New Underwood School District 51-3

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.

New Underwood, South Dakota - 3 schools

An equity score of 25/100 ranks New Underwood School District 51-3 #110 of 121 districts in South Dakota (state average 51). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $9,467 per pupil, New Underwood School District 51-3 ranks #146 of 149 South Dakota districts by per-pupil spending (South Dakota districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

291
Total Enrollment
3
Schools
$9,467
Per-Pupil Spending
Elementary, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

New Underwood School District 51-3 operates 3 public schools serving 291 students, placing it among the smallest districts in South Dakota. The school portfolio breaks down into 1 elementary, 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 Pennington County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $9,467 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 35.5% local, 53.5% state, and 11.0% federal, a state-revenue-heavy mix that insulates the district somewhat from local property-tax volatility, though it ties funding to state budget cycles. The district's equity score is 25/100, ranked #110 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.

and 24.0% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 81.8% White, 3.3% Hispanic or Latino, 0.4% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is New Underwood Jr. High - 04, with a diversity index of 39.8/100.

Its largest campus is New Underwood Elementary - 02, enrolling 113 students (40% of the district's total enrollment).

New Underwood Elementary - 02 accounts for 38.8% of all New Underwood School District 51-3 student enrollment

That dominant concentration means New Underwood School District 51-3-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.

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

New Underwood School District 51-3 chronic absenteeism rate is 24.0% — 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 New Underwood School District 51-3 is typically wider than the New Underwood School District 51-3-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Where does the funding come from?

11.0%
Federal
53.5%
State
35.5%
Local

Funding Equity

25
Equity Score
110 / 121
State Rank
51
State Average

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

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 3 schools in New Underwood School District 51-3.

White 81.8%
Hispanic or Latino 3.3%
Multiracial 11.4%
Other 2.6%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 31.2/100

Average Simpson diversity index across New Underwood School District 51-3's schools, above the South Dakota average of 27.6.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 New Underwood Jr. High - 04 39.8
  2. 2 New Underwood High School - 01 28.2
  3. 3 New Underwood Elementary - 02 25.5

Programs & Resources

24.0%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in New Underwood School District 51-3

School Enrollment
New Underwood Elementary - 02
113
New Underwood High School - 01
92
New Underwood Jr. High - 04
75

How New Underwood School District 51-3 Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The South Dakota districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Centerville School District 60-1 Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Canistota School District 43-1 Similar size Higher spending More locally funded
Gayville-Volin School District 63-1 Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix
Newell School District 09-2 Similar size Higher spending More locally funded
Irene - Wakonda School District 13-3 Similar size Higher spending More locally funded

Comparisons are relative to New Underwood School District 51-3'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.

Compare New Underwood School District 51-3

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Sioux Falls School District 49-5 →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in New Underwood School District 51-3?

New Underwood School District 51-3 has 3 schools, including 1 elementary, 1 high, 1 middle. Total enrollment is 291 students.

How much does New Underwood School District 51-3 spend per student?

New Underwood School District 51-3 spends $9,467 per student. The district has an equity score of 25/100, ranking #110 in South Dakota.

What is the demographic composition of New Underwood School District 51-3?

New Underwood School District 51-3 students are 81.8% White, 3.3% Hispanic or Latino, 0.4% African American, 0.3% Asian, averaged across 3 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for New Underwood School District 51-3?

New Underwood School District 51-3 has an equity score of 25/100, ranking #110 out of 121 districts in South Dakota.