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Estelline, South Dakota - 3 schools
An equity score of 55/100 ranks Estelline School District 28-2 #45 of 121 districts in South Dakota (state average 51). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.
At $13,448 per pupil, Estelline School District 28-2 ranks #58 of 149 South Dakota districts by per-pupil spending (South Dakota districts). NCES F-33 finance data.
274
Total Enrollment
3
Schools
$13,448
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, High
School Types
District-Level NCES Analysis
Estelline School District 28-2 operates 3 public schools serving 274 students, placing it among the smallest districts in South Dakota. The school portfolio breaks down into 1 combined, 1 high, 1 middle schools, a small enough portfolio that most families will interact with nearly every campus in the district at some point. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Hamlin County.
Per-pupil expenditure runs $13,448 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the upper half of 149 South Dakota districts by per-pupil spending. See how South Dakota compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 62.4% local, 18.2% state, and 19.4% federal, a local-revenue-heavy mix that leaves the district more exposed to property-tax swings and local ballot measures than state-funded peers. The district's equity score is 55/100, ranked #45 of 121 in South Dakota against a state average of 51, in line with the typical spread seen across the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.
a 284.2:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 20.0% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 80.6% White, 15.9% Hispanic or Latino, 0.2% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Estelline Elementary - 02, with a diversity index of 39.0/100.
Its largest campus is Estelline Elementary - 02, enrolling 149 students (51% of the district's total enrollment).
Estelline Elementary - 02 accounts for 51.0% of all Estelline School District 28-2 student enrollment
That is an overwhelming concentration, leaving the rest of Estelline School District 28-2 a distant remainder — means Estelline School District 28-2-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: combined. 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.
Estelline School District 28-2 school enrollment varies 2.5× across entities
Estelline School District 28-2 school enrollment ranges from 60 students (lowest) to 149 students (highest), a spread of 89 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.
Estelline School District 28-2 student-counselor ratio is 284:1 — 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 Estelline School District 28-2 is typically wider than the Estelline School District 28-2-aggregate figure suggests.
Estelline School District 28-2 chronic absenteeism rate is 20.0% — 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 Estelline School District 28-2 is typically wider than the Estelline School District 28-2-aggregate figure suggests.
Comparisons are relative to Estelline School District 28-2's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.
Nearby Districts in South Dakota
Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.
How many schools are in Estelline School District 28-2?
Estelline School District 28-2 has 3 schools, including 1 combined, 1 high, 1 middle. Total enrollment is 274 students.
How much does Estelline School District 28-2 spend per student?
Estelline School District 28-2 spends $13,448 per student. The district has an equity score of 55/100, ranking #45 in South Dakota.
What is the demographic composition of Estelline School District 28-2?
Estelline School District 28-2 students are 80.6% White, 15.9% Hispanic or Latino, 0.2% African American, averaged across 3 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.
What is the equity score for Estelline School District 28-2?
Estelline School District 28-2 has an equity score of 55/100, ranking #45 out of 121 districts in South Dakota.