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C−

Garretson School District 49-4

Public school districtGrades PK–12Regional · 6 towns

Serves Garretson, Edison Township, Red Rock Township, Palisade Township, Highland Township and Sherman, and parts of Sverdrup Township, Brandon Township and Logan Township.

Garretson’s School Grade C− better than 24% of South Dakota school districts

Students
493
Schools
3
Spent per student
$11,773
SD $13,040
Students per teacher
13:1
Free or reduced lunch
21%
Debt
$2.1M
fiscal 2024
The gist

What stands out about Garretson School District 49-4

  • Its letter, C−: results better than 24% of South Dakota districts
  • Math proficiency 5 pts below the state
  • Reading proficiency 10 pts below the state
  • Graduation rate 11 pts above the state
  • Spends 10% less per student than the SD average
  • 13 students per teacher
  • Debt of $2.1M, about $4,280 per student
The School Grade

What this district adds to its towns’ grade

C−: better than 24% 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 well below the state, 2021–22
C−
The towns it serves, and their School Grades
C−Garretson 1,174Edison Township 534Red Rock Township 390Palisade Township 388Highland Township 211Sherman 77

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where would my kid go?

The school path for Garretson. Grade by grade →

PK–5Garretson Elementary - 02This district
6–8Garretson Middle School - 03This district
9–12Garretson High School - 01This district

Test scores vs. SD

2021–22 · class of 2023
Math proficiency37%
State average 42.2% · 222 students tested
Reading / language arts41%
State average 51% · 222 students tested
Graduation rate (4-year)90–100%
State average 84% · 33 in the class · small group: the state reports a range

94% 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
$11,773 per student · 10% below SD
Spending
Classroom instruction 56%Support & administration 36%Other 8%
Paid for by
Local (mostly property tax) 55%State 35%Federal 10%

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

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

Enrollment over time
493’20
491’21
460’22
481’23
493’24

About steady since 2020–21.

Students
White 89%Two or more races 6%Hispanic 3%American Indian/Alaska Native 2%Asian <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.

Garretson Elementary - 02
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Garretson
C−
246 students14:1
Garretson Middle School - 03
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Garretson
C+
105 students13:1
Garretson High School - 01
High · Grades 9–12 · Garretson
C
142 students12:1

Nearby districts

Compare spending and schools next door.

Brandon Valley School District 49-2Brandon, Mapleton Township, Split Rock Township
$10,720per student
Dell Rapids School District 49-3Alliance Township, Blinsmon Township, Dell Rapids Township
$11,212per student
Sioux Falls School District 49-5Mapleton Township, Sioux Falls
$12,316per student
Baltic School District 49-1Baltic, Dell Rapids Township
$11,805per 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.