Enrollment
780
South Dakota · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Brookings, SD
George S. Mickelson Middle School - 02
Federal NCES profile for George S. Mickelson Middle School - 02, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 42/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 460852000083
👥 S:T ratio 45
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 22
📋 Attendance 32
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
George S. Mickelson Middle School - 02 earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the South Dakota median. It is also one of the largest schools in South Dakota.
- #2 of 6
- public schools in Brookings · Resource Index
- 42
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.7:1
- students per teacher
- 16.1%
- free-lunch eligible
George S. Mickelson Middle School - 02 has class sizes near the South Dakota median. Computed live against every South Dakota school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, George S. Mickelson Middle School - 02 ranks #2 of 6 public schools in Brookings, SD.
School address
District: Brookings School District 05-1 · South Dakota
NCES ID 460852000083 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
57.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13.7:1
vs 13.6:1 South Dakota avg
+1% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
16.1%
vs 28.8% South Dakota avg
-44% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How George S. Mickelson Middle School - 02 compares with South Dakota and U.S. medians
What stands out at George S. Mickelson Middle School - 02
George S. Mickelson Middle School - 02 is a lower-poverty, large middle school in Brookings, South Dakota, enrolling 780 students.
At 13.7:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the South Dakota median, within a few percentage points of the 13.6:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 16.1% lands close to the South Dakota typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in South Dakota, bigger than 96% of state schools at 780 students.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 691 scored South Dakota schools.
Against 51 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #23.
Its student body is led by White (78%) and Hispanic or Latino (8%) (diversity index 38/100).
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 390 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 27.1% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Brookings School District 05-1 also operates Brookings High School - 01 (979 students) and Camelot Intermediate - 06 (523 students) alongside George S. Mickelson Middle School - 02.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How George S. Mickelson Middle School - 02 compares
George S. Mickelson Middle School - 02 on the metrics families compare, against South Dakota and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs South Dakota | South Dakota avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.7:1 | ▲ 1% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 16.1% | ▼ 44% | 28.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 780 | top 4% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.7:1
Leaner classes than 60% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
780
Bigger than 85% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
16.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 44% below the South Dakota average of 28.8%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
13.7:1
students per teacher
- 1% above state mean
Top 54% in South Dakota - lower ratio than 46% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
27.1%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$11,042
per pupil, district-wide
- below South Dakota avg of $13,477
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 390 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
68
in-school suspensions + 6 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 8.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 9.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
White 78.3%
Hispanic or Latino 8.1%
Two or More 4.7%
African American 4.4%
Asian 2.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.8%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: White at 78.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 37.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 37.5, George S. Mickelson Middle School - 02 is more mixed than the South Dakota school average of 27.6.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Brookings School District 05-1, which includes George S. Mickelson Middle School - 02.
$11,042
Per student
-18%
vs South Dakota
Avg $13,477
-33%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 51.4%
State 36.4%
Federal 12.1%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How George S. Mickelson Middle School - 02 Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brookings High School - 01 | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Camelot Intermediate - 06 | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Dakota Prairie Elementary - 07 | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Medary Elementary - 05 | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Hillcrest Elementary - 04 | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to George S. Mickelson Middle School - 02's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 979
- Students per teacher
- 16.6:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 523
- Students per teacher
- 14.9:1
- Resource Index
- 53/100
- Enrollment
- 509
- Students per teacher
- 14.5:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 358
- Students per teacher
- 12.8:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 316
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
Similar middle schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of South Dakota, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~780 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on George S. Mickelson Middle School - 02's federal record.
- Compare George S. Mickelson Middle School - 02 against another school. Compare schools
- Brookings School District 05-1's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about George S. Mickelson Middle School - 02
How many students attend George S. Mickelson Middle School - 02?
George S. Mickelson Middle School - 02 has 780 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Brookings, SD.
What is the student-teacher ratio at George S. Mickelson Middle School - 02?
The student-teacher ratio at George S. Mickelson Middle School - 02 is 13.7:1, which is 1% higher than the South Dakota average of 13.6:1 and 13% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at George S. Mickelson Middle School - 02?
16.1% of students at George S. Mickelson Middle School - 02 are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Dakota average of 28.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of George S. Mickelson Middle School - 02?
The largest demographic group at George S. Mickelson Middle School - 02 is White at 78.3% of enrollment, in Brookings, SD.
What is the Resource Investment Index for George S. Mickelson Middle School - 02?
George S. Mickelson Middle School - 02 has a Resource Investment Index of 42/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does George S. Mickelson Middle School - 02 rank among public schools in Brookings?
By Resource Investment Index, George S. Mickelson Middle School - 02 ranks #2 of 6 public schools in Brookings, SD. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Brookings on the city page.
Is George S. Mickelson Middle School - 02 a good school?
George S. Mickelson Middle School - 02 earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the South Dakota median. It is also one of the largest schools in South Dakota. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Brookings School District 05-1?
Besides George S. Mickelson Middle School - 02, Brookings School District 05-1 also operates Brookings High School - 01 (979 students), Camelot Intermediate - 06 (523 students), and Dakota Prairie Elementary - 07 (509 students). See the Brookings School District 05-1 district page for the complete list.
Related tools
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. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.