Sanborn County Schools & Education
Sanborn County, South Dakota
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
30/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Lower Signal
Graduation Rate
84.5%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
84.5%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 82.4%
Per-Pupil Spending
$6,953
National avg $13,239
State avg $7,409
School Score
30/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 38/100
State Score Position
#45
of 65 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Sanborn County
Measured School Summary
Sanborn County faces educational challenges with a school score of 30/100 and a graduation rate of 84.5%, falling below typical benchmarks.
Funding Context
At $6,953 per pupil, Sanborn County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 22% below the South Dakota average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 2.1 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 6% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Sanborn 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
30/100
Lower measured signal. Ranks #45 of 65 South Dakota counties with school score data.
Completion
84.5%
2.1 pts above the state average
Funding context
$6,953
$456 below the state average
School coverage
6
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
Sanborn 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 Sanborn 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
Sanborn 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
#45
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.
Woonsocket School District 55-4
Elementary and high visible
285 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
Sanborn Central School District 55-5
Elementary to high school visible
210 students
4 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Sanborn Central School District 55-5 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 Sanborn County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Sanborn 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 Sanborn 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 Districts, Big Impact in Sanborn
Sanborn County manages 495 students across six public schools within two districts. The infrastructure includes three elementary, one middle, and two high schools to serve the local population.
Woonsocket and Sanborn Central Districts
The Woonsocket School District 55-4 is the county's largest, enrolling 285 students, while Sanborn Central School District 55-5 serves 210 students. Like many neighboring counties, there are no charter schools available in this area.
Small School Sizes in a Rural Landscape
The average school size is just 83 students, and all facilities are located in rural areas. Woonsocket Elementary is the largest school with 195 students, while Upland Colony Elementary offers a very specialized setting with only 36 students.
School Overview
Total Schools
6
in Sanborn County
Reported Enrollment
495
6 schools reporting
School Districts
2
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
2 School Districts in Sanborn County
Woonsocket School District 55-4
Sanborn Central School District 55-5
6 Public Schools in Sanborn 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Woonsocket Elementary - 03 | Record | Woonsocket School District 55-4 | Woonsocket, 57385Rural: Remote | PK–8 | Primary | 195 |
| Sanborn Central Elementary - 06 | Record | Sanborn Central School District 55-5 | Forestburg, 57314Rural: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 104 |
| Woonsocket High School - 01 | Record | Woonsocket School District 55-4 | Woonsocket, 57385Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 90 |
| Sanborn Central High School - 01 | Record | Sanborn Central School District 55-5 | Forestburg, 57314Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 40 |
| Upland Colony Elementary - 05 | Record | Sanborn Central School District 55-5 | Forestburg, 57314Rural: Distant | KG–8 | Primary | 36 |
| Sanborn Central Middle School - 02 | Record | Sanborn Central School District 55-5 | Forestburg, 57314Rural: Remote | 6–8 | Middle | 30 |
Woonsocket Elementary - 03
Woonsocket School District 55-4
Woonsocket, 57385 / Rural: Remote
Sanborn Central Elementary - 06
Sanborn Central School District 55-5
Forestburg, 57314 / Rural: Remote
Woonsocket High School - 01
Woonsocket School District 55-4
Woonsocket, 57385 / Rural: Remote
Sanborn Central High School - 01
Sanborn Central School District 55-5
Forestburg, 57314 / Rural: Remote
Upland Colony Elementary - 05
Sanborn Central School District 55-5
Forestburg, 57314 / Rural: Distant
Sanborn Central Middle School - 02
Sanborn Central School District 55-5
Forestburg, 57314 / Rural: Remote
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$6,953
State avg $7,409
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Sanborn 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 Sanborn County?
What is the graduation rate in Sanborn County?
How much does Sanborn County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Sanborn County, South Dakota — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Sanborn County, South Dakota?
Sanborn County manages 495 students across six public schools within two districts. The infrastructure includes three elementary, one middle, and two high schools to serve the local population.
What are the major school districts in Sanborn County, South Dakota?
The Woonsocket School District 55-4 is the county's largest, enrolling 285 students, while Sanborn Central School District 55-5 serves 210 students. Like many neighboring counties, there are no charter schools available in this area.
What is the school experience like in Sanborn County?
The average school size is just 83 students, and all facilities are located in rural areas. Woonsocket Elementary is the largest school with 195 students, while Upland Colony Elementary offers a very specialized setting with only 36 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.