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B−

Bison School District 52-1

Public school districtGrades K–12Regional · 23 towns

Serves Bison, Strool-Plateau Township, Chance Township, Meadow Township, Marshfield Township, Burdick Township, Lone Tree Township, Antelope Township, Rainbow Township, Wells Township, Rockford Township, Scotch Cap Township, Cash Township, Barrett Township, Chaudoin Township, Duell Township, Bison Township, Maltby Township, Vail Township, Beck-Highland Township, Ada Township, Hall Township and Vrooman Township.

Bison’s Schools page →

Students
135
Schools
3
Spent per student
$17,358
SD $13,040
Students per teacher
8:1
Free or reduced lunch
27%
Debt
$2M
fiscal 2024
The gist

What stands out about Bison School District 52-1

  • Its letter, B−: results better than 48% of South Dakota districts
  • Math proficiency 5 pts below the state
  • Reading proficiency 6 pts above the state
  • Graduation rate 9 pts below the state
  • Spends 33% more per student than the SD average
  • 8 students per teacher
  • Debt of $2M, about $14,881 per student
The School Grade

What this district adds to its towns’ grade

B−: better than 48% of the 147 South Dakota school districts we grade. Each town’s School Grade weighs its districts by the students they test; spending and class size are shown but don’t count.

Test scoresReading and math close to the state, 2021–22
B−
The towns it serves, and their School Grades
Bison 308Strool-Plateau Township 92Chance Township 43Meadow Township 41Marshfield Township 35Burdick Township 28Lone Tree Township 24Antelope Township 23Rainbow Township 23Wells Township 22Rockford Township 20Scotch Cap Township 18Cash Township 17Barrett Township 16Chaudoin Township 16Duell Township 15Bison Township 14Maltby Township 14Vail Township 12Beck-Highland Township 11Ada Township 10Hall Township 7Vrooman Township 7

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where would my kid go?

The school path for Bison. Grade by grade →

K–6Bison Elementary - 02This district
7–8Bison Jr. High - 04This district
9–12Bison High School - 01This district

Test scores vs. SD

2021–22 · class of 2023
Math proficiency35–39%
State average 42.2% · 73 students tested
Reading / language arts55–59%
State average 51% · 73 students tested
Graduation rate (4-year)50–100%
State average 84% · 7 in the class · small group: the state reports a range

98% of students in the tested grades sat the 2022 tests.

Reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express and the Urban Institute); the newest year for each measure.

Where the money goes

fiscal 2024
$17,358 per student · 33% above SD
Spending
Classroom instruction 56%Support & administration 39%Other 4%
Paid for by
Local (mostly property tax) 63%State 24%Federal 12%

Fiscal 2022–24 includes federal pandemic relief (ESSER).

U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances.

Enrollment over time
142’20
137’21
134’22
137’23
135’24

Down 4.9% since 2020–21.

Students
White 90%Hispanic 5%American Indian/Alaska Native 4%Two or more races <1%

Schools in the district

3 public schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with South Dakota’s other public schools.

Bison Elementary - 02
Elementary · Grades K–6 · Bison
C+
65 students7:1
Bison Jr. High - 04
Middle · Grades 7–8 · Bison
18 students9:1
Bison High School - 01
High · Grades 9–12 · Bison
B−
52 students9:1

Nearby districts

Compare spending and schools next door.

Lemmon School District 52-4Foster Township, Fredlund Township, Liberty Township
$13,432per student
Faith School District 46-2Eagle Township, Martin Township, Moreau Township
$13,801per student
Meade School District 46-1Eagle Township
$10,735per student

District facts: U.S. Department of Education (NCES school directory 2024–25 and district boundaries) and the U.S. Census Bureau’s school finance survey. Test scores and graduation: state results reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express and the Urban Institute). The letters are our own summary, graded within South Dakota.