Hand County Schools & Education
Hand County, South Dakota
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
60/100
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
$8,364
National avg $13,239
State avg $7,409
School Score
60/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 38/100
State Score Position
#8
of 65 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Hand County
Measured School Summary
Hand County performs at an average level with a school score of 60/100 and a solid graduation rate of 90.0%.
Funding Context
Hand County spends $8,364 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 59% above the South Dakota average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 7.6 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 13% higher than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Hand 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
4 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
60/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #8 of 65 South Dakota counties with school score data.
Completion
90.0%
7.6 pts above the state average
Funding context
$8,364
$955 above the state average
School coverage
4
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
Hand County has 4 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 Hand 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
Hand 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
#8
of 65 South Dakota counties with school score data. The county score is 22 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.
Miller 29-4
Elementary to high school visible
457 students
4 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Miller 29-4 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 Hand 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 Hand 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.
The Miller Education Network
Hand County operates four public schools, all managed under a single, unified district. The student body of 457 is served by two elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school. This streamlined approach allows the county to centralize its academic resources efficiently.
A Single District Serving All
Miller School District 29-4 is the sole educational authority in the county, managing all 457 students. The district maintains a traditional public school model with no charter schools currently in operation. This unified structure fosters a strong sense of community and shared goals among local families.
Rural Roots with Diverse Sizes
All schools in Hand County are rural, but they range significantly in scale. Miller Elementary is the largest with 233 students, while Millerdale Colony Elementary provides an extremely intimate setting for 30 students. The average school size across the county is 114 students, balancing community feel with regional resources.
School Overview
Total Schools
4
in Hand County
Reported Enrollment
457
4 schools reporting
School Districts
1
district
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
1 School District in Hand County
Miller 29-4
4 Public Schools in Hand 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 4 of 4 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miller Elementary - 02 | Record | Miller 29-4 | Miller, 57362Rural: Remote | KG–6 | Primary | 233 |
| Miller High School - 01 | Record | Miller 29-4 | Miller, 57362Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 133 |
| Miller Jr. High - 04 | Record | Miller 29-4 | Miller, 57362Rural: Remote | 7–8 | Middle | 61 |
| Millerdale Colony Elementary - 11 | Record | Miller 29-4 | Miller, 57362Rural: Remote | KG–8 | Primary | 30 |
Millerdale Colony Elementary - 11
Miller 29-4
Miller, 57362 / Rural: Remote
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$8,364
State avg $7,409
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Hand 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 Hand County?
What is the graduation rate in Hand County?
How much does Hand County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Hand County, South Dakota — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Hand County, South Dakota?
Hand County operates four public schools, all managed under a single, unified district. The student body of 457 is served by two elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school. This streamlined approach allows the county to centralize its academic resources efficiently.
What are the major school districts in Hand County, South Dakota?
Miller School District 29-4 is the sole educational authority in the county, managing all 457 students. The district maintains a traditional public school model with no charter schools currently in operation. This unified structure fosters a strong sense of community and shared goals among local families.
What is the school experience like in Hand County?
All schools in Hand County are rural, but they range significantly in scale. Miller Elementary is the largest with 233 students, while Millerdale Colony Elementary provides an extremely intimate setting for 30 students. The average school size across the county is 114 students, balancing community feel with regional resources.
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.