Union County Schools & Education
Union County, South Dakota
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
39/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Lower Signal
Graduation Rate
91.9%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
91.9%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 82.4%
Per-Pupil Spending
$6,001
National avg $13,239
State avg $7,409
School Score
39/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 38/100
State Score Position
#32
of 65 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Union County
Measured School Summary
Despite a lower school score of 39/100, Union County maintains a strong graduation rate of 91.9%, suggesting effective student support systems.
Funding Context
At $6,001 per pupil, Union County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 2% above the South Dakota average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 9.5 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 19% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Union 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
13 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
39/100
Lower measured signal. Ranks #32 of 65 South Dakota counties with school score data.
Completion
91.9%
9.5 pts above the state average
Funding context
$6,001
$1,408 below the state average
School coverage
13
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
Union County has 13 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.
What Union 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
Union 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
#32
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.
Dakota Valley School District 61-8
Elementary to high school visible
1,387 students
4 listed schools in this county slice.
Beresford School District 61-2
Elementary to high school visible
708 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
Elk Point-Jefferson School District 61-7
Elementary to high school visible
688 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
Alcester-Hudson School District 61-1
Elementary to high school visible
352 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Dakota Valley School District 61-8 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 Union County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Union 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 Union 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 Growing Suburban and Rural Network
Union County supports 13 public schools serving a large student body of 3,135 children. The infrastructure includes five elementary, four middle, and four high schools distributed across four school districts. This mix of facilities handles one of the larger student populations in the region.
Dakota Valley Leads a Diverse District Mix
The Dakota Valley School District 61-8 is the largest in the county, educating 1,387 students across four schools. Other significant districts include Beresford and Alcester-Hudson, providing a range of educational leadership. There are zero charter schools, meaning these four districts provide 100% of the county's public education.
Suburban Reach Meets Rural Roots
The county offers a unique locale mix with four suburban schools and nine rural schools. Average school size is 241 students, though Dakota Valley High School is the largest with 448 students. This variety allows families to choose between a more traditional rural setting or a growing suburban school environment.
School Overview
Total Schools
13
in Union County
Reported Enrollment
3,135
13 schools reporting
School Districts
4
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
4 School Districts in Union County
Dakota Valley School District 61-8
Beresford School District 61-2
Elk Point-Jefferson School District 61-7
Alcester-Hudson School District 61-1
13 Public Schools in Union 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 13 of 13 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dakota Valley High School - 01 | Record | Dakota Valley School District 61-8 | North Sioux City, 57049Suburb: Midsize | 9–12 | High | 448 |
| Dakota Valley Elementary - 02 | Record | Dakota Valley School District 61-8 | North Sioux City, 57049Suburb: Midsize | KG–3 | Primary | 365 |
| Dakota Valley Middle School - 03 | Record | Dakota Valley School District 61-8 | North Sioux City, 57049Suburb: Midsize | 6–8 | Middle | 342 |
| Elk Point-Jefferson Elementary - 02 | Record | Elk Point-Jefferson School District 61-7 | Elk Point, 57025Rural: Distant | KG–5 | Primary | 321 |
| Beresford Elementary - 02 | Record | Beresford School District 61-2 | Beresford, 57004Rural: Remote | KG–5 | Primary | 307 |
| Dakota Valley Upper Elementary - 04 | Record | Dakota Valley School District 61-8 | North Sioux City, 57049Suburb: Midsize | 4–5 | Primary | 232 |
| Beresford High School - 01 | Record | Beresford School District 61-2 | Beresford, 57004Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 227 |
| Elk Point-Jefferson High School - 01 | Record | Elk Point-Jefferson School District 61-7 | Elk Point, 57025Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 214 |
| Alcester-Hudson Elementary - 04 | Record | Alcester-Hudson School District 61-1 | Alcester, 57001Rural: Remote | PK–6 | Primary | 195 |
| Beresford Middle School - 03 | Record | Beresford School District 61-2 | Beresford, 57004Rural: Remote | 6–8 | Middle | 174 |
| Elk Point-Jefferson Middle School - 03 | Record | Elk Point-Jefferson School District 61-7 | Elk Point, 57025Rural: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 153 |
| Alcester-Hudson High School - 01 | Record | Alcester-Hudson School District 61-1 | Alcester, 57001Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 104 |
| Alcester-Hudson Jr. High - 03 | Record | Alcester-Hudson School District 61-1 | Alcester, 57001Rural: Remote | 7–8 | Middle | 53 |
Dakota Valley High School - 01
Dakota Valley School District 61-8
North Sioux City, 57049 / Suburb: Midsize
Dakota Valley Elementary - 02
Dakota Valley School District 61-8
North Sioux City, 57049 / Suburb: Midsize
Dakota Valley Middle School - 03
Dakota Valley School District 61-8
North Sioux City, 57049 / Suburb: Midsize
Elk Point-Jefferson Elementary - 02
Elk Point-Jefferson School District 61-7
Elk Point, 57025 / Rural: Distant
Beresford Elementary - 02
Beresford School District 61-2
Beresford, 57004 / Rural: Remote
Dakota Valley Upper Elementary - 04
Dakota Valley School District 61-8
North Sioux City, 57049 / Suburb: Midsize
Beresford High School - 01
Beresford School District 61-2
Beresford, 57004 / Rural: Remote
Elk Point-Jefferson High School - 01
Elk Point-Jefferson School District 61-7
Elk Point, 57025 / Rural: Distant
Alcester-Hudson Elementary - 04
Alcester-Hudson School District 61-1
Alcester, 57001 / Rural: Remote
Beresford Middle School - 03
Beresford School District 61-2
Beresford, 57004 / Rural: Remote
Elk Point-Jefferson Middle School - 03
Elk Point-Jefferson School District 61-7
Elk Point, 57025 / Rural: Distant
Alcester-Hudson High School - 01
Alcester-Hudson School District 61-1
Alcester, 57001 / Rural: Remote
Alcester-Hudson Jr. High - 03
Alcester-Hudson School District 61-1
Alcester, 57001 / Rural: Remote
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$6,001
State avg $7,409
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Union County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.
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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 Union County?
What is the graduation rate in Union County?
How much does Union County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Union County, South Dakota — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Union County, South Dakota?
Union County supports 13 public schools serving a large student body of 3,135 children. The infrastructure includes five elementary, four middle, and four high schools distributed across four school districts. This mix of facilities handles one of the larger student populations in the region.
What are the major school districts in Union County, South Dakota?
The Dakota Valley School District 61-8 is the largest in the county, educating 1,387 students across four schools. Other significant districts include Beresford and Alcester-Hudson, providing a range of educational leadership. There are zero charter schools, meaning these four districts provide 100% of the county's public education.
What is the school experience like in Union County?
The county offers a unique locale mix with four suburban schools and nine rural schools. Average school size is 241 students, though Dakota Valley High School is the largest with 448 students. This variety allows families to choose between a more traditional rural setting or a growing suburban school environment.
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.