Jackson County Schools & Education
Jackson County, South Dakota
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
69/100
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
$9,994
National avg $13,239
State avg $7,409
School Score
69/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 38/100
State Score Position
#3
of 65 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Jackson County
Measured School Summary
Jackson County performs at an average level with a school score of 69/100 and a solid graduation rate of 90.0%.
Funding Context
Jackson County spends $9,994 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 81% above the South Dakota average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 7.6 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 35% higher than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Jackson 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
69/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #3 of 65 South Dakota counties with school score data.
Completion
90.0%
7.6 pts above the state average
Funding context
$9,994
$2,585 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
Jackson 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 Jackson 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
Jackson 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
#3
of 65 South Dakota counties with school score data. The county score is 31 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.
Kadoka Area School District 35-2
Elementary to high school visible
314 students
5 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Kadoka Area School District 35-2 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 Jackson 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 Jackson 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.
Jackson County's Rural School Infrastructure
Jackson County supports five public schools including three elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school. A total of 314 students are enrolled across these facilities, all managed by a single school district. This structure provides multiple early-education touchpoints before students transition to the central middle and high schools.
The Kadoka Area School District
The Kadoka Area School District 35-2 is the sole provider of public education in the county, managing all five schools for its 314 students. There are no charter schools available, ensuring that the local district remains the primary focus for community educational resources. This single-district model allows for consistent curriculum and administrative oversight across the entire county.
Small Schools in a Rural Setting
Every school in Jackson County is situated in a rural locale, with an average school size of 63 students. Kadoka Elementary is the largest campus with 124 students, while smaller outposts like Longvalley Elementary serve just 32 students in a K-8 setting. The education experience here is defined by personalized attention and a quiet, focused atmosphere.
School Overview
Total Schools
5
in Jackson County
Reported Enrollment
314
5 schools reporting
School Districts
1
district
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
1 School District in Jackson County
Kadoka Area School District 35-2
5 Public Schools in Jackson 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kadoka Elementary - 02 | Record | Kadoka Area School District 35-2 | Kadoka, 57543Rural: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 124 |
| Kadoka Area High School - 01 | Record | Kadoka Area School District 35-2 | Kadoka, 57543Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 75 |
| Kadoka Middle School - 03 | Record | Kadoka Area School District 35-2 | Kadoka, 57543Rural: Remote | 6–8 | Middle | 50 |
| Interior Elementary - 09 | Record | Kadoka Area School District 35-2 | Kadoka, 57543Rural: Remote | KG–8 | Primary | 33 |
| Longvalley Elementary - 10 | Record | Kadoka Area School District 35-2 | Kadoka, 57543Rural: Remote | KG–8 | Primary | 32 |
Kadoka Elementary - 02
Kadoka Area School District 35-2
Kadoka, 57543 / Rural: Remote
Kadoka Area High School - 01
Kadoka Area School District 35-2
Kadoka, 57543 / Rural: Remote
Kadoka Middle School - 03
Kadoka Area School District 35-2
Kadoka, 57543 / Rural: Remote
Interior Elementary - 09
Kadoka Area School District 35-2
Kadoka, 57543 / Rural: Remote
Longvalley Elementary - 10
Kadoka Area School District 35-2
Kadoka, 57543 / Rural: Remote
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$9,994
State avg $7,409
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Jackson 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 Jackson County?
What is the graduation rate in Jackson County?
How much does Jackson County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Jackson County, South Dakota — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Jackson County, South Dakota?
Jackson County supports five public schools including three elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school. A total of 314 students are enrolled across these facilities, all managed by a single school district. This structure provides multiple early-education touchpoints before students transition to the central middle and high schools.
What are the major school districts in Jackson County, South Dakota?
The Kadoka Area School District 35-2 is the sole provider of public education in the county, managing all five schools for its 314 students. There are no charter schools available, ensuring that the local district remains the primary focus for community educational resources. This single-district model allows for consistent curriculum and administrative oversight across the entire county.
What is the school experience like in Jackson County?
Every school in Jackson County is situated in a rural locale, with an average school size of 63 students. Kadoka Elementary is the largest campus with 124 students, while smaller outposts like Longvalley Elementary serve just 32 students in a K-8 setting. The education experience here is defined by personalized attention and a quiet, focused atmosphere.
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.