Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Hartford

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
John Mundt BuildingJohn Mundt Building · Photo: publichall · CC BY-SA 3.0
B+
Schools in Hartford · West Central School District 49-7

Hartford’s public schools outscore 67% of South Dakota districts

The grade covers the public school district serving Hartford, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. 48% of students in Hartford’s public schools are proficient in math, above the South Dakota average (42%). Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within South Dakota, not nationally.

#16of 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
51%
▲ 0 pts vs SD 51%
2021–22
Math proficiency
48%
▲ 6 pts vs SD 42%
2021–22
Graduate on time
90–94%
▲ 6–10 pts vs SD 84%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$11.2K
▼ 14% vs SD $13.0K
FY2024
Students per teacher
15.1
SD 13.7 · larger classes
Schools in town
3
1,073 students on the public path
In brief

Hartford’s schools, in brief

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 51% and math 48% in spring 2022, against 51% and 42% statewide; 90–94% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 84%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $11,165 per student, against $13,040 across South Dakota (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one middle and one high school

From grade 6 the district’s path is West Central Middle School - 04, then West Central High School - 01. 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 Hartford’s grade

B Test scoresA− Graduation

B+: better than 67% of South Dakota school districts, #16 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 67%
Lower resultsHigher results
South Dakota towns with similar household incomes (340)Better than 65%
BA−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 712 test results and a graduating class of 106 could put Hartford anywhere from B to A−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Hartford’s students in the tested grades sat them (712 in math, 712 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
K–3West Central Hartford Elementary - 05West Central School District 49-7No scores
6–8West Central Middle School - 04West Central School District 49-7C
9–12West Central High School - 01West Central School District 49-7B

Hartford’s public schools are run by West Central School District 49-7, which also serves Clear Lake, Grand Meadow, Hartford and Humboldt 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.

West Central School District 49-7Grades K–12 · 6 schools · 1,418 students, up 3% since 2020–21 · 15.1 per teacher (SD 13.7)
$11,165SD $13,040 · FY2024
B+
Test scores · 2021–22

Close to the state in reading

Reading51%
State average 51% · 712 students tested
Math48%
State average 42.2% · 712 students tested

Hartford vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
HartfordB+West Central School District 49-7
Hartford Township—West Central School District 49-7

Every school in Hartford

3 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 Hartfordby address
West Central Hartford Elementary - 05
Elementary · Grades K–3
368 students15:1Rate it →
West Central Middle School - 04
Middle · Grades 6–8
C
297 students15:1Rate it →
West Central High School - 01
High · Grades 9–12
B
408 students17:1Rate it →

Questions about Hartford’s schools

Are Hartford’s schools good?

By South Dakota’s own tests, yes: the public schools Hartford children attend outscore 67% of South Dakota’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade, #16 of 35 South Dakota towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 65%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Hartford in?

West Central School District 49-7, which runs grades K–12 and enrolls 1,418 students in 6 schools (2024–25).

Where do Hartford kids go to high school?

West Central High School - 01, with 408 students; its own test results earn a B.

What is Hartford’s graduation rate?

90–94% of the class of 2023 in West Central School District 49-7 graduated in four years, against 84% across South Dakota.

How much does Hartford spend per student?

$11,165 in West Central School District 49-7 (FY2024), against $13,040 across South Dakota. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Hartford families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Hartford → 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.