Newell School District 09-2

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.

Newell, South Dakota - 3 schools

An equity score of 74/100 ranks Newell School District 09-2 #20 of 121 districts in South Dakota (state average 51). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $13,238 per pupil, Newell School District 09-2 ranks #65 of 149 South Dakota districts by per-pupil spending (South Dakota districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

289
Total Enrollment
3
Schools
$13,238
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Newell School District 09-2 operates 3 public schools serving 289 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 Butte County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $13,238 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 50.2% local, 26.0% state, and 23.8% 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 74/100, ranked #20 of 121 in South Dakota against a state average of 51, notably more even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

and 23.4% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 89.2% White, 2.8% Hispanic or Latino, 1.8% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Newell High School - 01, with a diversity index of 28.0/100.

Its largest campus is Newell Elementary - 02, enrolling 124 students (54% of the district's total enrollment).

Newell Elementary - 02 accounts for 42.9% of all Newell School District 09-2 student enrollment

That dominant concentration means Newell School District 09-2-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.

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

Newell School District 09-2 school enrollment varies 2.6× across entities

Newell School District 09-2 school enrollment ranges from 48 students (lowest) to 124 students (highest), a spread of 76 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.

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

Newell School District 09-2 chronic absenteeism rate is 23.4% — 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 Newell School District 09-2 is typically wider than the Newell School District 09-2-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Where does the funding come from?

23.8%
Federal
26.0%
State
50.2%
Local

Funding Equity

74
Equity Score
20 / 121
State Rank
51
State Average

This district scores well on funding equity, with balanced funding sources and good resource allocation.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 3 schools in Newell School District 09-2.

White 89.2%
Hispanic or Latino 2.8%
African American 1.8%
Asian 0.6%
Multiracial 2.3%
Other 3.3%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 19.9/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Newell School District 09-2's schools, below the South Dakota average of 27.6.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Newell High School - 01 28.0
  2. 2 Newell Middle School - 04 19.3
  3. 3 Newell Elementary - 02 12.5

Programs & Resources

23.4%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Newell School District 09-2

School Enrollment
Newell Elementary - 02
124
Newell High School - 01
58
Newell Middle School - 04
48

How Newell School District 09-2 Compares to Similar-Size Districts

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

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Gayville-Volin School District 63-1 Similar size Lower spending Less locally funded
Centerville School District 60-1 Similar size Lower spending Similar funding mix
Menno School District 33-2 Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
New Underwood School District 51-3 Similar size Lower spending Less locally funded
Canistota School District 43-1 Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to Newell School District 09-2'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.

Compare Newell School District 09-2

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 Newell School District 09-2?

Newell School District 09-2 has 3 schools, including 1 combined, 1 high, 1 middle. Total enrollment is 289 students.

How much does Newell School District 09-2 spend per student?

Newell School District 09-2 spends $13,238 per student. The district has an equity score of 74/100, ranking #20 in South Dakota.

What is the demographic composition of Newell School District 09-2?

Newell School District 09-2 students are 89.2% White, 2.8% Hispanic or Latino, 1.8% African American, 0.6% Asian, averaged across 3 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Newell School District 09-2?

Newell School District 09-2 has an equity score of 74/100, ranking #20 out of 121 districts in South Dakota.