Piedmont’s public schools outscore 63% of South Dakota districts
The grade covers the public school district serving Piedmont, 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.
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.
Piedmont’s schools, in brief
Above the state on both counts
Reading proficiency is 54% and math 47% in spring 2022, against 51% and 42% statewide; 85–89% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 84%. Test scores ↓
Spending and class size
The district spends $10,735 per student, against $13,040 across South Dakota (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓
One elementary school, then seven middle and one high school
Which school depends on the address at the later steps. Enrollment is up 6% 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.
What’s behind Piedmont’s grade
B: better than 63% of South Dakota school districts. Test scores and graduation are both above the South Dakota average; test scores are the stronger of the two.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Piedmont, with each school’s own grade.
Pre-K in Piedmont
Whitewood Elementary - 04
Grades PK–5 · 138 students · 14:1 students per teacher · in Whitewood
Kindergarten in Piedmont
Piedmont Valley Elementary - 05
Grades K–4 · 514 students · 14:1 students per teacher
1st grade in Piedmont
Piedmont Valley Elementary - 05
Grades K–4 · 514 students · 14:1 students per teacher
2nd grade in Piedmont
Piedmont Valley Elementary - 05
Grades K–4 · 514 students · 14:1 students per teacher
3rd grade in Piedmont
Piedmont Valley Elementary - 05
Grades K–4 · 514 students · 14:1 students per teacher
4th grade in Piedmont
Piedmont Valley Elementary - 05
Grades K–4 · 514 students · 14:1 students per teacher
9th grade in Piedmont
Sturgis Brown High School - 01
Grades 9–12 · 845 students · 18:1 students per teacher · in Sturgis
10th grade in Piedmont
Sturgis Brown High School - 01
Grades 9–12 · 845 students · 18:1 students per teacher · in Sturgis
Piedmont’s public schools are run by Meade School District 46-1, which also serves Dakota, Eagle, Elm Springs and Lakeside 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.
Above the state in reading
Piedmont vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the South Dakota towns that share Piedmont’s borders.
Every school in Piedmont
9 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).
Questions about Piedmont’s schools
Are Piedmont’s schools good?
They sit near the middle of South Dakota: the public schools Piedmont children attend outscore 63% of South Dakota’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 66%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Piedmont in?
Meade School District 46-1, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 3,047 students in 11 schools (2024–25).
Where do Piedmont kids go to high school?
Sturgis Brown High School - 01 in Sturgis, with 845 students; its own test results earn a B.
What is Piedmont’s graduation rate?
85–89% of the class of 2023 in Meade School District 46-1 graduated in four years, against 84% across South Dakota.
How much does Piedmont spend per student?
$10,735 in Meade School District 46-1 (FY2024), against $13,040 across South Dakota. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Parents talk
What Piedmont families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Piedmont → 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.