Can I use Lawrence County's school score to choose a house?

No. Use the Lawrence County school score as a first-pass county screen, then verify the exact district, attendance boundary, transfer rules, and grade pathway for any address you are considering.

Does SchoolsByCounty confirm school attendance boundaries in Lawrence County?

No. SchoolsByCounty publishes NCES and Census-backed public-school records. Attendance zones, magnet eligibility, charter lotteries, transportation, and transfer rules must be confirmed with local districts.

How should parents compare public schools in Lawrence County?

Start with the 14 listed public schools and 2 district entries, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

Lawrence County Schools & Education

Name: Lawrence County, South Dakota Education Data
Creator: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

Lawrence County, South Dakota

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

School Score

30/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Lower Signal

Graduation Rate

86.2%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

86.2%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 82.4%

Per-Pupil Spending

$6,737

National avg $13,239

State avg $7,409

School Score

30/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 38/100

State Score Position

#43

of 65 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Lawrence County

Measured School Summary

Lawrence County faces educational challenges with a school score of 30/100 and a graduation rate of 86.2%, falling below typical benchmarks.

Funding Context

At $6,737 per pupil, Lawrence County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 20% below the South Dakota average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 3.8 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 9% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Lawrence 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

14 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

30/100

Lower measured signal. Ranks #43 of 65 South Dakota counties with school score data.

Completion

86.2%

3.8 pts above the state average

Funding context

$6,737

$672 below the state average

School coverage

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

Lawrence County has 14 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.

View Public Schools Compare Counties

Parent decision brief

What Lawrence 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

Lawrence 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

#43

of 65 South Dakota counties with school score data. The county score is 8 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.

Spearfish School District 40-2

Elementary to high school visible

2,438 students

Elementary 3Middle 2High 2Other 0

7 listed schools in this county slice.

Lead-Deadwood School District 40-1

Elementary to high school visible

734 students

Elementary 1Middle 1High 2Other 0

4 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

Spearfish School District 40-2 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 Lawrence County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Lawrence 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 Lawrence 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.

Dynamic Town and Rural Education

Lawrence County operates 14 public schools, comprising five elementary, four middle, and five high schools. These facilities serve 3,281 students across two primary school districts, providing a centralized and efficient educational structure. The system includes four alternative schools to support diverse student needs across the region.

Spearfish and Lead-Deadwood Districts

The Spearfish School District 40-2 is the largest in the county, enrolling 2,438 students across seven schools. The Lead-Deadwood School District 40-1 serves an additional 734 students through its four local campuses. With 0% charter school presence, the educational focus remains entirely on these two established traditional districts.

Larger Schools in a Town Setting

Unlike many surrounding areas, 12 of the 14 schools are in town locales, creating a more suburban feel with an average school size of 273 students. Spearfish High School is the largest campus with 796 students, offering a robust range of activities and courses. Smaller town schools, like Lead-Deadwood Elementary with 293 students, still maintain a community-focused atmosphere.

School Overview

Total Schools

in Lawrence County

Reported Enrollment

3,281

14 schools reporting

School Districts

districts

Charter Schools

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary5

Middle4

High5

Other0

2 School Districts in Lawrence County

Spearfish School District 40-2

7 schools

2,438 students

Lead-Deadwood School District 40-1

4 schools

734 students

14 Public Schools in Lawrence 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 data

Search schools

Level

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Showing 14 of 14 matching schools

Public schools in Lawrence County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
Spearfish High School - 01	Record	Spearfish School District 40-2	Spearfish, 57783Town: Distant	9–12	High	796
Spearfish Middle School - 05	Record	Spearfish School District 40-2	Spearfish, 57783Town: Distant	6–8	Middle	600
Creekside Elementary - 07	Record	Spearfish School District 40-2	Spearfish, 57783Town: Distant	3–5	Primary	498
West Elementary - 03	Record	Spearfish School District 40-2	Spearfish, 57783Town: Distant	1–2	Primary	352
Lead-Deadwood Elementary - 03	Record	Lead-Deadwood School District 40-1	Deadwood, 57732Town: Distant	KG–5	Primary	293
Lead-Deadwood High School - 01	Record	Lead-Deadwood School District 40-1	Lead, 57754Town: Distant	9–12	High	222
Mountain View Elementary - 08	Record	Spearfish School District 40-2	Spearfish, 57783Town: Distant	KG	Primary	168
Lead-Deadwood Middle School - 02	Record	Lead-Deadwood School District 40-1	Lead, 57754Town: Distant	6–8	Middle	159
Whitewood Elementary - 04	Record	Meade School District 46-1	Whitewood, 57793Rural: Distant	PK–5	Primary	109
Lead-Deadwood Career & Technical Education - 10	Record	Lead-Deadwood School District 40-1	Nemo, 57759Rural: Distant	9–12	Vocational	60
Spearfish Academy at Canyon Hills High School - 10	Record	Spearfish School District 40-2	Spearfish, 57783Town: Distant	9–12	Alternative	22
Spearfish Academy at Canyon Hills Elementary - 09	Record	Spearfish School District 40-2	Spearfish, 57783Town: Distant	4–8	Alternative	2
Black Hills Academy at Canyon Hills - 08	Record	Black Hills Special Services Cooperative	Spearfish, 57783Town: Distant	4–8	Alternative	0
Black Hills Academy at Canyon Hills High School - 07	Record	Black Hills Special Services Cooperative	Spearfish, 57783Town: Distant	9–12	Alternative	0

Spearfish High School - 01

Spearfish School District 40-2

Spearfish, 57783 / Town: Distant

Record9–12High796 students

Spearfish Middle School - 05

Spearfish School District 40-2

Spearfish, 57783 / Town: Distant

Record6–8Middle600 students

Creekside Elementary - 07

Spearfish School District 40-2

Spearfish, 57783 / Town: Distant

Record3–5Primary498 students

West Elementary - 03

Spearfish School District 40-2

Spearfish, 57783 / Town: Distant

Record1–2Primary352 students

Lead-Deadwood Elementary - 03

Lead-Deadwood School District 40-1

Deadwood, 57732 / Town: Distant

RecordKG–5Primary293 students

Lead-Deadwood High School - 01

Lead-Deadwood School District 40-1

Lead, 57754 / Town: Distant

Record9–12High222 students

Mountain View Elementary - 08

Spearfish School District 40-2

Spearfish, 57783 / Town: Distant

RecordKGPrimary168 students

Lead-Deadwood Middle School - 02

Lead-Deadwood School District 40-1

Lead, 57754 / Town: Distant

Record6–8Middle159 students

Whitewood Elementary - 04

Meade School District 46-1

Whitewood, 57793 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary109 students

Lead-Deadwood Career & Technical Education - 10

Lead-Deadwood School District 40-1

Nemo, 57759 / Rural: Distant

Record9–12Vocational60 students

Spearfish Academy at Canyon Hills High School - 10

Spearfish School District 40-2

Spearfish, 57783 / Town: Distant

Record9–12Alternative22 students

Spearfish Academy at Canyon Hills Elementary - 09

Spearfish School District 40-2

Spearfish, 57783 / Town: Distant

Record4–8Alternative2 students

Black Hills Academy at Canyon Hills - 08

Black Hills Special Services Cooperative

Spearfish, 57783 / Town: Distant

Record4–8Alternative0 students

Black Hills Academy at Canyon Hills High School - 07

Black Hills Special Services Cooperative

Spearfish, 57783 / Town: Distant

Record9–12Alternative0 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$6,737

State avg $7,409

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Lawrence County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

View Schools

Frequently Asked Questions

Which South Dakota counties have the highest graduation rates?

Deuel County (95.0%), Stanley County (95.0%), and Hamlin County (92.8%) currently lead South Dakota among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.

What is per-pupil spending like in South Dakota?

Across South Dakota counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $7,409. The highest current county values are Ziebach County ($13,420), Corson County ($10,486), and Sully County ($10,373). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.

How should I read the school score in Lawrence County?

Lawrence County has a school score of 30/100, which is a lower measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.

What is the graduation rate in Lawrence County?

The high school graduation rate in Lawrence County is 86.2%, which is below the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.

How much does Lawrence County spend per student?

Lawrence County spends $6,737 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools in Lawrence County, South Dakota — FAQ

What does the school system look like in Lawrence County, South Dakota?

What are the major school districts in Lawrence County, South Dakota?

What is the school experience like in Lawrence County?

Counties with Similar School Profile

Douglas County

South Dakota

-0 pts

30/100

School score

Sanborn County

South Dakota

-1 pts

30/100

School score

Haakon County

South Dakota

-1 pts

29/100

School score

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated May 13, 2026Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

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.

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