Harding County Schools & Education
Harding County, South Dakota
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
66/100
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
$9,361
National avg $13,239
State avg $7,409
School Score
66/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 38/100
State Score Position
#6
of 65 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Harding County
Measured School Summary
Harding County performs at an average level with a school score of 66/100 and a solid graduation rate of 90.0%.
Funding Context
Harding County spends $9,361 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 74% above the South Dakota average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 7.6 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 26% higher than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Harding 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
5 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
66/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #6 of 65 South Dakota counties with school score data.
Completion
90.0%
7.6 pts above the state average
Funding context
$9,361
$1,952 above the state average
School coverage
5
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
Harding County has 5 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 Harding 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
Harding 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
#6
of 65 South Dakota counties with school score data. The county score is 28 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.
Harding County School District 31-1
Elementary to high school visible
224 students
5 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Harding County School District 31-1 is the largest listed district slice, with 5 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 Harding 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 Harding 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.
An Ultra-Personalized Learning Network
Harding County operates five public schools for a small student body of 224, all within a single district. The landscape includes three elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school. This distribution ensures that education remains accessible even in the most remote parts of the county.
Unified Under Harding County 31-1
Harding County School District 31-1 manages every public school and student in the county. There are no charter options, as the community relies entirely on its highly-rated traditional public school system. This single-district model allows for a cohesive educational strategy across the entire region.
The Essence of Rural Education
The average school size in Harding County is a mere 45 students, offering an unparalleled level of individual attention. Buffalo Elementary is the largest facility with 92 students, while Ludlow and Camp Crook elementaries serve just eight students each. All five schools are situated in rural locales, providing a peaceful and distraction-free learning environment.
School Overview
Total Schools
5
in Harding County
Reported Enrollment
224
5 schools reporting
School Districts
1
district
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
1 School District in Harding County
Harding County School District 31-1
5 Public Schools in Harding 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 5 of 5 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Elementary - 02 | Record | Harding County School District 31-1 | Buffalo, 57720Rural: Remote | KG–5 | Primary | 92 |
| Harding County Middle School - 03 | Record | Harding County School District 31-1 | Buffalo, 57720Rural: Remote | 6–8 | Middle | 60 |
| Harding County High School - 01 | Record | Harding County School District 31-1 | Buffalo, 57720Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 56 |
| Camp Crook Elementary - 08 | Record | Harding County School District 31-1 | Buffalo, 57720Rural: Remote | KG–8 | Primary | 8 |
| Ludlow Elementary - 06 | Record | Harding County School District 31-1 | Buffalo, 57720Rural: Remote | KG–8 | Primary | 8 |
Buffalo Elementary - 02
Harding County School District 31-1
Buffalo, 57720 / Rural: Remote
Harding County Middle School - 03
Harding County School District 31-1
Buffalo, 57720 / Rural: Remote
Harding County High School - 01
Harding County School District 31-1
Buffalo, 57720 / Rural: Remote
Camp Crook Elementary - 08
Harding County School District 31-1
Buffalo, 57720 / Rural: Remote
Ludlow Elementary - 06
Harding County School District 31-1
Buffalo, 57720 / Rural: Remote
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$9,361
State avg $7,409
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Harding 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 Harding County?
What is the graduation rate in Harding County?
How much does Harding County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Harding County, South Dakota — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Harding County, South Dakota?
Harding County operates five public schools for a small student body of 224, all within a single district. The landscape includes three elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school. This distribution ensures that education remains accessible even in the most remote parts of the county.
What are the major school districts in Harding County, South Dakota?
Harding County School District 31-1 manages every public school and student in the county. There are no charter options, as the community relies entirely on its highly-rated traditional public school system. This single-district model allows for a cohesive educational strategy across the entire region.
What is the school experience like in Harding County?
The average school size in Harding County is a mere 45 students, offering an unparalleled level of individual attention. Buffalo Elementary is the largest facility with 92 students, while Ludlow and Camp Crook elementaries serve just eight students each. All five schools are situated in rural locales, providing a peaceful and distraction-free learning environment.
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.