Lake County Schools & Education
Lake County, South Dakota
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
9/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Lower Signal
Graduation Rate
68.8%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
68.8%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 82.4%
Per-Pupil Spending
$6,096
National avg $13,239
State avg $7,409
School Score
9/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 38/100
State Score Position
#65
of 65 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Lake County
Measured School Summary
Lake County faces educational challenges with a school score of 9/100 and a graduation rate of 68.8%, falling below typical benchmarks.
Funding Context
At $6,096 per pupil, Lake County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 77% below the South Dakota average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 13.6 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 18% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Lake 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
17 public schools and 4 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
9/100
Lower measured signal. Ranks #65 of 65 South Dakota counties with school score data.
Completion
68.8%
13.6 pts below the state average
Funding context
$6,096
$1,313 below the state average
School coverage
17
4 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
Lake County has 17 public schools across 4 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 Lake 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.
Review-carefully county
Lake County has a lower measured county-level school signal. Use the school table to look for specific districts or grade bands that may differ from the county average.
State position
#65
of 65 South Dakota counties with school score data. The county score is 29 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.
Madison Central School District 39-2
Elementary to high school visible
1,147 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
Chester Area School District 39-1
Elementary to high school visible
576 students
7 listed schools in this county slice.
Rutland School District 39-4
Elementary to high school visible
189 students
4 listed schools in this county slice.
Oldham - Ramona School District 39-5
Elementary to high school visible
122 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Chester Area School District 39-1 is the largest listed district slice, with 7 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 Lake County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Lake 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 Lake 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.
A Diverse and Scaling School System
Lake County manages 17 public schools, including seven elementary, four middle, and six high schools. The system supports 2,034 students across four different school districts, including one alternative school. This infrastructure provides a mix of traditional and specialized learning pathways for a growing student population.
Spotlight on Lake County Districts
The Chester Area School District 39-1 is the largest by school count, though Madison Central schools host the most students. There are no charter schools in the county, but the presence of an alternative school and cyber programs provides variety within the traditional district framework. These districts serve a combined total of over 2,000 students.
From Town Centers to Rural Outposts
The county features a mix of 14 rural schools and 3 town-based schools, with an average school size of 120 students. Madison Elementary is the largest facility with 508 students, while smaller rural elementary schools offer much smaller cohorts. This allows families to choose between a larger town school experience and a more intimate rural setting.
School Overview
Total Schools
17
in Lake County
Reported Enrollment
2,034
17 schools reporting
School Districts
4
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
4 School Districts in Lake County
Madison Central School District 39-2
Chester Area School District 39-1
Rutland School District 39-4
Oldham - Ramona School District 39-5
17 Public Schools in Lake 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 17 of 17 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison Elementary - 07 | Record | Madison Central School District 39-2 | Madison, 57042Town: Distant | KG–5 | Primary | 508 |
| Madison High School - 01 | Record | Madison Central School District 39-2 | Madison, 57042Town: Distant | 9–12 | High | 382 |
| Madison Middle School - 02 | Record | Madison Central School District 39-2 | Madison, 57042Town: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 257 |
| Chester Elementary -02 | Record | Chester Area School District 39-1 | Chester, 57016Rural: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 159 |
| Chester Area Cyber School - 92 | Record | Chester Area School District 39-1 | Chester, 57016Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 123 |
| Chester High School - 01 | Record | Chester Area School District 39-1 | Chester, 57016Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 116 |
| Rutland Elementary - 02 | Record | Rutland School District 39-4 | Rutland, 57057Rural: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 79 |
| Chester Middle School - 03 | Record | Chester Area School District 39-1 | Chester, 57016Rural: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 75 |
| Oldham-Ramona Elementary - 02 | Record | Oldham - Ramona School District 39-5 | Ramona, 57054Rural: Distant | PK–6 | Primary | 66 |
| High Plains - 06 | Record | Chester Area School District 39-1 | Chester, 57016Rural: Distant | 9–12 | Alternative | 52 |
| Rutland Jr. High - 03 | Record | Rutland School District 39-4 | Rutland, 57057Rural: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 48 |
| Oldham-Ramona High School - 01 | Record | Oldham - Ramona School District 39-5 | Ramona, 57054Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 40 |
| Rutland High School - 01 | Record | Rutland School District 39-4 | Rutland, 57057Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 40 |
| Rustic Acres Elementary - 04 | Record | Chester Area School District 39-1 | Chester, 57016Rural: Distant | KG–8 | Primary | 36 |
| Camridge Colony School - 04 | Record | Rutland School District 39-4 | Rutland, 57057Rural: Distant | KG–8 | Primary | 22 |
| Oldham-Ramona Jr. High - 03 | Record | Oldham - Ramona School District 39-5 | Ramona, 57054Rural: Distant | 7–8 | Middle | 16 |
| Graceville Colony - 07 | Record | Chester Area School District 39-1 | Winfred, 57076Rural: Distant | KG–8 | Primary | 15 |
Madison Elementary - 07
Madison Central School District 39-2
Madison, 57042 / Town: Distant
Madison High School - 01
Madison Central School District 39-2
Madison, 57042 / Town: Distant
Madison Middle School - 02
Madison Central School District 39-2
Madison, 57042 / Town: Distant
Chester Elementary -02
Chester Area School District 39-1
Chester, 57016 / Rural: Distant
Chester Area Cyber School - 92
Chester Area School District 39-1
Chester, 57016 / Rural: Distant
Chester High School - 01
Chester Area School District 39-1
Chester, 57016 / Rural: Distant
Rutland Elementary - 02
Rutland School District 39-4
Rutland, 57057 / Rural: Distant
Chester Middle School - 03
Chester Area School District 39-1
Chester, 57016 / Rural: Distant
Oldham-Ramona Elementary - 02
Oldham - Ramona School District 39-5
Ramona, 57054 / Rural: Distant
High Plains - 06
Chester Area School District 39-1
Chester, 57016 / Rural: Distant
Rutland Jr. High - 03
Rutland School District 39-4
Rutland, 57057 / Rural: Distant
Oldham-Ramona High School - 01
Oldham - Ramona School District 39-5
Ramona, 57054 / Rural: Distant
Rutland High School - 01
Rutland School District 39-4
Rutland, 57057 / Rural: Distant
Rustic Acres Elementary - 04
Chester Area School District 39-1
Chester, 57016 / Rural: Distant
Camridge Colony School - 04
Rutland School District 39-4
Rutland, 57057 / Rural: Distant
Oldham-Ramona Jr. High - 03
Oldham - Ramona School District 39-5
Ramona, 57054 / Rural: Distant
Graceville Colony - 07
Chester Area School District 39-1
Winfred, 57076 / Rural: Distant
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$6,096
State avg $7,409
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Lake 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 Lake County?
What is the graduation rate in Lake County?
How much does Lake County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Lake County, South Dakota — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Lake County, South Dakota?
Lake County manages 17 public schools, including seven elementary, four middle, and six high schools. The system supports 2,034 students across four different school districts, including one alternative school. This infrastructure provides a mix of traditional and specialized learning pathways for a growing student population.
What are the major school districts in Lake County, South Dakota?
The Chester Area School District 39-1 is the largest by school count, though Madison Central schools host the most students. There are no charter schools in the county, but the presence of an alternative school and cyber programs provides variety within the traditional district framework. These districts serve a combined total of over 2,000 students.
What is the school experience like in Lake County?
The county features a mix of 14 rural schools and 3 town-based schools, with an average school size of 120 students. Madison Elementary is the largest facility with 508 students, while smaller rural elementary schools offer much smaller cohorts. This allows families to choose between a larger town school experience and a more intimate rural setting.
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.