Perkins County Schools & Education
Perkins County, South Dakota
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
52/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
86.7%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
86.7%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 82.4%
Per-Pupil Spending
$8,631
National avg $13,239
State avg $7,409
School Score
52/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 38/100
State Score Position
#16
of 65 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Perkins County
Measured School Summary
Perkins County performs at an average level with a school score of 52/100 and a solid graduation rate of 86.7%.
Funding Context
Perkins County spends $8,631 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 37% above the South Dakota average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 4.3 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 16% higher than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Perkins 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
6 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
52/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #16 of 65 South Dakota counties with school score data.
Completion
86.7%
4.3 pts above the state average
Funding context
$8,631
$1,222 above the state average
School coverage
6
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
Perkins County has 6 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 Perkins 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.
Small-system county
Perkins County has a compact public-school footprint. A single school change, boundary rule, or district update can move the lived experience more than the county score suggests.
State position
#16
of 65 South Dakota counties with school score data. The county score is 14 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.
Lemmon School District 52-4
Elementary to high school visible
283 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
Bison School District 52-1
Elementary to high school visible
134 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Bison School District 52-1 is the largest listed district slice, with 3 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 Perkins County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Perkins 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 Perkins 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.
Small-Town Learning Across Two Districts
Perkins County educates 417 students within six public schools, providing two elementary, two middle, and two high schools. These facilities are managed by two distinct districts that maintain a low student-to-school ratio.
High Scores and Competitive Graduation Rates
The county boasts an 86.7% graduation rate, exceeding the state average of 82.4% and nearly matching the national 87% mark. Investment is strong here, with per-pupil spending at $8,631, well above the South Dakota average of $7,409.
Lemmon and Bison District Highlights
The Lemmon School District 52-4 is the larger provider with 283 students, while the Bison School District 52-1 serves 134 students. Traditional public schooling remains the standard, as no charter schools operate in the county.
Intimate Rural Schools with Personal Focus
The average school enrollment is just 70 students, and all six schools are classified as rural. Lemmon Elementary is the county's largest school with 141 students, while Bison High School serves the smallest cohort with 43 students.
School Overview
Total Schools
6
in Perkins County
Reported Enrollment
417
6 schools reporting
School Districts
2
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
2 School Districts in Perkins County
Lemmon School District 52-4
Bison School District 52-1
6 Public Schools in Perkins 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 6 of 6 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lemmon Elementary - 02 | Record | Lemmon School District 52-4 | Lemmon, 57638Rural: Remote | KG–6 | Primary | 141 |
| Lemmon High School - 01 | Record | Lemmon School District 52-4 | Lemmon, 57638Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 86 |
| Bison Elementary - 02 | Record | Bison School District 52-1 | Bison, 57620Rural: Remote | KG–6 | Primary | 67 |
| Lemmon Jr. High - 06 | Record | Lemmon School District 52-4 | Lemmon, 57638Rural: Remote | 7–8 | Middle | 56 |
| Bison High School - 01 | Record | Bison School District 52-1 | Bison, 57620Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 43 |
| Bison Jr. High - 04 | Record | Bison School District 52-1 | Bison, 57620Rural: Remote | 7–8 | Middle | 24 |
Lemmon Elementary - 02
Lemmon School District 52-4
Lemmon, 57638 / Rural: Remote
Lemmon High School - 01
Lemmon School District 52-4
Lemmon, 57638 / Rural: Remote
Bison Elementary - 02
Bison School District 52-1
Bison, 57620 / Rural: Remote
Lemmon Jr. High - 06
Lemmon School District 52-4
Lemmon, 57638 / Rural: Remote
Bison High School - 01
Bison School District 52-1
Bison, 57620 / Rural: Remote
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$8,631
State avg $7,409
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Perkins 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 Perkins County?
What is the graduation rate in Perkins County?
How much does Perkins County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Perkins County, South Dakota — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Perkins County, South Dakota?
Perkins County educates 417 students within six public schools, providing two elementary, two middle, and two high schools. These facilities are managed by two distinct districts that maintain a low student-to-school ratio.
How do schools in Perkins County perform academically?
The county boasts an 86.7% graduation rate, exceeding the state average of 82.4% and nearly matching the national 87% mark. Investment is strong here, with per-pupil spending at $8,631, well above the South Dakota average of $7,409.
What are the major school districts in Perkins County, South Dakota?
The Lemmon School District 52-4 is the larger provider with 283 students, while the Bison School District 52-1 serves 134 students. Traditional public schooling remains the standard, as no charter schools operate in the county.
What is the school experience like in Perkins County?
The average school enrollment is just 70 students, and all six schools are classified as rural. Lemmon Elementary is the county's largest school with 141 students, while Bison High School serves the smallest cohort with 43 students.
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.