Best Schools in Rapid City, South Dakota
36 schools · 23 Elementary · 5 Middle · 5 High · 3 Other
Choosing a school in Rapid City?
Use this page to compare every school in Rapid City by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Southwest Middle School - 38
Middle · Rapid City Area School District 51-4. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Meadowbrook Elementary - 10
Elementary · Rapid City Area School District 51-4. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Jefferson Building - 64
Other · Rapid City Area School District 51-4. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Rapid City for 2026 are Southwest Middle School - 38 (6.9/10), Meadowbrook Elementary - 10 (6.9/10), and Jefferson Building - 64 (6.5/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 22 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
36
25 public · 11 private
Avg Score
5.2
out of 10
Median Home
$273,867
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Schools
36
25 public · 11 private
Avg Score
5.2
out of 10
Median Home
$273,867
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Rates 6.9/10 despite 15% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.7 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Rapid City schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +6.6 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Rapid City schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Rapid City
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 22 rated schools; 36 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southwest Middle School - 38 | 6.9 / 10 |
| 2 | Meadowbrook Elementary - 10 | 6.9 / 10 |
| 3 | Jefferson Building - 64 | 6.5 / 10 |
| 4 | Stevens High School - 42 | 6.4 / 10 |
| 5 | Rapid Valley Elementary - 12 | 6.3 / 10 |
| 6 | West Middle School - 37 | 6.1 / 10 |
| 7 | Knollwood Heights Elementary - 08 | 6.0 / 10 |
| 8 | Woodrow Wilson Elementary - 17 | 5.8 / 10 |
| 9 | South Middle School - 36 | 5.4 / 10 |
| 10 | Robbinsdale Elementary - 14 | 5.3 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 5.2/10
- Median household income
- $74,309
- Median home value
- $273,867
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 32%
- Avg commute
- 18 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 73%
0% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Rapid City compares
South Dakota rank
#113 of 129
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-1.1
below South Dakota avg (6.3)
Median household income
$74k
106% of South Dakota median
Schools in this city
31
Rapid City Area School District 51-4 runs Rapid City's public schools
25 public schools. Rapid City Area School District 51-4 is the only district on the page.
Every assigned public school in Rapid City is a Rapid City Area School District 51-4 school (25 of 25).
Among 22 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 2.8 to 6.9 — the spread is inside Rapid City, not a citywide average.
About Schools in Rapid City, South Dakota
Rapid City's public school system spans 23 ranked schools with a city average of 4.8 out of 10. That average sits below the midpoint, but the spread between the city's best and weakest schools is wide enough that where a family lands matters considerably. Parents who research before choosing a neighborhood will find options that outperform the local baseline by a meaningful margin.
Southwest Middle School tops the city at 6.4 out of 10 — the strongest score among all 23 ranked Rapid City schools. At the elementary level, Pinedale (5.7) and Meadowbrook (5.6) are the clear leaders, each running more than a full point above the city average. Jefferson Building, classified in the "other" school category, scores a 6.3 and ranks second citywide. Rapid City Online High School (5.5) is the highest-rated high school option in the ranked set, offering a non-traditional format for families open to remote or hybrid learning.
The city's 4.8 average signals an uneven system. Families with middle-schoolers have a standout option in Southwest Middle. Elementary families have two strong targets in Pinedale and Meadowbrook. High school is where choices narrow at the top — parents seeking a strong traditional campus should go beyond the summary rating and examine test score trends and school-level data before settling on a zone.
The gap between Rapid City's average and its top schools — nearly 1.6 points on a 10-point scale — is meaningful. Boundary lines can place families in substantially different school environments within a short drive. Cross-referencing rated schools against assignment zones before signing a lease or closing on a house is the most direct way to give a student a strong starting point here.
Elementary Schools
23 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 454 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.9 |
| 2 | 487 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.3 |
| 3 | 357 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.0 |
| 4 | 287 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.8 |
| 5 | 324 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.3 |
| 6 | 441 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.0 |
| 7 | 297 students · Pre-K–5th | 4.9 |
| 8 | 285 students · Kindergarten–5th | 4.9 |
| 9 | 363 students · Kindergarten–5th | 4.2 |
| 10 | 259 students · Kindergarten–5th | 3.8 |
Show all 23 elementary schools in Rapid City
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
5 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 665 students · 6th–8th | 6.9 |
| 2 | 603 students · 6th–8th | 6.1 |
| 3 | 502 students · 6th–8th | 5.4 |
| 4 | 611 students · 6th–8th | 5.2 |
| 5 | 480 students · 6th–8th | 4.7 |
High Schools
5 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,763 students · 9th–12th | 6.4 | ||
| 2 | 67 students · 9th–12th | 4.7 | ||
| 3 | 2,020 students · 9th–12th | 4.3 | ||
| 4 | 29 students · 12th–12th | — | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Rapid City Christian SchoolPrivate 357 students · 6th–12th | Not Rated | ||
Other Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 35 students · Pre-K–12th | 6.5 | ||
| 2 | 11 students · 1st–12th | — | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 650 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
Schools in Rapid City
Rapid City, South Dakota · 36 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 3 ZIP codes
Median Income
$74,309
Median Home Value
$273,867
Median Rent
$1,165/mo
Population
98,535
College Educated
32%
Homeownership
73%
Avg Commute
18 min
Poverty Rate
11.4%
Community Profile
Rapid City has a median household income of $74,309. It is an area where 32% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $273,867, with a median rent of $1,165/month. The area has a poverty rate of 11.4%. Residents enjoy a short average commute of 18 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- South Dakota
- Elementary
- 23
- Middle
- 5
- High
- 5
- Other
- 3
Resources
Other Major Cities in South Dakota
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Rapid City, South Dakota
How many schools are in Rapid City, South Dakota?
Rapid City has 36 schools, including 25 public and 11 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Rapid City, South Dakota?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Rapid City is 5.2 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Rapid City, South Dakota?
The top-ranked school in Rapid City on MySchoolScout is Southwest Middle School - 38 with a composite score of 6.9/10.
What is the best elementary school in Rapid City, South Dakota?
The top-ranked elementary school in Rapid City on MySchoolScout is Meadowbrook Elementary - 10 with a composite score of 6.9/10.
What is the best middle school in Rapid City, South Dakota?
The top-ranked middle school in Rapid City on MySchoolScout is Southwest Middle School - 38 with a composite score of 6.9/10.
What is the best high school in Rapid City, South Dakota?
The top-ranked high school in Rapid City on MySchoolScout is Stevens High School - 42 with a composite score of 6.4/10.
How many school districts serve Rapid City, South Dakota?
Rapid City is served by 1 school district: Rapid City Area School District 51-4.
What is the education level in Rapid City, South Dakota?
According to Census data, 32% of adults in Rapid City have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Rapid City, South Dakota?
The median household income in Rapid City is approximately $74,309 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Rapid City, South Dakota?
Yes, Rapid City has 11 private schools alongside 25 public schools. The top-rated private school is Creekside Christian School with a score of 6.7/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Rapid City, South Dakota?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Rapid City is 14.2:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Rapid City, South Dakota?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, South Dakota Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.