Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives

Brandon Valley School District 49-2

South Dakota · Public School District
12
Schools
4,949
Students
$11,271
Per-Pupil Spend
-21% nat'l
13.1%
Free Lunch Rate
-39pp vs nat'l
96.0%
Graduation Rate
+9.5pp vs nat'l
District Overview

Brandon Valley School District 49-2 is a public school district in South Dakota serving 4,949 students across 12 schools. It includes 6 elementary, 4 middle, 2 high schools. Its graduation rate of 96.0% is above the national average of 86.5%. Per-pupil spending of $11,271 is below the national average for a US public school district. Only 13% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, suggesting a relatively low-poverty student body. Opportunity scores across its schools are moderate, with a district median of 49/100.

⇄ Compare with another district
District Finances
Per-Pupil Expenditure$11,271-21% nat'l avg
National avg $14,347
Revenue Sources
41%
46%
State
41.0%
Local (property tax)
45.9%
Federal
13.1%

Funding is shared between state (41%) and local sources (46%), with limited federal reliance.

Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey. District-level data.
District Snapshot
12
Schools
4,949
Students
13%
Free Lunch
$11K
Per-Pupil
Graduation Rate96.0%
Opportunity Score49/100
Strengths & Considerations
Strong graduation outcomes
96.0% graduation rate — 9.5 points above the national average of 86.5%.
Low economic disadvantage rate
Only 13% of students qualify for free lunch, well below the national rate of 52.2%.
Below-average per-pupil spending
At $11,271, spending is 21% below the national average — which can limit staffing and resources.
Location
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Brandon Valley School District 49-2?
Brandon Valley School District 49-2 has 12 public schools, serving a total of 4,949 students.
What is the graduation rate for Brandon Valley School District 49-2?
The graduation rate is 96.0%, which is above the national average of 86.5%.
How much does Brandon Valley School District 49-2 spend per student?
Brandon Valley School District 49-2 spends $11,271 per pupil — 21% below the national average of $14,347.
What percentage of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch in Brandon Valley School District 49-2?
13% of students in Brandon Valley School District 49-2 qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, compared to the national rate of 52.2%.
Are there charter schools in Brandon Valley School District 49-2?
No, Brandon Valley School District 49-2 does not currently include any charter schools.
What grade levels does Brandon Valley School District 49-2 serve?
Brandon Valley School District 49-2 serves grades PK through 12, covering elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the opportunity score for Brandon Valley School District 49-2?
The median opportunity score across schools in Brandon Valley School District 49-2 is 49/100. The national median is 50/100. Opportunity scores reflect long-term economic mobility prospects for children who grow up in these communities.
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.