West Central School District 49-7

Hartford, South Dakota — 6 schools

1,412
Total Enrollment
6
Schools
$11,621
Per-Pupil Spending
Elementary, Other
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

West Central School District 49-7 operates 6 public schools serving 1,412 students, placing it among the smaller districts in South Dakota. The school portfolio breaks down into 2 elementary, 2 other, 1 high, 1 middle schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 1,418 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Minnehaha County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $11,621 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 48.4% local, 39.1% state, and 12.5% 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 $57,225 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 27/100, ranked #105 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 6 schools offering Advanced Placement (4 AP courses district-wide), a 354.9:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 5.4% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 70.0% White, 4.1% African American, 1.8% Hispanic or Latino across the district's schools.

West Central High School - 01 accounts for 28.8% of all West Central School District 49-7 student enrollment

That concentration — well above the 8.4% national median for largest-entity share — means West Central School District 49-7-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

West Central School District 49-7 school enrollment varies 68× across entities

West Central School District 49-7 school enrollment ranges from 6 students (lowest) to 408 students (highest), a spread of 402 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

West Central School District 49-7 student-counselor ratio is 355:1 — high (typically associated with staffing constraints that limit per-student counselor time; CRDC data shows higher ratios cluster in larger urban systems)

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 Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

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

West Central School District 49-7 chronic absenteeism rate is 5.4% — low (typically associated with lower-than-average attendance disruption; districts in this range often have attendance interventions, robust transportation, or smaller catchments that reduce barriers)

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 Lower values often correlate with smaller scale and population characteristics rather than higher resource budgets per se.

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

Where does the funding come from?

12.5%
Federal
39.1%
State
48.4%
Local

Funding Equity

27
Equity Score
105 / 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 Minnehaha County county, where this district is located.

$865
Studio/mo
$986
1 BR/mo
$1,156
2 BR/mo
$1,586
3 BR/mo
$1,939
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$57,225
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 6 schools in West Central School District 49-7.

White 70.0%
Hispanic or Latino 1.8%
African American 4.1%
Multiracial 3.2%
Other 20.8%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

1 / 6
Schools with AP
4 AP courses total
354.9:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
5.4%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in West Central School District 49-7

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in West Central School District 49-7?

West Central School District 49-7 has 6 schools, including 1 high, 2 elementary, 1 middle, 2 other. Total enrollment is 1,412 students.

How much does West Central School District 49-7 spend per student?

West Central School District 49-7 spends $11,621 per student. The district has an equity score of 27/100, ranking #105 in South Dakota.

What is the average teacher salary in West Central School District 49-7?

The average teacher salary in West Central School District 49-7 is $57,225 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near West Central School District 49-7?

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

What is the demographic composition of West Central School District 49-7?

West Central School District 49-7 students are 70.0% White, 4.1% African American, 1.8% Hispanic or Latino, 0.1% Asian, averaged across 6 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for West Central School District 49-7?

West Central School District 49-7 has an equity score of 27/100, ranking #105 out of 121 districts in South Dakota. This score measures resource distribution fairness across schools in the district.

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