Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Lead

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
Lead, South Dakota 1Photo: Gary Chancey, Black Hills National Forest · Public domain
C−
Schools in Lead · Lead-Deadwood School District 40-1

Lead’s public schools score below 76% of South Dakota districts on tests and graduation

67% of Lead’s students graduate on time, below the South Dakota average (84%). The grade covers the public school district serving Lead, 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.

K–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
48%
▼ 3 pts vs SD 51%
2021–22
Math proficiency
34%
▼ 8 pts vs SD 42%
2021–22
Graduate on time
65–69%
▼ 15–19 pts vs SD 84%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$17.4K
▲ 34% vs SD $13.0K
FY2024
Students per teacher
9.6
SD 13.7 · smaller classes
Schools in town
2
593 students on the public path
In brief

Lead’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 340 South Dakota towns with household incomes within a quarter of Lead’s, its schools beat 19%, lower than their 24% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 48% of tested students were proficient in reading and 34% in math, against 51% and 42% statewide; 100% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

65–69% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 84% across South Dakota (the state reports Lead’s rate as a range). Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $17,440 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 Lead-Deadwood Middle School - 02, then Lead-Deadwood High School - 01. Enrollment is down 13% 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 Lead’s grade

C Test scoresC− Graduation

C−: better than 24% of South Dakota school districts, last of 35 South Dakota towns. Both inputs trail the South Dakota average; test scores are the closer of the two to typical.

South Dakota school districts we grade (147)Better than 24%
Lower resultsHigher results
South Dakota towns with similar household incomes (340)Better than 19%
DCA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 364 test results and a graduating class of 80 could put Lead anywhere from D to C. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Lead’s students in the tested grades sat them (363 in math, 366 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
K–5Lead-Deadwood Elementary - 03in DeadwoodC
6–8Lead-Deadwood Middle School - 02Lead-Deadwood School District 40-1C
9–12Lead-Deadwood High School - 01Lead-Deadwood School District 40-1C

Lead’s public schools are run by Lead-Deadwood School District 40-1, which also serves Central City and Deadwood. 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.

Lead-Deadwood School District 40-1Grades K–12 · 4 schools · 647 students, down 13% since 2020–21 · 9.6 per teacher (SD 13.7)
$17,440SD $13,040 · FY2024
C−
Test scores · 2021–22

Below the state in reading

Reading48%
State average 51% · 366 students tested
Math34%
State average 42.2% · 363 students tested

Lead vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
LeadC−Lead-Deadwood School District 40-1
DeadwoodC−Lead-Deadwood School District 40-1

Every school in Lead

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 Leadby address
Lead-Deadwood Middle School - 02
Middle · Grades 6–8
C
139 students10:1Rate it →
Lead-Deadwood High School - 01
High · Grades 9–12
C
211 students11:1Rate it →
Also serving Leadin other towns
Lead-Deadwood Elementary - 03
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Deadwood
C
243 students9:1Rate it →

Questions about Lead’s schools

Are Lead’s schools good?

On South Dakota’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Lead children attend score below 76% of South Dakota’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C− Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 19%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Lead in?

Lead-Deadwood School District 40-1, which runs grades K–12 and enrolls 647 students in 4 schools (2024–25).

Where do Lead kids go to high school?

Lead-Deadwood High School - 01, with 211 students; its own test results earn a C.

What is Lead’s graduation rate?

65–69% of the class of 2023 in Lead-Deadwood School District 40-1 graduated in four years, against 84% across South Dakota.

How much does Lead spend per student?

$17,440 in Lead-Deadwood School District 40-1 (FY2024), against $13,040 across South Dakota. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Lead families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Lead → 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.