Best Public Schools in Rapid City, SD

The Rapid City Area School District 51-4 in South Dakota operates 25 schools, including 14 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, 4 high schools, and 2 alternative schools. The district as a whole is underperforming compared to the state, with lower proficiency rates in most subject areas, suggesting systemic issues that need to be addressed.

A few schools stand out in the district, including Southwest Middle School, which is ranked 14th out of 246 middle schools in the state and has a 5-star rating, as well as Stevens High School, ranked 39th out of 166 high schools with a 4-star rating. These schools have significantly higher proficiency rates than the district and state averages. In contrast, some schools like North Middle School and General Beadle Elementary have very low proficiency rates, indicating a significant achievement gap within the district.

The data also reveals wide disparities in resource allocation, with spending per student ranging from $6,165 at Rapid City Online High School to $68,890 at the Jefferson Building alternative school. This suggests potential inequities in the distribution of resources across the Rapid City Area School District 51-4.