Meade School District 46-1

Sturgis, South Dakota — 11 schools

3,058
Total Enrollment
11
Schools
$10,790
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 other schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 3,047 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Meade County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $10,790 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 51.4% local, 33.5% state, and 15.1% 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 $61,061 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 36/100, ranked #84 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 11 schools offering Advanced Placement (3 AP courses district-wide), a 276:1 student-counselor ratio, 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.

Sturgis Brown High School - 01 accounts for 27.7% of all Meade School District 46-1 student enrollment

That concentration — well above the 8.4% national median for largest-entity share — means Meade School District 46-1-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: high. 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.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

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 among the widest observed and reflects extreme enrollment heterogeneity — the district operates both small specialty programs and large comprehensive campuses inside a single budgeting unit. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

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.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

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.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

15.1%
Federal
33.5%
State
51.4%
Local

Funding Equity

36
Equity Score
84 / 121
State Rank
50
State Average

This district scores below average on funding equity. High reliance on local revenue or lower spending may contribute.

Local Rent Costs

Fair Market Rents in Meade County county, where this district is located.

$878
Studio/mo
$970
1 BR/mo
$1,273
2 BR/mo
$1,770
3 BR/mo
$2,136
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$61,061
Average annual teacher salary

Source: NCES CCD F-33 (Finance Survey).

Teacher salary data from NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 11 schools in Meade School District 46-1.

White 91.8%
Hispanic or Latino 2.5%
Multiracial 3.6%
Other 1.6%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

1 / 11
Schools with AP
3 AP courses total
276:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
16.2%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Meade School District 46-1

School Enrollment
Sturgis Brown High School - 01
845
Sturgis Elementary - 03
531
Piedmont Valley Elementary - 05
514
Sturgis Williams Middle School - 02
490
Stagebarn Middle School - 10
432
Whitewood Elementary - 04
138
Central Meade County School - 09
49
Hereford Elementary - 08
13
Opal Elementary - 15
13
Atall Elementary - 17
12
Elm Springs Elementary - 13
10

Nearby Districts in South Dakota

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Meade School District 46-1?

Meade School District 46-1 has 11 schools, including 1 high, 9 elementary, 1 other. Total enrollment is 3,058 students.

How much does Meade School District 46-1 spend per student?

Meade School District 46-1 spends $10,790 per student. The district has an equity score of 36/100, ranking #84 in South Dakota.

What is the average teacher salary in Meade School District 46-1?

The average teacher salary in Meade School District 46-1 is $61,061 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near Meade School District 46-1?

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Meade County County is $N/A/month (2026). This affects housing affordability for families in the district.

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 36/100, ranking #84 out of 121 districts in South Dakota. This score measures resource distribution fairness across schools in the district.

Federal data Last updated 2026 Free public data

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