An equity score of 33/100 ranks Meade School District 46-1 #88 of 121 districts in South Dakota (state average 51). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.
At $9,885 per pupil, Meade School District 46-1 ranks #145 of 149 South Dakota districts by per-pupil spending (South Dakota districts). NCES F-33 finance data.
3,058
Total Enrollment
11
Schools
$9,885
Per-Pupil Spending
Elementary, High
School Types
District-Level NCES Analysis
Meade School District 46-1 operates 11 public schools serving 3,058 students, placing it among the smaller districts in South Dakota. The school portfolio breaks down into 9 elementary, 1 high, 1 combined schools, a compact enough portfolio that families can compare every campus directly before they move, rent, or enrol. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Meade County.
Per-pupil expenditure runs $9,885 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, among the bottom 15 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 51.4% local, 33.5% state, and 15.1% 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 33/100, ranked #88 of 121 in South Dakota against a state average of 51, notably less even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.
Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 11 schools offering Advanced Placement (3 AP courses district-wide), a 276:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 16.2% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 91.8% White, 2.5% Hispanic or Latino, 0.3% Asian across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Stagebarn Middle School - 10, with a diversity index of 28.7/100.
Its largest campus is Sturgis Brown High School - 01, enrolling 845 students (28% of the district's total enrollment). Its smallest is Elm Springs Elementary - 13, at 10 students, a 85x enrollment spread across the district's campuses.
Sturgis Brown High School - 01 accounts for 27.6% of all Meade School District 46-1 student enrollment
That dominant concentration means Meade School District 46-1-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the largest entity. Grade band: high. The share measures enrollment concentration only; it does not establish how the district allocates programs, capital, or staff. Enrollment-weighted aggregates give this entity more weight than any smaller peer, while an unweighted entity average treats every record equally.
Meade School District 46-1 school enrollment varies 85× across entities
Meade School District 46-1 school enrollment ranges from 10 students (lowest) to 845 students (highest), a spread of 835 students. That ratio is an extreme outlier spread — among the widest gaps observed anywhere in this dataset. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.
Meade School District 46-1 student-counselor ratio is 276:1 — 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 Meade School District 46-1 is typically wider than the Meade School District 46-1-aggregate figure suggests.
Meade School District 46-1 chronic absenteeism rate is 16.2% — 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 Meade School District 46-1 is typically wider than the Meade School District 46-1-aggregate figure suggests.
How many schools are in Meade School District 46-1?
Meade School District 46-1 has 11 schools, including 1 high, 9 elementary, 1 combined. Total enrollment is 3,058 students.
How much does Meade School District 46-1 spend per student?
Meade School District 46-1 spends $9,885 per student. The district has an equity score of 33/100, ranking #88 in South Dakota.
What is the demographic composition of Meade School District 46-1?
Meade School District 46-1 students are 91.8% White, 2.5% Hispanic or Latino, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% African American, averaged across 11 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.
What is the equity score for Meade School District 46-1?
Meade School District 46-1 has an equity score of 33/100, ranking #88 out of 121 districts in South Dakota.