Best High Schools in South Dakota (2025-26)

Ranked high schools

133

Listed, not ranked

Every ranked high school in South Dakota, ordered by SchoolGrade. A grade rewards actual test performance against the projection for each school's student context, so a B in a high-poverty school can outrank an A- elsewhere on impact. Click a column heading to sort, or filter by school, city or district.

South Dakota rankings: High Schools · Middle Schools · Elementary Schools

South Dakota high schools ranked

Rank	Grade	School	City	District	Actual	Projected	Impact	Students
#1	A+	Warner High School 01	Warner	Warner School District 06-5	92%	59%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	87
#2	A+	Howard High School 01	Howard	Howard School District 48-3	88%	50%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	110
#3	A+	Baltic High School 01	Baltic	Baltic School District 49-1	82%	40%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	162
#4	A+	Highmore High School 01	Highmore	Highmore-Harrold 34-2	79%	50%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	57
#5	A+	Ipswich High School 01	Ipswich	Ipswich Public School District 22-6	77%	58%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	114
#6	A+	Hill City High School 01	Hill City	Hill City School District 51-2	76%	44%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	152
#7	A+	Centerville High School 01	Centerville	Centerville School District 60-1	75%	46%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	88
#8	A+	Kadoka Area High School 01	Kadoka	Kadoka Area School District 35-2	72%	44%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	75
#9	A+	Parkston High School 01	Parkston	Parkston School District 33-3	71%	47%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	122
#10	A+	Elk Point Jefferson High School 01	Elk Point	Elk Point-Jefferson School District 61-7	69%	56%	Exceeds Expectations	214
#11	A+	Sioux Valley High School 01	Volga	Sioux Valley School District 05-5	69%	49%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	224
#12	A	Lennox High School 01	Lennox	Lennox School District 41-4	68%	49%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	359
#13	A	Harding County High School 01	Buffalo	Harding County School District 31-1	67%	58%	Exceeds Expectations	56
#14	A	Lake Preston High School 01	Lake Preston	Lake Preston School District 38-3	67%	47%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	49
#15	A	Brandon Valley High School 01	Brandon	Brandon Valley School District 49-2	66%	60%	Meets Expectations	1,345
#16	A	Chester High School 01	Chester	Chester Area School District 39-1	66%	63%	Meets Expectations	116
#17	A	Hanson High School 01	Alexandria	Hanson School District 30-1	65%	60%	Meets Expectations	131
#18	A	Irene Wakonda High School 01	Irene	Irene - Wakonda School District 13-3	65%	43%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	82
#19	A	Lincoln High School 02	Sioux Falls	Sioux Falls School District 49-5	64%	56%	Exceeds Expectations	1,883
#20	A	Northwestern High School 01	Mellette	Northwestern Area School District 56-7	64%	49%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	88
#21	A	Groton Area High School 01	Groton	Groton Area School District 06-6	63%	49%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	175
#22	A	Yankton High School 01	Yankton	Yankton School District 63-3	63%	46%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	942
#23	A-	Mount Vernon High School 01	Mount Vernon	Mount Vernon School District 17-3	62%	54%	Exceeds Expectations	93
#24	A-	Arlington High School 01	Arlington	Arlington School District 38-1	61%	51%	Exceeds Expectations	88
#25	A-	Custer High School 01	Custer	Custer School District 16-1	61%	40%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	284
#26	A-	Gettysburg High School 01	Gettysburg	Gettysburg School District 53-1	61%	39%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	68
#27	A-	Faith High School 01	Faith	Faith School District 46-2	60%	46%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	80
#28	A-	Hamlin High School 01	Hayti	Hamlin School District 28-3	60%	43%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	233
#29	A-	West Central High School 01	Hartford	West Central School District 49-7	60%	59%	Meets Expectations	403
#30	A-	Bon Homme High School 01	Tyndall	Bon Homme School District 04-2	59%	46%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	136
#31	A-	Dakota Valley High School 01	North Sioux City	Dakota Valley School District 61-8	59%	45%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	448
#32	A-	Redfield High School 01	Redfield	Redfield School District 56-4	59%	32%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	162
#33	A-	Tea Area High School 03	Tea	Tea Area School District 41-5	59%	44%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	610
#34	B+	Britton Hecla High School 01	Britton	Britton-Hecla School District 45-4	58%	51%	Exceeds Expectations	130
#35	B+	Milbank High School 01	Milbank	Milbank School District 25-4	58%	43%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	359
#36	B+	Sully Buttes High School 07	Onida	Agar-Blunt-Onida School District 58-3	58%	39%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	75
#37	B+	Armour High School 01	Armour	Armour School District 21-1	57%	45%	Exceeds Expectations	47
#38	B+	Wolsey Wessington High School 01	Wolsey	Wolsey Wessington School District 02-6	57%	24%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	110
#39	B+	Ethan High School 01	Ethan	Ethan School District 17-1	56%	52%	Meets Expectations	87
#40	B+	Mitchell High School 01	Mitchell	Mitchell School District 17-2	56%	47%	Exceeds Expectations	896
#41	B+	Montrose High School 01	Montrose	Montrose School District 43-2	56%	56%	Meets Expectations	59
#42	B+	Spearfish High School 01	Spearfish	Spearfish School District 40-2	56%	45%	Exceeds Expectations	796
#43	B+	Stevens High School 42	Rapid City	Rapid City Area School District 51-4	56%	53%	Meets Expectations	1,686
#44	B+	Brookings High School 01	Brookings	Brookings School District 05-1	55%	49%	Meets Expectations	1,050
#45	B	Bridgewater Emery High School 01	Emery	Bridgewater-Emery 30-3	55%	49%	Meets Expectations	100
#46	B	Canton High School 01	Canton	Canton School District 41-1	55%	54%	Meets Expectations	283
#47	B	Faulkton High School 01	Faulkton	Faulkton Area Schools 24-4	55%	50%	Meets Expectations	77
#48	B	Selby High School 01	Selby	Selby Area School District 62-5	55%	47%	Exceeds Expectations	52
#49	B	Sturgis Brown High School 01	Sturgis	Meade School District 46-1	55%	40%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	842
#50	B	Alcester Hudson High School 01	Alcester	Alcester-Hudson School District 61-1	54%	58%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	104
#51	B	Castlewood High School 01	Castlewood	Castlewood School District 28-1	54%	48%	Meets Expectations	91
#52	B	Corsica Stickney High School 01	Corsica	Corsica-Stickney 21-3	54%	51%	Meets Expectations	64
#53	B	Hot Springs High School 01	Hot Springs	Hot Springs School District 23-2	54%	40%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	255
#54	B	Madison High School 01	Madison	Madison Central School District 39-2	54%	44%	Exceeds Expectations	382
#55	B	Timber Lake High School 01	Timber Lake	Timber Lake School District 20-3	54%	53%	Meets Expectations	113
#56	B-	Canistota High School 01	Canistota	Canistota School District 43-1	53%	45%	Exceeds Expectations	76
#57	B-	Jefferson High School 67	Sioux Falls	Sioux Falls School District 49-5	53%	44%	Exceeds Expectations	1,749
#58	B-	Mccook Central High School 01	Salem	McCook Central School District 43-7	53%	45%	Exceeds Expectations	128
#59	B-	Mcintosh High School 01	Mcintosh	McIntosh School District 15-1	53%	47%	Meets Expectations	46
#60	B-	Mobridge High School 01	Mobridge	Mobridge-Pollock 62-6	53%	46%	Exceeds Expectations	182
#61	B-	T F Riggs High School 01	Pierre	Pierre School District 32-2	53%	51%	Meets Expectations	842
#62	B-	Colome High School 01	Colome	Colome Consolidated 59-3	52%	46%	Meets Expectations	59
#63	B-	Platte Geddes High School 01	Platte	Platte - Geddes School District 11-5	52%	48%	Meets Expectations	119
#64	B-	Colman Egan High School 01	Colman	Colman-Egan School District 50-5	51%	34%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	93
#65	B-	Deuel High School 01	Clear Lake	Deuel School District 19-4	51%	48%	Meets Expectations	160
#66	B-	Vermillion High School 01	Vermillion	Vermillion School District 13-1	50%	52%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	430
#67	C+	Bison High School 01	Bison	Bison School District 52-1	50%	50%	Meets Expectations	43
#68	C+	Lemmon High School 01	Lemmon	Lemmon School District 52-4	50%	52%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	86
#69	C+	Leola High School 01	Leola	Leola School District 44-2	50%	54%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	39
#70	C+	Newell High School 01	Newell	Newell School District 09-2	50%	36%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	75
#71	C+	Roosevelt High School 03	Sioux Falls	Sioux Falls School District 49-5	50%	48%	Meets Expectations	1,713
#72	C+	Burke High School 01	Burke	Burke School District 26-2	49%	46%	Meets Expectations	92
#73	C+	Harrisburg High School 01	Harrisburg	Harrisburg School District 41-2	49%	57%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	1,613
#74	C+	Stanley County High School 01	Fort Pierre	Stanley County School District 57-1	49%	54%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	133
#75	C+	Washington High School 01	Sioux Falls	Sioux Falls School District 49-5	49%	41%	Exceeds Expectations	1,910
#76	C+	Woonsocket High School 01	Woonsocket	Woonsocket School District 55-4	49%	53%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	90
#77	C+	Gregory High School 01	Gregory	Gregory School District 26-4	48%	45%	Meets Expectations	114
#78	C	Belle Fourche High School 01	Belle Fourche	Belle Fourche School District 09-1	48%	42%	Meets Expectations	383
#79	C	Watertown High School 01	Watertown	Watertown School District 14-4	48%	39%	Exceeds Expectations	1,220
#80	C	Lead Deadwood High School 01	Lead	Lead-Deadwood School District 40-1	47%	39%	Exceeds Expectations	222
#81	C	Webster Area High School 01	Webster	Webster Area 18-5	47%	49%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	161
#82	C	Wessington Springs High School 01	Wessington Springs	Wessington Springs School District 36-2	47%	42%	Meets Expectations	90
#83	C	Lyman High School 01	Presho	Lyman School District 42-1	46%	36%	Exceeds Expectations	87
#84	C	Tri Valley High School 01	Colton	Tri-Valley School District 49-6	46%	60%	Underperforms Expectations	276
#85	C	Willow Lake High School 01	Willow Lake	Willow Lake School District 12-3	46%	43%	Meets Expectations	57
#86	C	Parker High School 01	Parker	Parker School District 60-4	45%	48%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	157
#87	C	Philip High School 01	Philip	Haakon School District 27-1	45%	49%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	101
#88	C-	Gayville Volin High School 01	Gayville	Gayville-Volin School District 63-1	44%	48%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	82
#89	C-	Plankinton High School 01	Plankinton	Plankinton School District 01-1	44%	50%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	75
#90	C-	Beresford High School 01	Beresford	Beresford School District 61-2	43%	39%	Meets Expectations	227
#91	C-	Central High School 01	Aberdeen	Aberdeen School District 06-1	43%	43%	Meets Expectations	1,388
#92	C-	Deubrook High School 01	White	Deubrook Area School District 05-6	43%	40%	Meets Expectations	113
#93	C-	Frederick High School 01	Frederick	Frederick Area School District 06-2	43%	51%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	63
#94	C-	Dell Rapids High School 01	Dell Rapids	Dell Rapids School District 49-3	42%	58%	Underperforms Expectations	290
#95	C-	Garretson High School 01	Garretson	Garretson School District 49-4	42%	30%	Exceeds Expectations	128
#96	C-	Menno High School 01	Menno	Menno School District 33-2	42%	42%	Meets Expectations	74
#97	C-	Kimball High School 01	Kimball	Kimball School District 07-2	41%	48%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	79
#98	C-	Viborg Hurley High School 01	Viborg	Viborg-Hurley School District 60-6	41%	36%	Meets Expectations	119
#99	D+	Douglas High School 03	Box Elder	Douglas School District 51-1	40%	35%	Meets Expectations	749
#100	D+	Freeman High School 01	Freeman	Freeman School District 33-1	40%	41%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	92
#101	D+	New Underwood High School 01	New Underwood	New Underwood School District 51-3	40%	42%	Meets Expectations	96
#102	D+	Winner High School 01	Winner	Winner School District 59-2	40%	45%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	210
#103	D+	Wilmot High School 01	Wilmot	Wilmot School District 54-7	39%	26%	Exceeds Expectations	66
#104	D+	Dupree High School 01	Dupree	Dupree School District 64-2	38%	28%	Exceeds Expectations	123
#105	D+	Huron High School 01	Huron	Huron School District 02-2	38%	38%	Meets Expectations	836
#106	D+	Langford Area High School 01	Langford	Langford Area 45-5	38%	37%	Meets Expectations	47
#107	D+	Scotland High School 01	Scotland	Scotland School District 04-3	38%	34%	Meets Expectations	81
#108	D+	Wall High School 01	Wall	Wall School District 51-5	38%	46%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	99
#109	D	De Smet High School 01	De Smet	De Smet School District 38-2	37%	58%	Underperforms Expectations	82
#110	D	Wagner High School 01	Wagner	Wagner Community School District 11-4	37%	41%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	180
#111	D	Jones County High School 01	Murdo	Jones County School District 37-3	36%	48%	Underperforms Expectations	51
#112	D	Miller High School 01	Miller	Miller 29-4	36%	43%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	133
#113	D	Summit High School 01	Summit	Summit School District 54-6	36%	36%	Meets Expectations	63
#114	D	Bennett County High School 01	Martin	Bennett County School District 03-1	35%	24%	Exceeds Expectations	126
#115	D	Waverly South Shore High School 01	Waverly	Waverly School District 14-5	35%	44%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	92
#116	D-	Florence High School 01	Florence	Florence School District 14-1	33%	56%	Underperforms Expectations	85
#117	D-	Hitchcock Tulare High School 01	Tulare	Hitchcock Tulare School District 56-6	33%	40%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	56
#118	D-	Marion High School 01	Marion	Marion School District 60-3	33%	28%	Meets Expectations	55
#119	D-	Rosholt High School 01	Rosholt	Rosholt School District 54-4	33%	51%	Underperforms Expectations	72
#120	D-	Sisseton High School 01	Sisseton	Sisseton School District 54-2	33%	45%	Underperforms Expectations	296
#121	D-	Andes Central High School 01	Lake Andes	Andes Central School District 11-1	31%	37%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	63
#122	D-	Central High School 41	Rapid City	Rapid City Area School District 51-4	31%	38%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	1,768
#123	D-	Chamberlain High School 01	Chamberlain	Chamberlain School District 07-1	31%	40%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	272
#124	D-	Elkton High School 01	Elkton	Elkton School District 05-3	31%	43%	Underperforms Expectations	126
#125	D-	Flandreau High School 01	Flandreau	Flandreau School District 50-3	31%	31%	Meets Expectations	210
#126	D-	Avon High School 01	Avon	Avon School District 04-1	30%	57%	Underperforms Expectations	83
#127	D-	Estelline High School 01	Estelline	Estelline School District 28-2	29%	46%	Underperforms Expectations	79
#128	D-	Waubay High School 01	Waubay	Waubay School District 18-3	27%	38%	Underperforms Expectations	64
#129	F	White River High School 01	White River	White River School District 47-1	26%	26%	Meets Expectations	119
#130	F	Wakpala High School 01	Wakpala	Smee School District 15-3	25%	26%	Meets Expectations	66
#131	F	Clark High School 01	Clark	Clark School District 12-2	19%	46%	Underperforms Expectations	102
#132	F	Todd County High School 01	Mission	Todd County School District 66-1	18%	17%	Meets Expectations	496
#133	F	Mclaughlin High School 01	Mclaughlin	McLaughlin School District 15-2	16%	12%	Meets Expectations	165

How South Dakota's high schools compare

A: 33B: 33C: 32D: 30F: 5

50% of the 133 ranked high schools in South Dakota earn an A or B (33 A grades, 33 B, 32 C, 30 D, 5 F), against 50% of high schools nationwide. 97 schools meet or beat the proficiency projected from their student context (73% here, 74% nationally), and 54 exceed it. On average 50% of tested students meet the state bar against a projected 45% (national averages: 44% actual, 41% projected).

The biggest overperformers, by actual proficiency above projection: Baltic High School 01 (82% against 40%, A+), Howard High School 01 (88% against 50%, A+), Warner High School 01 (92% against 59%, A+), Wolsey Wessington High School 01 (57% against 24%, B+), Hill City High School 01 (76% against 44%, A+).

Cities with the most ranked high schools: Sioux Falls (4, 2 at A or B).

The largest ranked high schools: Washington High School 01 (1,910 students, C+, #75), Lincoln High School 02 (1,883 students, A, #19), Central High School 41 (1,768 students, D-, #122).

High schools in South Dakota that are not ranked

66 graded high schools are listed here rather than ranked, each for the reason given. Every one has its own page with its full SchoolGrade report.

Special-purpose schools (4)

Alternative, special-education and vocational schools serve a different mission and a different student body, so they are graded but not ranked against regular schools.

F High Plains 06, Chester
F Lakota Tech High School 10, Batesland
C Lead Deadwood Career And Technical Education 10, Nemo
F Todd County Achievement High School 17, Mission

Fully online schools (5)

Statewide virtual schools draw students from everywhere, so a place ranking is not a fair comparison.

D+ Chester Area Cyber School 92, Chester
F Isucceed 92 Mellette, Mellette
D- Oglala Lakota County Virtual High School 92, Pine Ridge
F Rapid City Online High School 92, Rapid City
D- Wessington Springs High School Cyber School 92, Wessington Springs

Very small schools (1)

Schools with fewer than 30 students have grades that swing on a handful of test results.

F Eagle Butte High School 01, Eagle Butte

Not yet graded (56)

Our source data has no school-level proficiency results for these schools, so they carry no SchoolGrade yet.

Abbott House High School 07, Mitchell
Arise Shelter Care - 71, Sioux Falls
Aurora Plains Academy High School 05, Plankinton
Avera Adolescent Addiction Care Program - 81, Sioux Falls
Avera Behavioral Health Program - 82, Sioux Falls
Belle Fourche Education Connection 09, Belle Fourche
Bowdle High School 01, Bowdle
Brandon Valley Distance Learning Academy High School 92, Brandon
Brentwood Colony Virtual High School 92, Faulkton
Brighten Transition Youth Treatment Center - 07, Sioux Falls
Cheyenne-eagle Butte School, Eagle Butte
Community Campus 41, Sioux Falls
Crazy Horse School, Wanblee
Crow Creek Reservation High School, Stephan
Dakota Reach 06 Plankinton, Plankinton
Doland High School 01, Doland
E. A. G. L. E. Center High School - 07, Eagle Butte
Edgemont High School 01, Edgemont
Edmunds Central High School 01, Roscoe
Elk Mountain High School 04, Dewey
Eureka High School 01, Eureka
Flandreau Indian Boarding School, Flandreau
Grass Ranch Colony High School 15, Kimball
Hanson Colony Alternative High School 07, Mitchell
Henry High School 01, Henry
Herreid High School 01, Herreid
Hillside Colony High School 07, Doland
Hoven High School 01, Hoven
Iroquois High School 01, Iroquois
Jefferson Building 64 Rapid City, Rapid City
Leola Alternative School 07, Leola
Lincoln Building 44 Rapid City, Rapid City
Little Wound School, Kyle
Lower Brule Day School, Lower Brule
Marty Indian School, Marty
Oelrichs High School 01, Oelrichs
Oldham-ramona High School - 01, Ramona
Pine Ridge School, Pine Ridge
Premier Learning Academy High School - 92, Langford
Rapid City High School 45, Rapid City
Redfield Virtual School - 92, Redfield
Rutland High School - 01, Rutland
Sanborn Central High School 01, Forestburg
Sdsbvi High School 02, Aberdeen
Spearfish Academy At Canyon Hills High School 10, Spearfish
Spring Lake Colony High School - 05, Arlington
St. Francis Indian School, St. Francis
Structured Teaching 12 Sioux Falls, Sioux Falls
Summit Oaks Residential 48 Sioux Falls, Sioux Falls
Sunset Colony High School 06, Britton
Tiospa Zina Tribal School, Agency Village
Tiospaye Topa School, Laplant
Tripp Delmont High School 01, Tripp
Turtle Creek High School 04, Redfield
Wellfully 65 Rapid City, Rapid City
White Lake High School 01, White Lake

About this ranking

Scope: every public high school in South Dakota.
Order: SchoolGrade, then actual proficiency, then name; schools with the same grade and score share a rank.
Ranked: regular public schools that NCES lists as open, not fully online, with at least 30 students. Others are listed with the reason.
Tags: Magnet and Charter from the NCES school directory; K-12 marks schools serving every grade that are ranked with the high schools.
Grades are the 2025-26 SchoolGrade model. How SchoolGrade works

Questions about high schools in South Dakota

What is the best high school in South Dakota?

Warner High School 01 in Warner ranks first among the 133 ranked high schools in South Dakota with a SchoolGrade of A+, 92% of tested students meeting the state bar against a projected 59%.

How are high schools in South Dakota ranked?

By SchoolGrade, the 2025-26 model that scores each school's actual test proficiency against the level projected for its student context, then by actual proficiency to break ties. Regular public schools that are open, not fully online and have at least 30 students are ranked; the rest are listed below the table with the reason.

How many high schools does South Dakota have?

SchoolGrade grades 199 public high schools in South Dakota; 133 are ranked here and 66 are listed as not ranked.