Hughes County Schools & Education
Hughes County, South Dakota
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
36/100
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
$6,262
National avg $13,239
State avg $7,409
School Score
36/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 38/100
State Score Position
#38
of 65 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Hughes County
Measured School Summary
Despite a lower school score of 36/100, Hughes County maintains a strong graduation rate of 90.0%, suggesting effective student support systems.
Funding Context
At $6,262 per pupil, Hughes County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 6% below the South Dakota average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 7.6 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 15% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Hughes 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
6 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
36/100
Lower measured signal. Ranks #38 of 65 South Dakota counties with school score data.
Completion
90.0%
7.6 pts above the state average
Funding context
$6,262
$1,147 below the state average
School coverage
6
1 district 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
Hughes County has 6 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 Hughes 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
Hughes 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
#38
of 65 South Dakota counties with school score data. The county score is 2 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.
Pierre School District 32-2
Elementary to high school visible
2,762 students
5 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Pierre School District 32-2 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 Hughes 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 Hughes 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.
Education Hub of the State Capitol
Hughes County serves 2,795 students, making it the largest educational center in this eight-county group. The infrastructure consists of six public schools, including four elementary, one middle, and one large high school. Most of these facilities are concentrated within a single, robust school district.
Pierre School District 32-2 Leads
The Pierre School District 32-2 is the dominant force in the county, educating 2,762 of the area's 2,795 students. There are no charter schools currently operating, with the district providing a comprehensive traditional public education to nearly all residents. This concentration of resources supports diverse extracurricular and academic programs.
Town-Centered Schools with Large Campuses
Unlike its more rural neighbors, four of the six schools in Hughes County are located in town settings, giving them a more urban feel. T F Riggs High School is the largest in the region with 842 students, and the average school size is 466. This larger scale allows for specialized facilities like the Georgia Morse Middle School.
School Overview
Total Schools
6
in Hughes County
Reported Enrollment
2,795
6 schools reporting
School Districts
1
district
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
1 School District in Hughes County
Pierre School District 32-2
6 Public Schools in Hughes 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 6 of 6 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T F Riggs High School - 01 | Record | Pierre School District 32-2 | Pierre, 57501Town: Remote | 9–12 | High | 842 |
| Georgia Morse Middle School - 02 | Record | Pierre School District 32-2 | Pierre, 57501Town: Remote | 6–8 | Middle | 684 |
| Jefferson Elementary - 06 | Record | Pierre School District 32-2 | Pierre, 57501Town: Remote | KG–5 | Primary | 430 |
| Buchanan Elementary - 03 | Record | Pierre School District 32-2 | Pierre, 57501Town: Remote | KG–5 | Primary | 418 |
| Kennedy Elementary - 08 | Record | Pierre School District 32-2 | Pierre, 57501Rural: Fringe | KG–5 | Primary | 388 |
| Blunt Elementary - 03 | Record | Agar-Blunt-Onida School District 58-3 | Blunt, 57522Rural: Remote | PK–4 | Primary | 33 |
T F Riggs High School - 01
Pierre School District 32-2
Pierre, 57501 / Town: Remote
Georgia Morse Middle School - 02
Pierre School District 32-2
Pierre, 57501 / Town: Remote
Jefferson Elementary - 06
Pierre School District 32-2
Pierre, 57501 / Town: Remote
Buchanan Elementary - 03
Pierre School District 32-2
Pierre, 57501 / Town: Remote
Kennedy Elementary - 08
Pierre School District 32-2
Pierre, 57501 / Rural: Fringe
Blunt Elementary - 03
Agar-Blunt-Onida School District 58-3
Blunt, 57522 / Rural: Remote
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$6,262
State avg $7,409
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Hughes 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 Hughes County?
What is the graduation rate in Hughes County?
How much does Hughes County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Hughes County, South Dakota — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Hughes County, South Dakota?
Hughes County serves 2,795 students, making it the largest educational center in this eight-county group. The infrastructure consists of six public schools, including four elementary, one middle, and one large high school. Most of these facilities are concentrated within a single, robust school district.
What are the major school districts in Hughes County, South Dakota?
The Pierre School District 32-2 is the dominant force in the county, educating 2,762 of the area's 2,795 students. There are no charter schools currently operating, with the district providing a comprehensive traditional public education to nearly all residents. This concentration of resources supports diverse extracurricular and academic programs.
What is the school experience like in Hughes County?
Unlike its more rural neighbors, four of the six schools in Hughes County are located in town settings, giving them a more urban feel. T F Riggs High School is the largest in the region with 842 students, and the average school size is 466. This larger scale allows for specialized facilities like the Georgia Morse Middle School.
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.