McPherson County Schools & Education
McPherson County, South Dakota
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
41/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
75.0%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
75.0%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 82.4%
Per-Pupil Spending
$8,902
National avg $13,239
State avg $7,409
School Score
41/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 38/100
State Score Position
#29
of 65 counties by score
Education Data Brief: McPherson County
Measured School Summary
McPherson County has midrange measured school signals (score: 41/100) with a graduation rate of 75.0%, which warrants review in official state and district records.
Funding Context
McPherson County spends $8,902 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 7% above the South Dakota average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 7.4 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 20% higher than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read McPherson 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
10 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
41/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #29 of 65 South Dakota counties with school score data.
Completion
75.0%
7.4 pts below the state average
Funding context
$8,902
$1,493 above the state average
School coverage
10
2 districts 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
McPherson County has 10 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.
What McPherson 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.
Dominant-district county
Leola School District 44-2 carries most of the listed public-school system, with 7 of 10 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.
State position
#29
of 65 South Dakota counties with school score data. The county score is 3 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.
Leola School District 44-2
Elementary to high school visible
210 students
7 listed schools in this county slice.
Eureka School District 44-1
Elementary to high school visible
163 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Leola School District 44-2 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 McPherson County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different McPherson 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 McPherson 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.
Intimate Educational Settings in McPherson
McPherson County maintains 10 public schools, including five elementary and three high schools. These facilities, including one alternative school, serve a total enrollment of 373 students. Two school districts manage this highly distributed rural network.
Leola and Eureka District Leaders
Leola School District 44-2 is the county's largest, managing seven schools for 210 students. Eureka School District 44-1 serves the remaining 163 students through three specialized facilities. The county lacks charter schools, focusing instead on traditional district management.
The State's Smallest Average School Sizes
Schools here are remarkably intimate, with an average of only 37 students per school. Eureka Elementary is the largest site with 105 students, while Spring Creek Colony Elementary serves just 32. This rural landscape provides a level of one-on-one instruction that is rare in larger counties.
School Overview
Total Schools
10
in McPherson County
Reported Enrollment
373
10 schools reporting
School Districts
2
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
2 School Districts in McPherson County
Leola School District 44-2
Eureka School District 44-1
10 Public Schools in McPherson 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 10 of 10 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eureka Elementary - 02 | Record | Eureka School District 44-1 | Eureka, 57437Rural: Remote | PK–6 | Primary | 105 |
| Leola Elementary - 02 | Record | Leola School District 44-2 | Leola, 57456Rural: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 59 |
| Leola High School - 01 | Record | Leola School District 44-2 | Leola, 57456Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 39 |
| Eureka High School - 01 | Record | Eureka School District 44-1 | Eureka, 57437Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 34 |
| Spring Creek Colony Elementary - 04 | Record | Leola School District 44-2 | Leola, 57456Rural: Remote | KG–8 | Primary | 32 |
| Long Lake Colony Elementary - 05 | Record | Leola School District 44-2 | Leola, 57456Rural: Remote | KG–8 | Primary | 30 |
| Leola Jr. High - 03 | Record | Leola School District 44-2 | Leola, 57456Rural: Remote | 6–8 | Middle | 25 |
| Eureka Jr. High - 03 | Record | Eureka School District 44-1 | Eureka, 57437Rural: Remote | 7–8 | Middle | 24 |
| Grassland Colony Elementary - 06 | Record | Leola School District 44-2 | Leola, 57456Rural: Remote | KG–8 | Primary | 16 |
| Leola Alternative School - 07 | Record | Leola School District 44-2 | Leola, 57456Rural: Remote | 9–12 | Alternative | 9 |
Eureka Elementary - 02
Eureka School District 44-1
Eureka, 57437 / Rural: Remote
Leola Elementary - 02
Leola School District 44-2
Leola, 57456 / Rural: Remote
Leola High School - 01
Leola School District 44-2
Leola, 57456 / Rural: Remote
Eureka High School - 01
Eureka School District 44-1
Eureka, 57437 / Rural: Remote
Spring Creek Colony Elementary - 04
Leola School District 44-2
Leola, 57456 / Rural: Remote
Long Lake Colony Elementary - 05
Leola School District 44-2
Leola, 57456 / Rural: Remote
Eureka Jr. High - 03
Eureka School District 44-1
Eureka, 57437 / Rural: Remote
Grassland Colony Elementary - 06
Leola School District 44-2
Leola, 57456 / Rural: Remote
Leola Alternative School - 07
Leola School District 44-2
Leola, 57456 / Rural: Remote
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$8,902
State avg $7,409
Compare Nearby Counties
Review McPherson 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 McPherson County?
What is the graduation rate in McPherson County?
How much does McPherson County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in McPherson County, South Dakota — FAQ
What does the school system look like in McPherson County, South Dakota?
McPherson County maintains 10 public schools, including five elementary and three high schools. These facilities, including one alternative school, serve a total enrollment of 373 students. Two school districts manage this highly distributed rural network.
What are the major school districts in McPherson County, South Dakota?
Leola School District 44-2 is the county's largest, managing seven schools for 210 students. Eureka School District 44-1 serves the remaining 163 students through three specialized facilities. The county lacks charter schools, focusing instead on traditional district management.
What is the school experience like in McPherson County?
Schools here are remarkably intimate, with an average of only 37 students per school. Eureka Elementary is the largest site with 105 students, while Spring Creek Colony Elementary serves just 32. This rural landscape provides a level of one-on-one instruction that is rare in larger counties.
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.