Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Harrisburg

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
B+
Schools in Harrisburg · Harrisburg School District 41-2

Harrisburg’s public schools outscore 73% of South Dakota districts

Reading proficiency in Harrisburg’s districts is 60%, above the South Dakota average (51%). The grade covers the public school district serving Harrisburg, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within South Dakota, not nationally.

#11of 35 South Dakota townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From South Dakota state tests taken in spring 2022, when 100% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
60%
▲ 9 pts vs SD 51%
2021–22
Math proficiency
49%
▲ 7 pts vs SD 42%
2021–22
Graduate on time
91%
▲ 7 pts vs SD 84%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$11.8K
▼ 9% vs SD $13.0K
FY2024
Students per teacher
13.5
SD 13.7
Schools in town
5
3,766 students on the public path
In brief

Harrisburg’s schools, in brief

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 60% and math 49% in spring 2022, against 51% and 42% statewide; 91% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 84%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $11,823 per student, against $13,040 across South Dakota (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Three elementary schools, then one middle and one high school

Which elementary school depends on the address; from grade 6 the district’s path is Harrisburg South Middle School - 03, then Harrisburg High School - 01. Enrollment is up 14% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Harrisburg’s grade

B+ Test scoresB+ Graduation

B+: better than 73% of South Dakota school districts, #11 of 35 South Dakota towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the South Dakota average; graduation is the stronger of the two.

South Dakota school districts we grade (147)Better than 73%
Lower resultsHigher results
South Dakota towns with similar household incomes (314)Better than 72%
B+A−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 3,088 test results and a graduating class of 329 could put Harrisburg anywhere from B+ to A−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Harrisburg’s students in the tested grades sat them (3,089 in math, 3,087 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Harrisburg, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
K–53 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressC+ to A−
6–8Harrisburg South Middle School - 03Harrisburg School District 41-2B+
9–12Harrisburg High School - 01Harrisburg School District 41-2C+

Harrisburg’s public schools are run by Harrisburg School District 41-2, which also serves Dayton, Delapre, La Valley and Springdale and others. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Harrisburg School District 41-2Grades PK–12 · 11 schools · 6,222 students, up 14% since 2020–21 · 13.5 per teacher (SD 13.7)
$11,823SD $13,040 · FY2024
B+
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading60%
State average 51% · 3087 students tested
Math49%
State average 42.2% · 3089 students tested

Harrisburg vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the South Dakota towns that share Harrisburg’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
HarrisburgB+Harrisburg School District 41-2
SpringdaleA−Harrisburg School District 41-2 PK–12 · Canton School District 41-1 K–12
DelapreA−Tea Area School District 41-5 PK–12 · Lennox School District 41-4 PK–12 · Harrisburg School District 41-2 PK–12
La Valley—Harrisburg School District 41-2 PK–12 · Lennox School District 41-4 PK–12 · Canton School District 41-1 K–12
Dayton—Harrisburg School District 41-2 PK–12 · Canton School District 41-1 K–12

All 4 neighbors share Harrisburg School District 41-2 with Harrisburg, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.

Every school in Harrisburg

5 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with South Dakota’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Harrisburgby address
Liberty Elementary - 02
Elementary · Grades PK–5
A−
559 students14:1Rate it →
Freedom Elementary - 06
Elementary · Grades K–5
C+
442 students14:1Rate it →
Adventure Elementary - 10
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Sioux Falls
440 students16:1Rate it →
Harrisburg South Middle School - 03
Middle · Grades 6–8
B+
519 students12:1Rate it →
Harrisburg High School - 01
High · Grades 9–12
C+
1,806 students14:1Rate it →

Questions about Harrisburg’s schools

Are Harrisburg’s schools good?

By South Dakota’s own tests, yes: the public schools Harrisburg children attend outscore 73% of South Dakota’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade, #11 of 35 South Dakota towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 72%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Harrisburg in?

Harrisburg School District 41-2, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 6,222 students in 11 schools (2024–25).

Where do Harrisburg kids go to high school?

Harrisburg High School - 01, with 1,806 students; its own test results earn a C+.

What is Harrisburg’s graduation rate?

91% of the class of 2023 in Harrisburg School District 41-2 graduated in four years, against 84% across South Dakota.

How much does Harrisburg spend per student?

$11,823 in Harrisburg School District 41-2 (FY2024), against $13,040 across South Dakota. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Harrisburg families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Harrisburg → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within South Dakota. Stars are from neighbors.