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D−

McLaughlin School District 15-2

Public school districtGrades PK–12

Serves McLaughlin.

McLaughlin’s Schools page →

Students
443
Schools
3
Spent per student
$22,585
SD $13,040
Students per teacher
9:1
Free or reduced lunch
100%
The gist

What stands out about McLaughlin School District 15-2

  • Its letter, D−: results better than 4% of South Dakota districts
  • Math proficiency 40 pts below the state
  • Reading proficiency 39 pts below the state
  • Graduation rate 20 pts below the state
  • Spends 73% more per student than the SD average
  • 9 students per teacher
The School Grade

What this district adds to its towns’ grade

D−: better than 4% 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
D−
GraduationFour-year graduation well below the state, class of 2023
D
The town it serves, and its School Grade
McLaughlin 551

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where would my kid go?

The school path for McLaughlin. Grade by grade →

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

Test scores vs. SD

2021–22 · class of 2023
Math proficiency0–5%
State average 42.2% · 195 students tested
Reading / language arts10–14%
State average 51% · 193 students tested
Graduation rate (4-year)60–69%
State average 84% · 37 in the class

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
$22,585 per student · 73% above SD
Spending
Classroom instruction 52%Support & administration 43%Other 4%
Paid for by
Local (mostly property tax) 13%State 28%Federal 59%

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

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

Enrollment over time
462’20
432’21
442’22
427’23
443’24

Down 4.1% since 2020–21.

Students
American Indian/Alaska Native 96%Two or more races 2%White <1%Asian <1%Hispanic <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.

McLaughlin Elementary - 02
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · McLaughlin
D−
203 students11:1
McLaughlin Middle School - 03
Middle · Grades 6–8 · McLaughlin
D−
85 students8:1
McLaughlin High School - 01
High · Grades 9–12 · McLaughlin
D−
155 students8:1

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.