and a solid graduation rate of 92.8%.
Funding Context
At $5,568 per pupil, Hamlin County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 5% above the South Dakota average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 10.4 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 25% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Hamlin 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
10 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
40/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #31 of 65 South Dakota counties with school score data.
Completion
92.8%
10.4 pts above the state average
Funding context
$5,568
$1,841 below the state average
School coverage
10
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
Hamlin County has 10 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 Hamlin 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
Hamlin 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
#31
of 65 South Dakota counties with school score data. The county score is 2 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.
Hamlin School District 28-3
Elementary to high school visible
870 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
Castlewood School District 28-1
Elementary to high school visible
334 students
4 listed schools in this county slice.
Estelline School District 28-2
Elementary to high school visible
274 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Castlewood School District 28-1 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 Hamlin County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Hamlin 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 Hamlin 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.
Broad Reach and High Enrollment
Hamlin County manages ten public schools across three districts, serving a total of 1,478 students. The system features a balanced mix of four elementary, three middle, and three high schools. This infrastructure supports a larger student body compared to many of its neighboring rural counties.
Hamlin School District Leads the Way
Hamlin School District 28-3 is the largest provider, educating 870 students across three main schools. Castlewood and Estelline districts also serve the county, with 334 and 274 students respectively. There are currently no charter schools, meaning 100% of the student population attends traditional public districts.
A Unified Rural Campus Feel
The county's schools are entirely rural, with an average size of 148 students per building. Hamlin Elementary is the largest facility, housing 451 students, while Estelline Elementary remains more intimate with 133 children. This variety allows parents to choose between slightly larger regional schools and smaller community settings.
School Overview
Total Schools
10
in Hamlin County
Reported Enrollment
1,478
10 schools reporting
School Districts
3
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
3 School Districts in Hamlin County
Hamlin School District 28-3
Castlewood School District 28-1
Estelline School District 28-2
10 Public Schools in Hamlin 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 10 of 10 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hamlin Elementary - 09 | Record | Hamlin School District 28-3 | Hayti, 57241Rural: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 451 |
| Hamlin High School - 01 | Record | Hamlin School District 28-3 | Hayti, 57241Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 233 |
| Hamlin Middle School - 02 | Record | Hamlin School District 28-3 | Hayti, 57241Rural: Remote | 6–8 | Middle | 186 |
| Castlewood Elementary - 02 | Record | Castlewood School District 28-1 | Castlewood, 57223Rural: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 154 |
| Estelline Elementary - 02 | Record | Estelline School District 28-2 | Estelline, 57234Rural: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 133 |
| Castlewood High School - 01 | Record | Castlewood School District 28-1 | Castlewood, 57223Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 91 |
| Estelline High School - 01 | Record | Estelline School District 28-2 | Estelline, 57234Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 79 |
| Castlewood Middle School - 03 | Record | Castlewood School District 28-1 | Castlewood, 57223Rural: Remote | 6–8 | Middle | 75 |
| Estelline Middle School - 03 | Record | Estelline School District 28-2 | Estelline, 57234Rural: Remote | 6–8 | Middle | 62 |
| Claremont Colony Elementary - 04 | Record | Castlewood School District 28-1 | Castlewood, 57223Rural: Remote | KG–8 | Primary | 14 |
Hamlin Elementary - 09
Hamlin School District 28-3
Hayti, 57241 / Rural: Remote
Hamlin High School - 01
Hamlin School District 28-3
Hayti, 57241 / Rural: Remote
Hamlin Middle School - 02
Hamlin School District 28-3
Hayti, 57241 / Rural: Remote
Castlewood Elementary - 02
Castlewood School District 28-1
Castlewood, 57223 / Rural: Remote
Estelline Elementary - 02
Estelline School District 28-2
Estelline, 57234 / Rural: Remote
Castlewood High School - 01
Castlewood School District 28-1
Castlewood, 57223 / Rural: Remote
Estelline High School - 01
Estelline School District 28-2
Estelline, 57234 / Rural: Remote
Castlewood Middle School - 03
Castlewood School District 28-1
Castlewood, 57223 / Rural: Remote
Estelline Middle School - 03
Estelline School District 28-2
Estelline, 57234 / Rural: Remote
Claremont Colony Elementary - 04
Castlewood School District 28-1
Castlewood, 57223 / Rural: Remote
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$5,568
State avg $7,409
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Hamlin 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 Hamlin County?
What is the graduation rate in Hamlin County?
How much does Hamlin County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Hamlin County, South Dakota — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Hamlin County, South Dakota?
Hamlin County manages ten public schools across three districts, serving a total of 1,478 students. The system features a balanced mix of four elementary, three middle, and three high schools. This infrastructure supports a larger student body compared to many of its neighboring rural counties.
What are the major school districts in Hamlin County, South Dakota?
Hamlin School District 28-3 is the largest provider, educating 870 students across three main schools. Castlewood and Estelline districts also serve the county, with 334 and 274 students respectively. There are currently no charter schools, meaning 100% of the student population attends traditional public districts.
What is the school experience like in Hamlin County?
The county's schools are entirely rural, with an average size of 148 students per building. Hamlin Elementary is the largest facility, housing 451 students, while Estelline Elementary remains more intimate with 133 children. This variety allows parents to choose between slightly larger regional schools and smaller community settings.
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.