Best High Schools in South Dakota (2025-26)

Ranked high schools

142

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

How South Dakota's high schools compare

A: 30B: 25C: 46D: 36F: 5

39% of the 142 ranked high schools in South Dakota earn an A or B (30 A grades, 25 B, 46 C, 36 D, 5 F), against 48% of high schools nationwide. 99 schools meet or beat the proficiency projected from their student context (70% here, 75% nationally), and 58 exceed it. On average 42% of tested students meet the state bar against a projected 40% (national averages: 42% actual, 40% projected).

The biggest overperformers, by actual proficiency above projection: Montrose High School 01 (90% against 37%, A+), Sanborn Central High School 01 (75% against 41%, A), Bison High School 01 (75% against 47%, A), Herreid High School 01 (75% against 50%, A), Mcintosh High School 01 (75% against 55%, A).

Cities with the most ranked high schools: Sioux Falls (3, 3 at A or B).

The largest ranked high schools: Washington High School 01 (1,910 students, B-, #55), Lincoln High School 02 (1,883 students, B+, #31), Central High School 41 (1,768 students, B, #51).

High schools in South Dakota that are not ranked

34 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 (2)

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.

D+ High Plains 06, Chester
F Lakota Tech High School 10, Batesland

Fully online schools (4)

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

D+ Chester Area Cyber School 92, Chester
D+ Isucceed 92 Mellette, Mellette
D+ Oglala Lakota County Virtual High School 92, Pine Ridge
A Wessington Springs High School Cyber School 92, Wessington Springs

Very small schools (2)

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

D+ Abbott House High School 07, Mitchell
D+ Hoven High School 01, Hoven

Closed schools (2)

NCES lists these schools as closed or inactive since their last graded year.

D+ Belle Fourche Education Connection 09, Belle Fourche
F Rapid City High School 45, Rapid City

Not yet graded (24)

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

Aurora Plains Academy High School 05, Plankinton
Brandon Valley Distance Learning Academy High School 92, Brandon
Brentwood Colony Virtual High School 92, Faulkton
Dakota Reach 06 Plankinton, Plankinton
Doland High School 01, Doland
Eagle Butte High School 01, Eagle Butte
Elk Mountain High School 04, Dewey
Grass Ranch Colony High School 15, Kimball
Hanson Colony Alternative High School 07, Mitchell
Hillside Colony High School 07, Doland
Jefferson Building 64 Rapid City, Rapid City
Jefferson High School 67, Sioux Falls
Lead Deadwood Career And Technical Education 10, Nemo
Leola Alternative School 07, Leola
Leola High School 01, Leola
Rapid City Online High School 92, Rapid City
Sdsbvi High School 02, Aberdeen
Spearfish Academy At Canyon Hills High School 10, Spearfish
Structured Teaching 12 Sioux Falls, Sioux Falls
Summit Oaks Residential 48 Sioux Falls, Sioux Falls
Sunset Colony High School 06, Britton
Todd County Achievement High School 17, Mission
Turtle Creek High School 04, Redfield
Wellfully 65 Rapid City, Rapid City

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?

Montrose High School 01 in Montrose ranks first among the 142 ranked high schools in South Dakota with a SchoolGrade of A+, 90% of tested students meeting the state bar against a projected 37%.

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 176 public high schools in South Dakota; 142 are ranked here and 34 are listed as not ranked.