Belle Fourche School District 09-1 operates 5 public schools serving 1,329 students, placing it among the smaller districts in South Dakota. The school portfolio breaks down into 3 elementary, 2 high schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 1,296 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Butte County County.
Per-pupil expenditure runs $11,450 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, which aggregates every revenue and spending line reported under federal accounting standards. The funding mix is 38.6% local, 41.5% state, and 20.0% federal — a breakdown that matters because districts leaning heavily on local revenue are more exposed to property-tax swings, while higher federal shares typically track Title I concentration. Average teacher compensation clocks in at $65,505 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 44/100, ranked #71 of 121 in South Dakota against a state average of 50 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.
Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 5 schools offering Advanced Placement (1 AP courses district-wide), a 344.5:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 24.8% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 85.5% White, 8.2% Hispanic or Latino, 0.1% Asian across the district's schools.
Belle Fourche Middle School - 07 accounts for 31.9% of all Belle Fourche School District 09-1 student enrollment
That concentration — well above the 8.4% national median for largest-entity share — means Belle Fourche School District 09-1-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: elementary. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.
Belle Fourche School District 09-1 school enrollment varies 7.3× across entities
Belle Fourche School District 09-1 school enrollment ranges from 57 students (lowest) to 414 students (highest), a spread of 357 students. That relatively narrow ratio reflects an unusually homogeneous campus portfolio — most districts have a wider mix of school sizes. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.
Belle Fourche School District 09-1 student-counselor ratio is 345:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts
student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment — districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Variation between sub-units within Belle Fourche School District 09-1 is typically wider than the Belle Fourche School District 09-1-aggregate figure suggests.
Belle Fourche School District 09-1 chronic absenteeism rate is 24.8% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism
chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason — illness, family obligations, or disengagement Variation between sub-units within Belle Fourche School District 09-1 is typically wider than the Belle Fourche School District 09-1-aggregate figure suggests.
How many schools are in Belle Fourche School District 09-1?
Belle Fourche School District 09-1 has 5 schools, including 3 elementary, 2 high. Total enrollment is 1,329 students.
How much does Belle Fourche School District 09-1 spend per student?
Belle Fourche School District 09-1 spends $11,450 per student. The district has an equity score of 44/100, ranking #71 in South Dakota.
What is the average teacher salary in Belle Fourche School District 09-1?
The average teacher salary in Belle Fourche School District 09-1 is $65,505 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.
What is the average rent near Belle Fourche School District 09-1?
The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Butte County County is $N/A/month (2026). This affects housing affordability for families in the district.
What is the demographic composition of Belle Fourche School District 09-1?
Belle Fourche School District 09-1 students are 85.5% White, 8.2% Hispanic or Latino, 0.1% Asian, averaged across 5 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.
What is the equity score for Belle Fourche School District 09-1?
Belle Fourche School District 09-1 has an equity score of 44/100, ranking #71 out of 121 districts in South Dakota. This score measures resource distribution fairness across schools in the district.