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Excellent

#41 of 574 schools in SD

Top 7% in state

Harding County High School - 01

High School · Harding County School District 31-1

PO Box 367, Buffalo, SD 57720

Enrollment

62

Student-Teacher

8.9:1

Score

8.4

Grades

9th – 12th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Buffalo

#1 of 3

public schools

South Dakota high schools

#9 of 156

In district

#1 of 3

Harding County School District 31-1

School environment

9.4 / 10

Exceptional

About Harding County High School - 01

Harding County High School - 01 is a public high school in Buffalo, SD, part of the Harding County School District 31-1. The school serves approximately 62 students in grades 9th – 12th with a student-teacher ratio of 8.9:1. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.4/10, placing it in the 93rd percentile among SD schools — an above average rating overall.

Students demonstrate 27% proficiency in math and 73% in reading/language arts. The school scores particularly well in school environment (9.4/10). Located in a neighborhood with a median household income of $78,333, where 29% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

The school is situated in a remote rural setting.

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 62 students, Harding County High School - 01 is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.

With a student-teacher ratio of 8.9:1, Harding County High School - 01 offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.

Located in a rural area, Harding County High School - 01 may involve longer commutes for some families. Rural schools often serve as community anchors and may have smaller class sizes, but parents should consider transportation logistics, after-school program availability, and access to specialized services.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress7.5Very Good25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change+0.09 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2022
TrendStable
Academics6.7Above Average25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency25%
Reading/ELA Proficiency75%
Overall Proficiency50%
Expected (poverty-adj.)50%
vs. Expected-0.2 pts
Adjusted Percentile53th
College Readiness9.9Exceptional30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
AP Participation27.4%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment9.4Exceptional20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio8.9:1
Per-Pupil Spending$17,270

Harding County High School - 01 — Students at Harding County High School - 01 score 50% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 50%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

21%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores SD EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 26.7%
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 73.2%
School
State
N/A

Based on 6 test records from SD state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2019
Math
30%
ELA
69.5%
2021*
Math
25%
ELA
75%
2022
Math
25%
ELA
75%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 7.5/10.

How Harding County High School - 01 Compares

See how Harding County High School - 01 performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.4/10
93th percentile in SD
Academic
6.7/10
6.7/10
Growth
7.5/10
Above average
Environment
9.4/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
21%
Teaching Staff
9:1 student-teacher ratio
7 teachers

Location

PO Box 367, Buffalo, SD 57720

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Harding County High School - 01 may also want to explore other high schools in the area. Harding County Middle School - 03 (rated 7.9/10), with a comparable rating. Additionally, Buffalo Elementary - 02 (rated 5.7/10), a more accessible option. For more schools in Buffalo, see our Buffalo schools guide .

Nearby Schools

2 within 0.0 mi
School Distance Rating
Buffalo Elementary - 02 Buffalo 0.0 mi 5.7
Harding County Middle School - 03 Buffalo 0.0 mi 7.9

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 57720 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$78,333

Median Home Value

$128,800

Median Rent

$579/mo

Population

561

College Educated

29%

Homeownership

80.7%

Poverty Rate

8.4%

Median Age

53

Community Profile

The community surrounding Harding County High School - 01 has a median household income of $78,333. It is an area where 29% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $128,800, with a median rent of $579/month. The local poverty rate of 8.4% is relatively low. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Corsica-Stickney High School - 01 Corsica, SD 8.5
Marion High School - 01 Marion, SD 8.2
Leola High School - 01 Leola, SD 8.7
Kadoka Area High School - 01 Kadoka, SD 8.1
Kimball High School - 01 Kimball, SD 8.1
Irene - Wakonda High School - 01 Irene, SD 8.0

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Harding County High School - 01

What grades does Harding County High School - 01 serve?

Harding County High School - 01 serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Harding County High School - 01?

Harding County High School - 01 has an enrollment of approximately 62 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Harding County High School - 01?

The student-teacher ratio at Harding County High School - 01 is 8.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Harding County High School - 01 rank in SD?

Harding County High School - 01 is ranked #41 out of 574 schools in SD.

What is Harding County High School - 01's MySchoolScout rating?

Harding County High School - 01 has a composite rating of 8.4 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Harding County High School - 01?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Harding County High School - 01 has 26.7% math proficiency and 73.2% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Harding County High School - 01 a charter school?

No, Harding County High School - 01 is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Harding County High School - 01 a Title I school?

No, Harding County High School - 01 is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Harding County High School - 01?

21.0% of students at Harding County High School - 01 qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

3 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
25 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
37 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR. County-level only.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
62
Student-Teacher Ratio
8.9:1
Teachers (FTE)
7
Free/Reduced Lunch
21.0%
Type
regular
Setting
Remote Rural
County
Harding County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Harding County School District 31-1
District Enrollment
221
Schools in District
3
Per-Pupil Spending
$17,112
District Rank
#1 of 3

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

Related reading

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