Top Rankings
Custer School District 16-1 ranks among the top 20% of public school district in South Dakota for:
Category
Attribute
Science Proficiency
Highest science proficiency (Top 20%)
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 5%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025-26 school year, there are 2 public middle schools serving 157 students in Custer School District 16-1. This district's average middle testing ranking is 7/10, which is in the top 50% of public middle schools in South Dakota.
Public Middle Schools in Custer School District 16-1 have an average math proficiency score of 37% (versus the South Dakota public middle school average of 39%), and reading proficiency score of 57% (versus the 49% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 15% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the South Dakota public middle school average of 42% (majority American Indian).
Overview
This School District
This State (SD)
# Schools
6 Schools
295 Schools
# Students
906 Students
40,126 Students
# Teachers
75 Teachers
2,993 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
12:1
12:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Custer School District 16-1, which is ranked within the top 50% of all 146 school districts in South Dakota (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 92% has decreased from 95% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#77 out of 148 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
47%
42%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
51%
51%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
52%
42%
Graduation Rate
92%
82%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.27
0.59
% American Indian
2%
26%
% Asian
1%
1%
% Hispanic
7%
7%
% Black
n/a
3%
% White
85%
58%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
5%
5%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $15,472 is higher than the state median of $13,146. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $21,682 is higher than the state median of $12,647. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$14 MM
$1,916 MM
Spending
$20 MM
$1,844 MM
Revenue / Student
$15,472
$13,146
Spending / Student
$21,682
$12,647
Best Custer School District 16-1 Public Middle Schools (2025-26)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Custer Jr. High - 05
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
1645 Wildcat Ln
Custer, SD 57730
(605) 673-4473
Custer, SD 57730
(605) 673-4473
Gr: 7-8 | 103 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 14%
Rank: n/an/a
11 4th St
Hermosa, SD 57744
(605) 255-4345
Hermosa, SD 57744
(605) 255-4345
Gr: 7-8 | 54 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 18%
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