McCook County Schools & Education
McCook County, South Dakota
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
37/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Lower Signal
Graduation Rate
88.2%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
88.2%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 82.4%
Per-Pupil Spending
$6,839
National avg $13,239
State avg $7,409
School Score
37/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 38/100
State Score Position
#35
of 65 counties by score
Education Data Brief: McCook County
Measured School Summary
McCook County faces educational challenges with a school score of 37/100 and a graduation rate of 88.2%, falling below typical benchmarks.
Funding Context
At $6,839 per pupil, McCook County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 2% below the South Dakota average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 5.8 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 8% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read McCook 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
12 public schools and 3 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
37/100
Lower measured signal. Ranks #35 of 65 South Dakota counties with school score data.
Completion
88.2%
5.8 pts above the state average
Funding context
$6,839
$570 below the state average
School coverage
12
3 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
McCook County has 12 public schools across 3 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 McCook 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
McCook 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
#35
of 65 South Dakota counties with school score data. The county score is roughly in line with 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.
McCook Central School District 43-7
Elementary to high school visible
434 students
4 listed schools in this county slice.
Canistota School District 43-1
Elementary to high school visible
293 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
Montrose School District 43-2
Elementary to high school visible
259 students
4 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
McCook Central School District 43-7 is the largest listed district slice, with 4 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 McCook County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different McCook 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 McCook 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 Broad Network of Rural Schools
McCook County features 12 public schools, including six elementary, three middle, and three high schools. Three separate districts manage the education of ,148 students across the county. The entire system is built to serve a widely distributed rural population.
Three Districts Leading the Way
McCook Central School District 43-7 is the largest, serving 434 students, followed by Canistota and Montrose districts. None of the 12 schools in the county are charter schools. These traditional districts remain the bedrock of the local educational landscape.
Small-Town Feel in Every Classroom
All schools operate in rural settings with an average enrollment of 96 students per school. McCook Central Elementary is the county's largest school with 184 students, while Montrose Elementary is a smaller alternative with 107. The rural locale ensures that every student is part of a tight-knit peer group.
School Overview
Total Schools
12
in McCook County
Reported Enrollment
1,148
12 schools reporting
School Districts
3
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
3 School Districts in McCook County
McCook Central School District 43-7
Canistota School District 43-1
Montrose School District 43-2
12 Public Schools in McCook 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 12 of 12 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McCook Central Elementary - 02 | Record | McCook Central School District 43-7 | Salem, 57058Rural: Remote | PK–4 | Primary | 184 |
| Bridgewater-Emery Elementary - 02 | Record | Bridgewater-Emery 30-3 | Bridgewater, 57319Rural: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 162 |
| Canistota Elementary - 02 | Record | Canistota School District 43-1 | Canistota, 57012Rural: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 157 |
| McCook Central High School - 01 | Record | McCook Central School District 43-7 | Salem, 57058Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 128 |
| Montrose Elementary - 02 | Record | Montrose School District 43-2 | Montrose, 57048Rural: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 107 |
| McCook Central Middle School - 03 | Record | McCook Central School District 43-7 | Salem, 57058Rural: Remote | 5–8 | Middle | 96 |
| Canistota High School - 01 | Record | Canistota School District 43-1 | Canistota, 57012Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 76 |
| Canistota Middle School - 03 | Record | Canistota School District 43-1 | Canistota, 57012Rural: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 60 |
| Montrose High School - 01 | Record | Montrose School District 43-2 | Montrose, 57048Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 59 |
| Montrose Middle School - 03 | Record | Montrose School District 43-2 | Montrose, 57048Rural: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 57 |
| Orland Colony Elementary - 04 | Record | Montrose School District 43-2 | Montrose, 57048Rural: Remote | KG–8 | Primary | 36 |
| Goldenview Colony School - 04 | Record | McCook Central School District 43-7 | Salem, 57058Rural: Remote | KG–8 | Primary | 26 |
McCook Central Elementary - 02
McCook Central School District 43-7
Salem, 57058 / Rural: Remote
Bridgewater-Emery Elementary - 02
Bridgewater-Emery 30-3
Bridgewater, 57319 / Rural: Remote
Canistota Elementary - 02
Canistota School District 43-1
Canistota, 57012 / Rural: Distant
McCook Central High School - 01
McCook Central School District 43-7
Salem, 57058 / Rural: Remote
Montrose Elementary - 02
Montrose School District 43-2
Montrose, 57048 / Rural: Distant
McCook Central Middle School - 03
McCook Central School District 43-7
Salem, 57058 / Rural: Remote
Canistota High School - 01
Canistota School District 43-1
Canistota, 57012 / Rural: Distant
Canistota Middle School - 03
Canistota School District 43-1
Canistota, 57012 / Rural: Distant
Montrose High School - 01
Montrose School District 43-2
Montrose, 57048 / Rural: Distant
Montrose Middle School - 03
Montrose School District 43-2
Montrose, 57048 / Rural: Distant
Orland Colony Elementary - 04
Montrose School District 43-2
Montrose, 57048 / Rural: Remote
Goldenview Colony School - 04
McCook Central School District 43-7
Salem, 57058 / Rural: Remote
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$6,839
State avg $7,409
Compare Nearby Counties
Review McCook 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 McCook County?
What is the graduation rate in McCook County?
How much does McCook County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in McCook County, South Dakota — FAQ
What does the school system look like in McCook County, South Dakota?
McCook County features 12 public schools, including six elementary, three middle, and three high schools. Three separate districts manage the education of ,148 students across the county. The entire system is built to serve a widely distributed rural population.
What are the major school districts in McCook County, South Dakota?
McCook Central School District 43-7 is the largest, serving 434 students, followed by Canistota and Montrose districts. None of the 12 schools in the county are charter schools. These traditional districts remain the bedrock of the local educational landscape.
What is the school experience like in McCook County?
All schools operate in rural settings with an average enrollment of 96 students per school. McCook Central Elementary is the county's largest school with 184 students, while Montrose Elementary is a smaller alternative with 107. The rural locale ensures that every student is part of a tight-knit peer group.
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.