schoolsbycounty

Yankton County Schools & Education

School Score

42/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Midrange Signal

Graduation Rate

92.7%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

92.7%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 82.4%

Per-Pupil Spending

$5,777

National avg $13,239

State avg $7,409

School Score

42/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 38/100

State Score Position

#26

of 65 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Yankton County

Measured School Summary

Yankton County performs at an average level with a school score of 42/100 and a solid graduation rate of 92.7%.

Funding Context

At $5,777 per pupil, Yankton County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 9% above the South Dakota average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 10.3 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 22% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Yankton 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 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

42/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #26 of 65 South Dakota counties with school score data.

Completion

92.7%

10.3 pts above the state average

Funding context

$5,777

$1,632 below the state average

School coverage

10

3 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

Yankton County has 10 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.

Parent decision brief

What Yankton 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

Yankton School District 63-3 carries most of the listed public-school system, with 6 of 10 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.

State position

#26

of 65 South Dakota counties with school score data. The county score is 4 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.

Yankton School District 63-3

Elementary to high school visible

3,036 students

Elementary 4Middle 1High 1Other 0

6 listed schools in this county slice.

Gayville-Volin School District 63-1

Elementary to high school visible

289 students

Elementary 1Middle 1High 1Other 0

3 listed schools in this county slice.

Menno School District 33-2

Elementary school only in this slice

20 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 0Other 0

1 listed school in this county slice.

District reality check

Yankton School District 63-3 is the largest listed district slice, with 6 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 Yankton County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Yankton 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 Yankton 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 Major Educational Hub in Southeast SD

Yankton County manages a significant student population of 3,345 across 10 public schools. The infrastructure is robust, featuring six elementary schools, two middle schools, and two high schools. Three different districts collaborate to provide comprehensive education for the county's diverse needs.

Yankton School District's Broad Reach

The Yankton School District 63-3 is the dominant provider, serving 3,036 students across six schools. Smaller districts like Menno and Gayville-Volin also play vital roles, serving around 290 students each. There are no charter schools in Yankton County, meaning these traditional districts are the pillars of the community.

Large Town Schools and Rural Outposts

The county features six schools in town settings and four in rural areas, with an average school size of 335 students. Yankton High School is the largest facility by far with 942 students, creating a more traditional "large school" experience. This variety allows for both large-scale programs and more intimate rural elementary settings.

School Overview

Total Schools

10

in Yankton County

Reported Enrollment

3,345

10 schools reporting

School Districts

3

districts

Charter Schools

0

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary6
Middle2
High2
Other0

3 School Districts in Yankton County

Yankton School District 63-3

6 schools
3,036 students

Gayville-Volin School District 63-1

3 schools
289 students

Menno School District 33-2

5 schools
288 students

10 Public Schools in Yankton County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 1 high-enrollment school; every NCES public school remains listed here.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Level

Showing 10 of 10 matching schools

Yankton High School - 01

Yankton School District 63-3

Yankton, 57078 / Town: Remote

Profile9–12High942 students

Yankton Middle School - 02

Yankton School District 63-3

Yankton, 57078 / Town: Remote

Record6–8Middle606 students

Lincoln Elementary - 04

Yankton School District 63-3

Yankton, 57078 / Town: Remote

RecordKG–5Primary410 students

Beadle Elementary - 03

Yankton School District 63-3

Yankton, 57078 / Town: Remote

RecordKG–5Primary404 students

Webster Elementary - 06

Yankton School District 63-3

Yankton, 57078 / Town: Remote

RecordPK–5Primary396 students

Stewart Elementary - 05

Yankton School District 63-3

Yankton, 57078 / Town: Remote

RecordKG–5Primary278 students

Gayville-Volin Elementary - 02

Gayville-Volin School District 63-1

Gayville, 57031 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary144 students

Gayville-Volin High School - 01

Gayville-Volin School District 63-1

Gayville, 57031 / Rural: Distant

Record9–12High82 students

Gayville-Volin Middle School - 03

Gayville-Volin School District 63-1

Gayville, 57031 / Rural: Distant

Record6–8Middle63 students

Jamesville Colony Elementary - 03

Menno School District 33-2

Menno, 57045 / Rural: Remote

RecordKG–8Primary20 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$5,777

State avg $7,409

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Yankton County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

View Schools

Frequently Asked Questions

Which South Dakota counties have the highest graduation rates?
Deuel County (95.0%), Stanley County (95.0%), and Hamlin County (92.8%) currently lead South Dakota among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.
What is per-pupil spending like in South Dakota?
Across South Dakota counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $7,409. The highest current county values are Ziebach County ($13,420), Corson County ($10,486), and Sully County ($10,373). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.
How should I read the school score in Yankton County?
Yankton County has a school score of 42/100, which is a midrange measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.
What is the graduation rate in Yankton County?
The high school graduation rate in Yankton County is 92.7%, which is above the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.
How much does Yankton County spend per student?
Yankton County spends $5,777 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools in Yankton County, South Dakota — FAQ

What does the school system look like in Yankton County, South Dakota?

Yankton County manages a significant student population of 3,345 across 10 public schools. The infrastructure is robust, featuring six elementary schools, two middle schools, and two high schools. Three different districts collaborate to provide comprehensive education for the county's diverse needs.

What are the major school districts in Yankton County, South Dakota?

The Yankton School District 63-3 is the dominant provider, serving 3,036 students across six schools. Smaller districts like Menno and Gayville-Volin also play vital roles, serving around 290 students each. There are no charter schools in Yankton County, meaning these traditional districts are the pillars of the community.

What is the school experience like in Yankton County?

The county features six schools in town settings and four in rural areas, with an average school size of 335 students. Yankton High School is the largest facility by far with 942 students, creating a more traditional "large school" experience. This variety allows for both large-scale programs and more intimate rural elementary settings.

Counties with Similar School Profile

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

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.