Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Rapid Valley

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
Black Hills Speedway (Rapid Valley, South Dakota)Photo: Jeffrey Beall · CC BY 4.0
C
Schools in Rapid Valley · Rapid City School District 51-4, Douglas School District 51-1

Rapid Valley’s public schools score below 70% of South Dakota districts on tests and graduation

On-time graduation in Rapid Valley runs at 71%, below the South Dakota average (84%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving Rapid Valley, 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.

#29of 35 South Dakota townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From South Dakota state tests taken in spring 2022, when 99% 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
47%
▼ 4 pts vs SD 51%
2021–22
Math proficiency
37%
▼ 6 pts vs SD 42%
2021–22
Graduate on time
71%
▼ 13 pts vs SD 84%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$11.0K
▼ 15% vs SD $13.0K
FY2024 · Rapid City School District 51-4
Students per teacher
15.9
SD 13.7 · larger classes
Schools in town
1
8,481 students on the public path
In brief

Rapid Valley’s schools, in brief

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 47% of tested students were proficient in reading and 37% in math, against 51% and 42% statewide; 99% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

71% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 84% across South Dakota. Districts ↓

Spending and class size

Rapid City School District 51-4 spends $11,037 per student and Douglas School District 51-1 $12,211, against $13,040 across South Dakota (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

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 Rapid Valley’s grade

C Test scoresC− Graduation

C: better than 30% of South Dakota school districts, #29 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 30%
Lower resultsHigher results
South Dakota towns with similar household incomes (342)Better than 27%
A firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 7,947 test results and a graduating class of 964 wouldn’t change the letter. The tests are from spring 2022, when 99% of Rapid Valley’s students in the tested grades sat them (7,949 in math, 7,946 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–5Rapid Valley Elementary - 12Rapid City School District 51-4C
6–86 middle schoolsDepends on your addressD to A−
9–123 high schoolsDepends on your addressB− to A+

Rapid Valley runs its own schools through grade 12 (Rapid City School District 51-4). From grade PK, students attend the Douglas School District 51-1, shared with Box Elder. Its middle school is in Box Elder. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Rapid Valley

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

Rapid City School District 51-4Grades PK–12 · 25 schools · 12,313 students · 15.9 per teacher (SD 13.7)
$11,037SD $13,040 · FY2024
C
Douglas School District 51-1Grades PK–12 · 4 schools · 2,808 students, up 2% since 2020–21 · 15.6 per teacher (SD 13.7)
$12,211SD $13,040 · FY2024
B−
Test scores · 2021–22

Below the state in reading

Reading · PK–12, Rapid City School District 51-446%
State average 51% · 6498 students tested
Math · PK–12, Rapid City School District 51-436%
State average 42.2% · 6499 students tested
Reading · PK–12, Douglas School District 51-151%
State average 51% · 1448 students tested
Math · PK–12, Douglas School District 51-139%
State average 42.2% · 1450 students tested

Rapid Valley vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Rapid ValleyCRapid City School District 51-4 PK–12 · Douglas School District 51-1 PK–12
Rapid CityCRapid City School District 51-4
Box ElderB−Douglas School District 51-1

Every school in Rapid Valley

10 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 Rapid Valleyby address
Rapid Valley Elementary - 12
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Rapid City
C
486 students16:1Rate it →
Also serving Rapid Valleyin other towns
Douglas Middle School - 01
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Box Elder
C−
633 students14:1Rate it →
South Middle School - 36
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Rapid City
C−
618 students14:1Rate it →
Southwest Middle School - 38
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Rapid City
A−
614 students16:1Rate it →
East Middle School - 30
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Rapid City
C−
613 students16:1Rate it →
West Middle School - 37
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Rapid City
C+
591 students15:1Rate it →
North Middle School - 35
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Rapid City
D
418 students12:1Rate it →
Central High School - 41
High · Grades 9–12 · Rapid City
B−
1,998 students17:1Rate it →
Stevens High School - 42
High · Grades 9–12 · Rapid City
A+
1,771 students19:1Rate it →
Douglas High School - 03
High · Grades 9–12 · Box Elder
A−
739 students17:1Rate it →

Questions about Rapid Valley’s schools

Are Rapid Valley’s schools good?

On South Dakota’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Rapid Valley children attend score below 70% of South Dakota’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C Schools grade, #29 of 35 South Dakota towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 27%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Rapid Valley in?

Two districts: Rapid City School District 51-4 runs grades PK–12, and Douglas School District 51-1 runs grades PK–12, shared with Box Elder.

Where do Rapid Valley kids go to high school?

One of 3 high schools, depending on your address: Central High School - 41, Stevens High School - 42 and Douglas High School - 03.

What is Rapid Valley’s graduation rate?

71% of the class of 2023 in Rapid City School District 51-4 graduated in four years, against 84% across South Dakota.

How much does Rapid Valley spend per student?

$11,037 in Rapid City School District 51-4 and $12,211 in Douglas School District 51-1 (FY2024), against $13,040 across South Dakota. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Rapid Valley families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Rapid Valley → 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.