While the U.S. is one of the most educated countries in the world, it doesn’t provide the same quality elementary school or secondary school education to all students. In many states, more affluent school districts receive a greater amount of funding per student than poorer districts, with one estimate claiming that low-income districts are underfunded by around $6,700 per pupil.
Discrepancies between the rich and poor have been exacerbated even more due to the lasting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Low-income students have suffered the greatest “learning loss” due to partial or total remote learning. One contributing factor is that people in low-income districts are less likely to have the technological resources they need.
States that provide equitable funding to all school districts can help prevent poor students from having lower graduation rates, lower rates of pursuing higher education and smaller future incomes than their wealthy peers. The difference is dramatic: College graduates have $154 - $1,115 higher median weekly earnings than people with a high school diploma and no college experience, depending on the degree.
South Dakota has the 13th most equitable school districts in the U.S. overall, but some districts within the state are fairer than others. To find out where school funding is distributed most equitably, WalletHub scored 149 districts in South Dakota based on two metrics: average household income and expenditures for public elementary and secondary schools per pupil.
Main Findings
Note: For visual purposes, we included only the top 7 school districts by enrollment from each category. Rank 1 on the “Expenditures Ranking” means highest expenditures and Rank 1 on “Income Ranking” means lowest income.
Most & Least Equitable School Districts in South Dakota
| Rank* | School District | Score | Expeditures for Public Elementary and Secondary Schools per Pupil | Income by School District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Burke School District 26-2 | 0.42 | $15,975 | $47,917 |
| 2 | Pierre School District 32-2 | 0.57 | $9,900 | $77,551 |
| 3 | Selby Area School District 62-5 | 0.67 | $15,284 | $51,895 |
| 4 | Oldham - Ramona School District 39-5 | 0.82 | $13,607 | $60,000 |
| 5 | Lemmon School District 52-4 | 0.98 | $14,629 | $54,000 |
| 6 | Britton-Hecla School District 45-4 | 1.14 | $10,386 | $74,167 |
| 7 | Andes Central School District 11-1 | 1.24 | $16,075 | $46,932 |
| 8 | Elk Point-Jefferson School District 61-7 | 1.32 | $10,349 | $75,875 |
| 9 | Jones County School District 37-3 | 1.60 | $14,299 | $55,192 |
| 10 | Deubrook Area School District 05-6 | 1.68 | $12,411 | $66,250 |
| 11 | Oglala Lakota County 65-1 | 1.86 | $18,871 | $33,192 |
| 12 | Dell Rapids School District 49-3 | 2.00 | $9,944 | $78,233 |
| 13 | Sanborn Central School District 55-5 | 2.28 | $13,658 | $60,667 |
| 14 | Miller 29-4 | 2.52 | $13,723 | $57,366 |
| 15 | Hill City School District 51-2 | 2.65 | $11,296 | $72,179 |
| 16 | Milbank School District 25-4 | 2.90 | $11,051 | $69,892 |
| 17 | Wall School District 51-5 | 2.95 | $11,873 | $65,938 |
| 18 | Tea Area School District 41-5 | 3.08 | $8,406 | $86,250 |
| 19 | Parkston School District 33-3 | 3.34 | $10,533 | $76,250 |
| 20 | Howard School District 48-3 | 4.21 | $13,617 | $56,824 |
| 21 | Menno School District 33-2 | 4.54 | $13,890 | $55,313 |
| 22 | Scotland School District 04-3 | 4.74 | $13,507 | $62,917 |
| 23 | Gettysburg School District 53-1 | 4.74 | $13,249 | $58,250 |
| 24 | Hanson School District 30-1 | 4.74 | $9,423 | $82,426 |
| 25 | Chester Area School District 39-1 | 4.93 | $8,885 | $78,977 |
| 26 | Estelline School District 28-2 | 5.06 | $11,968 | $70,469 |
| 27 | Bridgewater-Emery 30-3 | 5.28 | $12,394 | $62,000 |
| 28 | Colome Consolidated 59-3 | 5.55 | $14,413 | $52,188 |
| 29 | Deuel School District 19-4 | 5.62 | $10,588 | $70,410 |
| 30 | Beresford School District 61-2 | 5.85 | $10,078 | $72,703 |
| 31 | Lennox School District 41-4 | 6.07 | $9,609 | $74,809 |
| 32 | Freeman School District 33-1 | 6.66 | $13,707 | $63,158 |
| 33 | McCook Central School District 43-7 | 6.67 | $10,960 | $67,981 |
| 34 | Dupree School District 64-2 | 6.78 | $16,386 | $42,000 |
| 35 | Lead-Deadwood School District 40-1 | 6.94 | $16,995 | $47,628 |
| 36 | Irene - Wakonda School District 13-3 | 7.06 | $12,327 | $70,000 |
| 37 | Armour School District 21-1 | 7.34 | $13,207 | $65,972 |
| 38 | Groton Area School District 06-6 | 7.35 | $10,788 | $68,378 |
| 39 | Canistota School District 43-1 | 7.44 | $13,248 | $65,833 |
| 40 | Ipswich Public School District 22-6 | 8.16 | $11,110 | $76,496 |
| 41 | McLaughlin School District 15-2 | 8.33 | $19,253 | $37,708 |
| 42 | Alcester-Hudson School District 61-1 | 8.82 | $11,902 | $62,143 |
| 43 | Castlewood School District 28-1 | 8.92 | $9,378 | $74,138 |
| 44 | Waverly School District 14-5 | 9.13 | $11,443 | $64,145 |
| 45 | Faith School District 46-2 | 9.40 | $11,098 | $65,625 |
| 46 | Elkton School District 05-3 | 9.42 | $10,022 | $70,750 |
| 47 | Corsica-Stickney 21-3 | 9.89 | $11,406 | $63,846 |
| 48 | Eureka School District 44-1 | 10.00 | $16,497 | $39,464 |
| 49 | Smee School District 15-3 | 10.13 | $21,887 | $26,250 |
| 50 | Highmore-Harrold 34-2 | 10.24 | $12,872 | $69,375 |
| 51 | Northwestern Area School District 56-7 | 10.94 | $10,841 | $65,893 |
| 52 | Hamlin School District 28-3 | 11.42 | $8,799 | $75,347 |
| 53 | Wilmot School District 54-7 | 11.82 | $11,562 | $61,900 |
| 54 | Mount Vernon School District 17-3 | 12.61 | $12,576 | $56,563 |
| 55 | Platte - Geddes School District 11-5 | 13.27 | $12,249 | $57,717 |
| 56 | Rutland School District 39-4 | 13.45 | $12,636 | $72,500 |
| 57 | Chamberlain School District 07-1 | 13.47 | $12,590 | $55,965 |
| 58 | Custer School District 16-1 | 13.56 | $12,964 | $71,003 |
| 59 | Langford Area 45-5 | 13.61 | $13,547 | $68,250 |
| 60 | De Smet School District 38-2 | 13.86 | $12,369 | $74,028 |
| 61 | Douglas School District 51-1 | 14.23 | $10,399 | $65,955 |
| 62 | Wolsey Wessington School District 02-6 | 15.25 | $11,638 | $59,405 |
| 63 | Harrisburg School District 41-2 | 15.61 | $9,996 | $86,452 |
| 64 | Rapid City Area School District 51-4 | 16.00 | $10,874 | $62,583 |
| 65 | Lake Preston School District 38-3 | 16.12 | $15,176 | $62,031 |
| 66 | Yankton School District 63-3 | 16.61 | $9,910 | $66,809 |
| 67 | Summit School District 54-6 | 16.86 | $11,849 | $57,396 |
| 68 | Rosholt School District 54-4 | 17.45 | $12,477 | $75,750 |
| 69 | Florence School District 14-1 | 17.60 | $9,660 | $67,386 |
| 70 | Madison Central School District 39-2 | 17.73 | $9,941 | $65,964 |
| 71 | Marion School District 60-3 | 17.81 | $15,724 | $60,461 |
| 72 | White River School District 47-1 | 17.81 | $16,262 | $35,726 |
| 73 | Iroquois School District 02-3 | 17.81 | $14,293 | $67,298 |
| 74 | Dakota Valley School District 61-8 | 17.86 | $9,927 | $88,182 |
| 75 | Newell School District 09-2 | 18.02 | $11,982 | $56,037 |
| 76 | Redfield School District 56-4 | 18.18 | $11,876 | $56,442 |
| 77 | Wagner Community School District 11-4 | 18.39 | $13,084 | $50,543 |
| 78 | Plankinton School District 01-1 | 18.43 | $13,767 | $70,197 |
| 79 | Tri-Valley School District 49-6 | 18.49 | $9,765 | $89,352 |
| 80 | Baltic School District 49-1 | 18.56 | $9,870 | $88,889 |
| 81 | Edmunds Central School District 22-5 | 18.64 | $16,241 | $58,512 |
| 82 | Timber Lake School District 20-3 | 19.16 | $16,277 | $58,661 |
| 83 | Edgemont School District 23-1 | 19.77 | $15,541 | $37,946 |
| 84 | Waubay School District 18-3 | 20.22 | $13,703 | $46,447 |
| 85 | Herreid School District 10-1 | 20.25 | $15,790 | $61,667 |
| 86 | Flandreau School District 50-3 | 20.29 | $11,394 | $57,431 |
| 87 | Gayville-Volin School District 63-1 | 20.46 | $10,500 | $61,597 |
| 88 | Frederick Area School District 06-2 | 21.01 | $14,988 | $65,972 |
| 89 | Bowdle School District 22-1 | 21.23 | $15,023 | $65,938 |
| 90 | Kadoka Area School District 35-2 | 21.70 | $16,326 | $33,000 |
| 91 | Lyman School District 42-1 | 22.52 | $17,612 | $54,375 |
| 92 | Stanley County School District 57-1 | 22.59 | $13,010 | $76,402 |
| 93 | Sioux Falls School District 49-5 | 22.71 | $9,846 | $63,318 |
| 94 | West Central School District 49-7 | 23.19 | $10,134 | $90,509 |
| 95 | Parker School District 60-4 | 23.41 | $9,809 | $92,200 |
| 96 | Brookings School District 05-1 | 24.46 | $10,823 | $57,563 |
| 97 | Oelrichs School District 23-3 | 24.49 | $17,172 | $57,708 |
| 98 | New Underwood School District 51-3 | 24.53 | $13,668 | $74,464 |
| 99 | Kimball School District 07-2 | 24.81 | $10,840 | $57,262 |
| 100 | South Central 26-5 | 24.93 | $19,529 | $46,719 |
| 101 | Avon School District 04-1 | 25.06 | $11,833 | $52,365 |
| 102 | Meade School District 46-1 | 25.17 | $9,484 | $63,520 |
| 103 | Henry School District 14-2 | 25.47 | $14,107 | $41,250 |
| 104 | Bison School District 52-1 | 25.55 | $16,437 | $61,875 |
| 105 | Bennett County School District 03-1 | 26.11 | $14,146 | $40,664 |
| 106 | Centerville School District 60-1 | 26.13 | $10,317 | $58,938 |
| 107 | Leola School District 44-2 | 26.17 | $14,162 | $73,125 |
| 108 | Garretson School District 49-4 | 26.40 | $14,604 | $71,161 |
| 109 | Faulkton Area Schools 24-4 | 26.43 | $11,888 | $51,250 |
| 110 | Sisseton School District 54-2 | 26.47 | $12,378 | $48,883 |
| 111 | Sioux Valley School District 05-5 | 27.20 | $9,728 | $61,091 |
| 112 | Willow Lake School District 12-3 | 27.24 | $11,003 | $54,972 |
| 113 | Colman-Egan School District 50-5 | 27.29 | $11,822 | $85,000 |
| 114 | Bon Homme School District 04-2 | 27.36 | $11,777 | $51,202 |
| 115 | Canton School District 41-1 | 27.54 | $11,138 | $88,426 |
| 116 | Doland School District 56-2 | 27.69 | $14,753 | $71,250 |
| 117 | Aberdeen School District 06-1 | 27.81 | $9,524 | $61,684 |
| 118 | White Lake School District 01-3 | 28.16 | $15,442 | $68,250 |
| 119 | Warner School District 06-5 | 29.13 | $9,707 | $96,250 |
| 120 | Wessington Springs School District 36-2 | 29.23 | $10,751 | $54,940 |
| 121 | Montrose School District 43-2 | 29.25 | $12,623 | $82,396 |
| 122 | Brandon Valley School District 49-2 | 29.34 | $8,742 | $100,991 |
| 123 | Huron School District 02-2 | 29.68 | $10,860 | $54,139 |
| 124 | Viborg-Hurley School District 60-6 | 29.71 | $10,747 | $54,659 |
| 125 | Tripp-Delmont School District 33-5 | 30.83 | $18,925 | $53,281 |
| 126 | Watertown School District 14-4 | 31.02 | $9,177 | $61,340 |
| 127 | Webster Area 18-5 | 32.09 | $10,313 | $55,250 |
| 128 | Arlington School District 38-1 | 32.41 | $14,022 | $77,679 |
| 129 | Clark School District 12-2 | 32.51 | $10,779 | $52,763 |
| 130 | Winner School District 59-2 | 32.75 | $10,930 | $51,895 |
| 131 | Hitchcock Tulare School District 56-6 | 32.93 | $14,729 | $74,625 |
| 132 | Ethan School District 17-1 | 33.95 | $10,361 | $53,864 |
| 133 | Woonsocket School District 55-4 | 35.28 | $10,502 | $52,361 |
| 134 | Spearfish School District 40-2 | 37.04 | $8,995 | $58,462 |
| 135 | Vermillion School District 13-1 | 37.42 | $10,133 | $52,793 |
| 136 | Mobridge-Pollock 62-6 | 37.43 | $10,462 | $51,218 |
| 137 | Agar-Blunt-Onida School District 58-3 | 37.65 | $18,082 | $61,548 |
| 138 | Mitchell School District 17-2 | 39.60 | $10,273 | $50,770 |
| 139 | Harding County School District 31-1 | 39.85 | $17,804 | $64,250 |
| 140 | Hot Springs School District 23-2 | 43.61 | $9,519 | $51,875 |
| 141 | Haakon School District 27-1 | 44.10 | $10,502 | $46,875 |
| 142 | Gregory School District 26-4 | 48.06 | $10,597 | $43,952 |
| 143 | Belle Fourche School District 09-1 | 50.04 | $9,385 | $48,509 |
| 144 | Todd County School District 66-1 | 52.83 | $13,682 | $26,250 |
| 145 | McIntosh School District 15-1 | 57.91 | $25,714 | $37,708 |
| 146 | Hoven School District 53-2 | 77.11 | $21,044 | $71,964 |
| 147 | Eagle Butte School District 20-1 | 89.71 | $29,906 | $37,479 |
| 148 | Big Stone City School District 25-1 | 126.80 | $27,846 | $70,400 |
| 149 | Elk Mountain School District 16-2 | 164.62 | $34,778 | $60,833 |
*1=Most Equitable
Methodology
In order to rank the states with the most and least equitable school districts, WalletHub first scored 12,870 school districts throughout the U.S. based on two metrics: average household income and expenditures for public elementary and secondary schools per pupil.
For expenditures, for each 1 percent above the state's average we removed 1 point from a base score of 50 points for each district. For household income, for each 1 percent above the state's average we added 1 point to a base score of 50 points for each district. The inverse was true for each 1 percent below the state's average.
The final score for each district was calculated by taking the absolute difference between the score for expenditures and the score for household income. We then ranked the districts based on the total score, with the lowest value, representing the most equitable, being ranked 1.
Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from of the U.S. Census Bureau and the National Center for Education Statistics.
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