Rapid City Area School District 51-4
School District · Rapid City, South Dakota
Avg Rating
4.6
out of 10
Schools
26
15 elem, 5 mid, 4 high
Enrollment
12,432
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.6:1
Avg Rating
4.6
out of 10
Schools
26
15 elem, 5 mid, 4 high
Enrollment
12,432
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.6:1
Evaluating Rapid City Area School District 51-4?
A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge Rapid City Area School District 51-4 as a whole, then compare how its individual schools differ.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Pinedale Elementary - 11
Rapid City · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Southwest Middle School - 38
Rapid City · Middle. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Corral Drive Elementary - 21
Rapid City · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
How this district compares
South Dakota rank
#133 of 142
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
-1.6
below South Dakota avg
Per-pupil spending
$10,380
$2,290 vs South Dakota median
District size
12,432 students
Much larger than South Dakota median
The short answer
Rapid City Area School District 51-4 ranks #133 of 142 South Dakota districts by overall school rating. Rapid City Area School District 51-4's schools with real test data average 4.6/10 across 24 schools. Its top-rated schools are Pinedale Elementary - 11 (7.6/10), Southwest Middle School - 38 (7.2/10), and Corral Drive Elementary - 21 (6.9/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 7.6/10 despite 6% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.0 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 Area School District 51-4 schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Rapid City Area School District 51-4
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (24 of 26). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pinedale Elementary - 11 | 7.6 / 10 |
| 2 | Southwest Middle School - 38 | 7.2 / 10 |
| 3 | Corral Drive Elementary - 21 | 6.9 / 10 |
| 4 | Meadowbrook Elementary - 10 | 6.6 / 10 |
| 5 | Stevens High School - 42 | 6.2 / 10 |
| 6 | Grandview Elementary - 06 | 5.5 / 10 |
| 7 | Rapid Valley Elementary - 12 | 5.4 / 10 |
| 8 | Jefferson Building - 64 | 5.3 / 10 |
| 9 | West Middle School - 37 | 5.1 / 10 |
| 10 | General Beadle Elementary - 01 | 4.9 / 10 |
See all 26 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Rapid City Area School District 51-4
Rapid City Area School District 51-4 is a Rapid City, South Dakota school district serving 26 schools.The district educates 12,432 students with a student-teacher ratio of 15.6:1. District-level spending was $10,380 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 4.6/10, Rapid City Area School District 51-4 demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Pinedale Elementary - 11, which has a composite score of 7.6/10.
In standardized testing, Rapid City Area School District 51-4 students show an average math proficiency of 49.7% and ELA proficiency of 54.2%.
The district includes 15 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, and 4 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Rapid City Area School District 51-4, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Rapid City Area School District 51-4 with test data.
Schools in Rapid City Area School District 51-4
26 schoolsElementary Schools15
Middle Schools5
High Schools4
Other Schools2
District Details
- State
- South Dakota
- City
- Rapid City
- Total Enrollment
- 12,432
- Teachers (FTE)
- 799
- District spending per student
- $10,380NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 10.5%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Rapid City Area School District 51-4?
Rapid City Area School District 51-4 has 26 schools in total — 15 elementary, 5 middle, and 4 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Rapid City Area School District 51-4?
The average composite rating for Rapid City Area School District 51-4 is 4.6/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the district spending per student in Rapid City Area School District 51-4?
Rapid City Area School District 51-4's district-level spending was $10,380 per student in fiscal year 2023, according to NCES F-33. This is district context, not an individual-school expense.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Rapid City Area School District 51-4?
The average student-teacher ratio in Rapid City Area School District 51-4 is 15.6:1.
What is the top-rated school in Rapid City Area School District 51-4?
Pinedale Elementary - 11 is the highest-rated school in Rapid City Area School District 51-4 with a composite score of 7.6/10.
What are the test scores in Rapid City Area School District 51-4?
Across schools in Rapid City Area School District 51-4 with test data, the average math proficiency is 49.7% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 54.2%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Rapid City Area School District 51-4 compare to other districts in South Dakota?
Rapid City Area School District 51-4 has an average school rating of 4.6/10 across 26 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in South Dakota by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 4.6/10
- Math Proficiency
- 49.7%
- ELA Proficiency
- 54.2%
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 rateOther School Districts in SD
Compare Rapid City Area School District 51-4 with neighboring districts in the state.
- Sioux Falls School District 49-5 (44)
- Todd County School District 66-1 (13)
- Harrisburg School District 41-2 (11)
- Meade School District 46-1 (11)
- Aberdeen School District 06-1 (10)
- Huron School District 02-2 (10)
- Mitchell School District 17-2 (9)
- Watertown School District 14-4 (9)
- Brandon Valley School District 49-2 (8)
- Bon Homme School District 04-2 (7)
- Chester Area School District 39-1 (7)
- Doland School District 56-2 (7)
- Faulkton Area Schools 24-4 (7)
- Leola School District 44-2 (7)
- Parkston School District 33-3 (7)
- Plankinton School District 01-1 (7)
- Spearfish School District 40-2 (7)
- Wessington Springs School District 36-2 (7)
- Britton-hecla School District 45-4 (6)
- Brookings School District 05-1 (6)
- Clark School District 12-2 (6)
- Custer School District 16-1 (6)
- Eagle Butte School District 20-1 (6)
- Hanson School District 30-1 (6)
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.
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