Hanson County Schools & Education
Hanson County, South Dakota
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
28/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Lower 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
$5,535
National avg $13,239
State avg $7,409
School Score
28/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 38/100
State Score Position
#49
of 65 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Hanson County
Measured School Summary
Despite a lower school score of 28/100, Hanson County maintains a strong graduation rate of 90.0%, suggesting effective student support systems.
Funding Context
At $5,535 per pupil, Hanson County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 26% below the South Dakota average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 7.6 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 25% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Hanson 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 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
28/100
Lower measured signal. Ranks #49 of 65 South Dakota counties with school score data.
Completion
90.0%
7.6 pts above the state average
Funding context
$5,535
$1,874 below the state average
School coverage
10
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
Hanson County has 10 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 Hanson 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.
Dominant-district county
Hanson School District 30-1 carries most of the listed public-school system, with 6 of 10 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.
State position
#49
of 65 South Dakota counties with school score data. The county score is 10 points below 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.
Hanson School District 30-1
Elementary to high school visible
396 students
6 listed schools in this county slice.
Bridgewater-Emery 30-3
Middle and high visible
171 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Hanson School District 30-1 is the largest listed district slice, with 6 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 Hanson County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Hanson 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 Hanson 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.
Small Schools, Big Opportunities
Hanson County supports ten public schools serving 604 students across two districts. The educational landscape consists of five elementary schools, two middle schools, and three high schools. This high ratio of schools to students ensures very small class sizes across the county.
Two Districts for Local Choice
Hanson School District 30-1 is the largest, managing six schools and 396 students. The Bridgewater-Emery 30-3 district serves the remaining 333 students through its three facilities. There are no charter schools in the county, with all local children attending traditional public schools.
Intimate Classrooms in Rural Plains
With an average school size of only 60 students, Hanson County offers one of the most personalized education experiences in the state. Hanson Elementary is the largest site with 135 students, while several other locations operate with much smaller cohorts. All ten schools are classified as rural, maintaining the area's quiet, focused character.
School Overview
Total Schools
10
in Hanson County
Reported Enrollment
604
10 schools reporting
School Districts
2
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
2 School Districts in Hanson County
Hanson School District 30-1
Bridgewater-Emery 30-3
10 Public Schools in Hanson 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hanson Elementary - 06 | Record | Hanson School District 30-1 | Alexandria, 57311Rural: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 135 |
| Hanson High School - 01 | Record | Hanson School District 30-1 | Alexandria, 57311Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 131 |
| Bridgewater-Emery High School - 01 | Record | Bridgewater-Emery 30-3 | Emery, 57332Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 100 |
| Hanson Middle School - 02 | Record | Hanson School District 30-1 | Alexandria, 57311Rural: Remote | 6–8 | Middle | 87 |
| Bridgewater-Emery Middle School - 04 | Record | Bridgewater-Emery 30-3 | Emery, 57332Rural: Remote | 6–8 | Middle | 71 |
| Oaklane Colony Elementary - 05 | Record | Hanson School District 30-1 | Alexandria, 57311Rural: Remote | KG–8 | Primary | 31 |
| Rosedale Colony Elementary - 11 | Record | Mitchell School District 17-2 | Mitchell, 57301Rural: Distant | KG–8 | Primary | 25 |
| Rockport Colony Elementary- 10 | Record | Mitchell School District 17-2 | Alexandria, 57311Rural: Remote | KG–8 | Primary | 12 |
| Hanson Colony Alternative High School - 07 | Record | Hanson School District 30-1 | Alexandria, 57311Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 6 |
| Millbrook Colony Elementary - 04 | Record | Hanson School District 30-1 | Alexandria, 57311Rural: Distant | KG–8 | Primary | 6 |
Hanson Elementary - 06
Hanson School District 30-1
Alexandria, 57311 / Rural: Remote
Hanson High School - 01
Hanson School District 30-1
Alexandria, 57311 / Rural: Remote
Bridgewater-Emery High School - 01
Bridgewater-Emery 30-3
Emery, 57332 / Rural: Remote
Hanson Middle School - 02
Hanson School District 30-1
Alexandria, 57311 / Rural: Remote
Bridgewater-Emery Middle School - 04
Bridgewater-Emery 30-3
Emery, 57332 / Rural: Remote
Oaklane Colony Elementary - 05
Hanson School District 30-1
Alexandria, 57311 / Rural: Remote
Rosedale Colony Elementary - 11
Mitchell School District 17-2
Mitchell, 57301 / Rural: Distant
Rockport Colony Elementary- 10
Mitchell School District 17-2
Alexandria, 57311 / Rural: Remote
Hanson Colony Alternative High School - 07
Hanson School District 30-1
Alexandria, 57311 / Rural: Distant
Millbrook Colony Elementary - 04
Hanson School District 30-1
Alexandria, 57311 / Rural: Distant
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$5,535
State avg $7,409
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Hanson 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 Hanson County?
What is the graduation rate in Hanson County?
How much does Hanson County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Hanson County, South Dakota — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Hanson County, South Dakota?
Hanson County supports ten public schools serving 604 students across two districts. The educational landscape consists of five elementary schools, two middle schools, and three high schools. This high ratio of schools to students ensures very small class sizes across the county.
What are the major school districts in Hanson County, South Dakota?
Hanson School District 30-1 is the largest, managing six schools and 396 students. The Bridgewater-Emery 30-3 district serves the remaining 333 students through its three facilities. There are no charter schools in the county, with all local children attending traditional public schools.
What is the school experience like in Hanson County?
With an average school size of only 60 students, Hanson County offers one of the most personalized education experiences in the state. Hanson Elementary is the largest site with 135 students, while several other locations operate with much smaller cohorts. All ten schools are classified as rural, maintaining the area's quiet, focused character.
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.