Mahadev Maitri Foundation
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Rapid City Area School District 51-4

South Dakota · Public School District
27
Schools
12,743
Students
$11,988
Per-Pupil Spend
-16% nat'l
40.9%
Free Lunch Rate
-11pp vs nat'l
81.3%
Graduation Rate
-5.2pp vs nat'l
District Overview

Rapid City Area School District 51-4 is a public school district in South Dakota serving 12,743 students across 27 schools. It includes 15 elementary, 5 middle, 5 high schools. Its graduation rate of 81.3% is below the national average of 86.5%. Per-pupil spending of $11,988 is below the national average for a US public school district. 41% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Opportunity scores across its schools are limited, with a district median of 39/100.

⇄ Compare with another district
All Schools (27)
Middle Schools5 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
East Middle School - 3006–08600
North Middle School - 3506–08513
South Middle School - 3606–08553
Southwest Middle School - 3806–08660
West Middle School - 3706–08612
High Schools5 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Central High School - 4109–121,768
Lincoln Building - 4412–1232
Rapid City High School - 4509–12356
Rapid City Online High School - 9209–1253
Stevens High School - 4209–121,686
Other Schools2 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Jefferson Building - 64PK–1233
Wellfully - 6501–129
District Finances
Per-Pupil Expenditure$11,988-16% nat'l avg
National avg $14,347
Revenue Sources
27%
54%
State
26.7%
Local (property tax)
54.3%
Federal
18.9%

Funding is shared between state (27%) and local sources (54%), with notable federal support (19%).

Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey. District-level data.
District Snapshot
27
Schools
12,743
Students
41%
Free Lunch
$12K
Per-Pupil
Graduation Rate81.3%
Opportunity Score39/100
StateSouth Dakota →
School Rankings
Strengths & Considerations
Range of school options
With 27 schools, families have meaningful choice across programs and grade levels.
Below-average graduation rate
At 81.3%, graduation is 5.2 points below the national average of 86.5%.
Below-average per-pupil spending
At $11,988, spending is 16% below the national average — which can limit staffing and resources.
Location
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Rapid City Area School District 51-4?
Rapid City Area School District 51-4 has 27 public schools, serving a total of 12,743 students.
What is the graduation rate for Rapid City Area School District 51-4?
The graduation rate is 81.3%, which is below the national average of 86.5%.
How much does Rapid City Area School District 51-4 spend per student?
Rapid City Area School District 51-4 spends $11,988 per pupil — 16% below the national average of $14,347.
What percentage of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch in Rapid City Area School District 51-4?
41% of students in Rapid City Area School District 51-4 qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, compared to the national rate of 52.2%.
Are there charter schools in Rapid City Area School District 51-4?
No, Rapid City Area School District 51-4 does not currently include any charter schools.
What grade levels does Rapid City Area School District 51-4 serve?
Rapid City Area School District 51-4 serves grades PK through 12, covering elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the opportunity score for Rapid City Area School District 51-4?
The median opportunity score across schools in Rapid City Area School District 51-4 is 39/100. 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.