schoolsbycounty

Lincoln County Schools & Education

Lincoln County, South Dakota

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

School Score

34/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Lower Signal

Graduation Rate

90.6%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

90.6%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 82.4%

Per-Pupil Spending

$5,954

National avg $13,239

State avg $7,409

School Score

34/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 38/100

State Score Position

#40

of 65 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Lincoln County

Measured School Summary

Despite a lower school score of 34/100, Lincoln County maintains a strong graduation rate of 90.6%, suggesting effective student support systems.

Funding Context

At $5,954 per pupil, Lincoln County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 10% below the South Dakota average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 8.2 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 20% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Lincoln 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

25 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

34/100

Lower measured signal. Ranks #40 of 65 South Dakota counties with school score data.

Completion

90.6%

8.2 pts above the state average

Funding context

$5,954

$1,455 below the state average

School coverage

25

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

Lincoln County has 25 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.

View Public SchoolsCompare Counties
Parent decision brief

What Lincoln 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

Lincoln 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

#40

of 65 South Dakota counties with school score data. The county score is 4 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.

Harrisburg School District 41-2

Elementary to high school visible

5,912 students

Elementary 7Middle 2High 1Other 0

10 listed schools in this county slice.

Tea Area School District 41-5

Elementary to high school visible

2,126 students

Elementary 2Middle 1High 1Other 1

5 listed schools in this county slice.

Lennox School District 41-4

Elementary to high school visible

1,211 students

Elementary 2Middle 2High 1Other 0

5 listed schools in this county slice.

Canton School District 41-1

Elementary to high school visible

874 students

Elementary 1Middle 1High 1Other 0

3 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

Harrisburg School District 41-2 is the largest listed district slice, with 10 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 Lincoln County?

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

Large-Scale Suburban and Rural Education

Lincoln County hosts a massive educational infrastructure of 25 public schools, including 12 elementary and 6 middle schools. Serving over 10,000 students across four districts, this is one of the most significant and rapidly growing school systems in the state. The county also provides two alternative schools to ensure diverse learning paths for its large student body.

Growth in Harrisburg and Tea Area Districts

The Harrisburg School District 41-2 is the county powerhouse, enrolling 5,912 students across 10 schools. The Tea Area School District also shows significant scale, serving 2,362 students through six campuses. There are currently no charter schools in the county, with all 10,172 students attending schools within the four traditional districts.

A Blend of City and Rural Schools

The county features a diverse mix of 16 rural, 5 town, and 4 city school locales, reflecting its varied geography. Harrisburg High School is the largest in the county with 1,613 students, and the average school size is 407. This environment offers students a modern, large-school experience while still maintaining rural community connections.

School Overview

Total Schools

25

in Lincoln County

Reported Enrollment

10,172

25 schools reporting

School Districts

4

districts

Charter Schools

0

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary12
Middle6
High5
Other2

4 School Districts in Lincoln County

Harrisburg School District 41-2

Guide
10 schools
5,912 students
Open district guide

Tea Area School District 41-5

6 schools
2,362 students

Lennox School District 41-4

5 schools
1,211 students

Canton School District 41-1

3 schools
874 students

25 Public Schools in Lincoln County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 1 high-enrollment school; every NCES public school remains listed here.

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

Level

Showing 20 of 25 matching schools

Harrisburg High School - 01

Harrisburg School District 41-2

Harrisburg, 57032 / Rural: Fringe

Profile9–12High1,613 students

Harrisburg North Middle School - 08

Harrisburg School District 41-2

Sioux Falls, 57108 / Rural: Fringe

Record6–8Middle747 students

Harrisburg South Middle School - 03

Harrisburg School District 41-2

Harrisburg, 57032 / Town: Fringe

Record6–8Middle667 students

Tea Area High School - 03

Tea Area School District 41-5

Tea, 57064 / Rural: Fringe

Record9–12High610 students

Liberty Elementary - 02

Harrisburg School District 41-2

Harrisburg, 57032 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–5Primary565 students

Tea Area Middle School - 02

Tea Area School District 41-5

Tea, 57064 / Rural: Fringe

Record6–8Middle563 students

Tea Area Legacy Elementary - 01

Tea Area School District 41-5

Tea, 57064 / Rural: Fringe

RecordKG–5Primary491 students

Adventure Elementary - 10

Harrisburg School District 41-2

Sioux Falls, 57108 / Rural: Fringe

RecordKG–5Primary414 students

Freedom Elementary - 06

Harrisburg School District 41-2

Harrisburg, 57032 / Rural: Fringe

RecordKG–5Primary410 students

Endeavor Elementary - 07

Harrisburg School District 41-2

Sioux Falls, 57108 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–5Primary391 students

Tea Area Venture Elementary - 06

Tea Area School District 41-5

Tea, 57064 / Rural: Fringe

RecordKG–5Primary389 students

Lawrence Elementary - 02

Canton School District 41-1

Canton, 57013 / Town: Distant

RecordKG–5Primary388 students

Horizon Elementary - 09

Harrisburg School District 41-2

Sioux Falls, 57108 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–5Primary373 students

Explorer Elementary - 04

Harrisburg School District 41-2

Sioux Falls, 57108 / City: Midsize

RecordKG–5Primary370 students

Lennox Elementary - 02

Lennox School District 41-4

Lennox, 57039 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–4Primary369 students

Journey Elementary - 05

Harrisburg School District 41-2

Sioux Falls, 57108 / City: Midsize

RecordKG–5Primary362 students

Lennox High School - 01

Lennox School District 41-4

Lennox, 57039 / Rural: Distant

Record9–12High359 students

Canton High School - 01

Canton School District 41-1

Canton, 57013 / Town: Distant

Record9–12High283 students

Canton Middle School - 04

Canton School District 41-1

Canton, 57013 / Town: Distant

Record6–8Middle203 students

Lennox Jr. High - 08

Lennox School District 41-4

Lennox, 57039 / Rural: Distant

Record7–8Middle189 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$5,954

State avg $7,409

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Lincoln 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 Lincoln County?
Lincoln County has a school score of 34/100, 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 Lincoln County?
The high school graduation rate in Lincoln County is 90.6%, which is above 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 Lincoln County spend per student?
Lincoln County spends $5,954 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 Lincoln County, South Dakota — FAQ

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

Lincoln County hosts a massive educational infrastructure of 25 public schools, including 12 elementary and 6 middle schools. Serving over 10,000 students across four districts, this is one of the most significant and rapidly growing school systems in the state. The county also provides two alternative schools to ensure diverse learning paths for its large student body.

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

The Harrisburg School District 41-2 is the county powerhouse, enrolling 5,912 students across 10 schools. The Tea Area School District also shows significant scale, serving 2,362 students through six campuses. There are currently no charter schools in the county, with all 10,172 students attending schools within the four traditional districts.

What is the school experience like in Lincoln County?

The county features a diverse mix of 16 rural, 5 town, and 4 city school locales, reflecting its varied geography. Harrisburg High School is the largest in the county with 1,613 students, and the average school size is 407. This environment offers students a modern, large-school experience while still maintaining rural community connections.

Counties with Similar School Profile

Spink County

South Dakota

0 pts

34/100

School score

Tripp County

South Dakota

-1 pts

33/100

School score

Jones County

South Dakota

+1 pts

36/100

School score

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed 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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