Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Middle· 5 schools in district

Belle Fourche Middle School - 07

1302 Ziebach St, Belle Fourche, SD 57717Belle Fourche School District 09-1
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades 0508Non-Charter
401
Students
Total enrolled
$11,484
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
20% vs nat'l
11.6 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
25% vs nat'l
55/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
~avg
Mid-sized public school
Serves 401 students in grades 05–08 in Belle Fourche, South Dakota.
20% below average funding
District spends $11,484 per pupil, 20% less than the national average of $14,347.
Near-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 55th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

Belle Fourche Middle School - 07 is a mid-sized middle in Belle Fourche, South Dakota, serving grades 05–08 with 401 students. The district invests $11,484 per student — 20% below the national average of $14,347, and maintains a 11.6:1 student-teacher ratio — smaller than the national norm of 15.4:1. About 29% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a mixed-income student body.

Student Body & Demographics at Belle Fourche Middle School - 07

401
Total Students
11.6 : 1
Student:Teacher
29%
Free Lunch
35
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
PK
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Highlighted grades (0508) are served by this school
Gender Distribution201 male · 200 female
50%
50%
Male 50%Female 50%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility29%
National avg 52% · 117 students
Student Composition
87%
White87%
Hispanic / Latino6%
Multiracial5%
Native American2%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 460561001117

Academic Outcomes at Belle Fourche Middle School - 07

Neighborhood Opportunity Score
55
/ 100
Near-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 55th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 92th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 57717

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$11,484Below avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$11,484
State avg
$16,272
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$5,053
Student Support$2,182
Administration$1,378
Operations$1,723
Other$1,148
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $11,484 spent per student, an estimated $5,088 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
41%
39%
State government
41.5%
Local (property tax)
38.6%
Federal programs
20.0%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • 11.6:1 student-teacher ratio — smaller classes than the national norm of 15.4:1
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Worth Considering
  • Below-average funding — $11,484/student, 20% less than the national average
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelMiddle
Grades05 – 08
Location
CountyButte County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
Phone: (605)723-3367
NCES ID: 460561001117
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in Belle Fourche seeking a public middle school, especially those prioritizing smaller class sizes and more individualized teacher access. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

Location
1302 Ziebach St, Belle Fourche, SD 57717
Data Sources & Transparency
Enrollment & Profile
NCES Common Core of Data. Grades, enrollment, demographics, school characteristics. Updated annually.
Funding & Spending
NCES F-33 Finance Survey. District-level spending data. School-level breakdowns are not publicly reported.
Graduation Rate
EDFacts Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR). High schools only. Small cohorts may be range-coded for privacy.
Opportunity Score
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census Bureau). Census tract outcomes for children born in the 1980s.
Fact-Based Rankings
Best-school rankings are computed from federal metrics only — enrollment, per-pupil spending, student-teacher ratio, opportunity score, and graduation rate. No editorial opinion or paid placements.
Equity Data (Coming Soon)
AP access, counselor ratios, and chronic absenteeism from the CRDC will be added in a future update.

Questions to Ask on Your School Visit

Research shows the most important factors are invisible in the data. Here is what to ask when you visit.

Middle
1
How does the school support the transition from elementary?
Orientation programs, peer mentoring
2
What electives and clubs are available?
Arts, STEM, sports, extracurriculars
3
How are students grouped for core subjects?
Tracking policies can affect equity
4
What is the school's homework and study policy?
Look for balance and academic support
5
How is bullying and social pressure addressed?
Anti-bullying policies, counselor availability
6
What advanced or enrichment options exist?
Honors courses, gifted programs
7
What does the school do with student performance data?
How data is used to personalize instruction
8
How would you describe teacher retention here?
High turnover can disrupt continuity of learning
9
What's the culture around student diversity and inclusion?
How differences are celebrated and managed

Frequently Asked Questions

About this school and the data on this page

About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.