Rapid City Area School District 51-4
School District · Rapid City, South Dakota
Avg Rating
5.2
out of 10
Schools
26
15 elem, 5 mid, 4 high
Enrollment
12,432
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.6:1
Avg Rating
5.2
out of 10
Schools
26
15 elem, 5 mid, 4 high
Enrollment
12,432
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.6:1
How this district compares
South Dakota rank
#128 of 142
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
-1.2
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 #128 of 142 South Dakota districts by overall school rating. Rapid City Area School District 51-4's schools with real test data average 5.2/10 across 23 schools. Its top-rated schools are Southwest Middle School - 38 (6.9/10), Meadowbrook Elementary - 10 (6.9/10), and Black Hawk Elementary - 03 (6.6/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 6.9/10 despite 15% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.6 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.
STAAR proficiency rose +6.6 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Rapid City Area School District 51-4 schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Rapid City Area School District 51-4
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (23 of 26). "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 | Black Hawk Elementary - 03 | 6.6 / 10 |
| 4 | Jefferson Building - 64 | 6.5 / 10 |
| 5 | Stevens High School - 42 | 6.4 / 10 |
| 6 | Rapid Valley Elementary - 12 | 6.3 / 10 |
| 7 | West Middle School - 37 | 6.1 / 10 |
| 8 | Knollwood Heights Elementary - 08 | 6.0 / 10 |
| 9 | Woodrow Wilson Elementary - 17 | 5.8 / 10 |
| 10 | South Middle School - 36 | 5.4 / 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 5.2/10, Rapid City Area School District 51-4 demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Southwest Middle School - 38, which has a composite score of 6.9/10.
In standardized testing, Rapid City Area School District 51-4 students show an average math proficiency of 45.1% and ELA proficiency of 48.9%.
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 5.2/10. 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?
Southwest Middle School - 38 is the highest-rated school in Rapid City Area School District 51-4 with a composite score of 6.9/10.
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 45.1% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 48.9%. 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 5.2/10 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
- 5.2/10
- Math Proficiency
- 45.1%
- ELA Proficiency
- 48.9%
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.
Related reading
Get school insights in your inbox
New rankings and parent guides, free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.