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McCook Central High School - 01

Q: Is McCook Central High School - 01 a good school?

McCook Central High School - 01 ranks 58 th of 166 South Dakota high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

58^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 166 South Dakota High Schools

Better than 65% of South Dakota high schools

Summary

McCook Central High School - 01 is a public high school located in Salem, South Dakota, serving grades 9-12 with a total enrollment of 121 students. The school is part of the McCook Central School District 43-7, which is ranked 98 out of 147 school districts in the state and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Academically, McCook Central High School - 01 has shown a mixed performance, with its statewide ranking ranging from 40th to 101st out of South Dakota high schools. In the 2024-2025 school year, the school ranked 58th and received a 3-star rating. While the school's performance in English Language Arts is strong, with 79.41% of students proficient or better, its Mathematics performance is below the state average at 29.41% proficiency. The school's graduation rate, ranging from 84% to 92.5%, is generally higher than the state average, and its dropout rate, from 0.5% to 2.8%, is lower.

Compared to nearby schools like Bridgewater-Emery High School - 01, Canistota High School - 01, and Montrose High School - 01, McCook Central High School - 01 generally performs on par or slightly better in academic metrics. However, the nearby schools tend to have lower student-teacher ratios, which may contribute to their success. The school's strengths lie in certain student subgroups, such as female, Hispanic, and multi-racial students, who rank among the top in the state, suggesting effective strategies for supporting these populations.

118

Students ?

12.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$13,408

Per pupil spending ?

16.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

200 E Essex
Salem, SD 57058

(605) 425-2264

District: McCook Central School District 43-7

Feeder schools for McCook Central High School - 01:

Elementary:	Goldenview Colony School - 04
	McCook Central Elementary - 02
Middle:	McCook Central Middle School - 03

Racial breakdown:

White:

93.2%

Two or more races:

5.1%

Hispanic:

1.7%

See top rated South Dakota high schools

Compare McCook Central High School - 01 to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 29th percentile in 2015 → 65th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the South Dakota average (53% vs 47% meeting standards)

✓92% graduate in 4 years — above the South Dakota average (86%)

✓Ranking is trending up — up 36 percentile points since 2015

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

!Mathematics scores 14 pts below the South Dakota average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school53%

District avg40%

South Dakota avg47%

58^th of 166

South Dakota public high schools ?

Top 35%▲ up 36 pts since 2015

From bottom 29% (2015) to top 35% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of South Dakota High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

98^th of 147McCook Central School District 43-7 among South Dakota districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	64.3	58 of 166	65.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	40.7	89 of 141	36.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	34.4	97 of 138	29.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	40.0	92 of 134	31.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	37.4	101 of 140	27.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	66.1	40 of 135	70.4%	★★★★☆
2018	57.6	69 of 138	50.0%	★★★☆☆
2017	42.7	90 of 137	34.3%	★★☆☆☆
2016	53.2	73 of 141	48.2%	★★☆☆☆
2015	34.2	95 of 133	28.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	78.9	22 of 144	84.7%	★★★★☆
2012	73.6	39 of 143	72.7%	★★★★☆
2011	80.8	20 of 141	85.8%	★★★★☆
2010	59.4	73 of 150	51.3%	★★★☆☆
2009	78.9	23 of 144	84.0%	★★★★☆
2008	65.6	49 of 135	63.7%	★★★☆☆
2007	48.7	89 of 141	36.9%	★★☆☆☆
2006	39.7	95 of 136	30.1%	★★☆☆☆
2005	48.1	80 of 137	41.6%	★★☆☆☆
2004	35.3	103 of 132	22.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2003	84.7	7 of 133	94.7%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	72.2	36 of 164	78.0%	★★★★☆
2024	26.8	75 of 93	19.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	27.2	76 of 95	20.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	71.8	24 of 84	71.4%	★★★★☆
2021	41.2	59 of 89	33.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	58.4	31 of 83	62.7%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	71.3	14 of 81	82.7%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	54.3	65 of 154	57.8%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	44.8	92 of 162	43.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	53.5	52 of 107	51.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	38.5	65 of 96	32.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	13.4	78 of 87	10.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	30.7	70 of 89	21.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	71.8	20 of 88	77.3%	★★★★☆
2018	73.5	17 of 90	81.1%	★★★★☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	67.3	19 of 89	78.7%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	65.3	19 of 140	86.4%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	55.7	72 of 158	54.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	30.8	92 of 125	26.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	26.1	97 of 121	19.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	29.7	96 of 123	22.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	29.0	102 of 129	20.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	57.1	49 of 123	60.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	48.1	71 of 123	42.3%	★★☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Special Education (2025)86th percentile+21 vs school

Hispanic (2025)83rd percentile+18 vs school

Multi-racial (2025)79th percentile+14 vs school

Female (2025)78th percentile+13 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)58th percentile-7 vs school

White (2025)54th percentile-11 vs school

Male (2025)43rd percentile-22 vs school

By subject vs South Dakota (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts79%+28 vs state

Science50%+6 vs state

Mathematics29%-14 vs state

★

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Schools Near McCook Central High School - 01

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts (2025)			Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2025)			Smarter Balanced Assessments Science (2025)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts 11th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts 12th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 11th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 12th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments Science 11th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Science All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
McCook Central High School - 01	Public	9-12	200 E Essex	Salem	57058	McCook County	McCook Central School District 43-7	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(605) 425-2264	118	9	12.5	16.9%	110 (93.2%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (5.1%)	64.3	58^th of 166 public high schools	65.1%		40.7	89^th of 141 public high schools	36.9%	31	78.8	100.0	79.4	30.3	0.0	29.4	51.5	50.0	$13,408	$37	$13,372
Canistota High School - 01	Public	9-12	431 4th Ave	Canistota	57012	McCook County	Canistota School District 43-1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(605) 296-3458	99	8	12.1	17.2%	90 (90.9%)	2 (2.0%)	2 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (4.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.0%)	63.6	61^st of 166 public high schools	63.3%		81.5	21^st of 141 public high schools	85.1%	40	54.2			41.7			62.5		$13,981	$101	$13,880
Montrose High School - 01	Public	9-12	309 S Church Ave	Montrose	57048	McCook County	Montrose School District 43-2	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(605) 363-5025	63	6	11.2	17.5%	62 (98.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	69.1	43^rd of 166 public high schools	74.1%		61.9	49^th of 141 public high schools	65.2%	6	73.3			40.0			53.3		$15,121	$261	$14,859
Bridgewater-Emery High School - 01	Public	9-12	130 N 6th St	Emery	57332	Hanson County	Bridgewater-Emery 30-3	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(605) 449-4271	100	10	9.6	34.0%	91 (91.0%)	1 (1.0%)	3 (3.0%)	1 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (4.0%)	68.2	46^th of 166 public high schools	72.3%		50.1	76^th of 141 public high schools	46.1%	30	61.5			46.2			57.7		$17,066	$381	$16,684

Frequently Asked Questions about McCook Central High School - 01

How many students attend McCook Central High School - 01?

In the 2024-25 school year, 118 students attended McCook Central High School - 01.

Is McCook Central High School - 01 a good school?

McCook Central High School - 01 ranks 58^th of 166 South Dakota high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of McCook Central High School - 01?

Students at McCook Central High School - 01 are 93% White, 5% Two or more races, 2% Hispanic.

What district is McCook Central High School - 01 in?

McCook Central School District 43-7

What schools feed into McCook Central High School - 01?

McCook Central High School - 01 is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Goldenview Colony School - 04
Elementary : McCook Central Elementary - 02
Middle : McCook Central Middle School - 03

Rate McCook Central High School - 01!

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the South Dakota Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.