Dakota Valley School District 61-8 serves 1,295 students across 4 schools in Union County, South Dakota, operating in a suburban locale. The district maintains a notably higher graduation rate of 97.8% compared to the state average of 87.5%, with a dropout rate of only 0.6%. Chronic absenteeism stands at 5.5%.
Academic performance metrics exceed state benchmarks. Math proficiency reaches 65.6% versus the state average of 46.7%, while reading proficiency is 54.8% compared to 46.8% statewide. These results suggest stronger-than-average academic outcomes in core subjects.
The student population is primarily White at 75.7%, with Hispanic students representing 10.7%, Asian students 2.8%, and Black students 2.2%. The district serves 11.8% students with disabilities, 10.3% economically disadvantaged students, and 5.5% English learners.
A notable financial characteristic is per-pupil spending of $10,434, which is substantially lower than the state average of $13,873. Despite this reduced spending level relative to state norms, the district achieves above-average academic and graduation outcomes. This spending-performance relationship warrants consideration when evaluating resource allocation efficiency and sustainability in the district's operations.
This summary was generated by AI from public data sources. Last updated May 4, 2026.
This data is aggregated from state and federal public datasets. While we believe it is accurate, we always recommend confirming it on the corresponding state or federal site. See Data Notes for more.
Total Students
1,295
Schools
4
Per-Pupil Spending
$10,434
Data Sources: NCES Common Core of Data, NCES F-33 Finance Survey, EDFacts
State Data Year: 2024-25
Note: Some data may be unavailable for certain districts or years. Proficiency rates reflect state-specific assessment standards.
Math Proficiency
65.6%
Staff counts are Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) from NCES 2024-25 data.
School Performance Index
70.5
out of 100 points
South Dakota uses the School Performance Index (SPI) to measure school quality on a 0-100 point scale. The SPI considers multiple factors including student proficiency, academic growth, graduation rates, attendance, and English learner progress.
Percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards on South Dakota state assessments
Percentage of students meeting expected academic growth
ELA Progress
59.8%
Students meeting growth standard
Math Progress
57.9%
Students meeting growth standard
ELA Proficiency
54.8%
8.0% above state avg
Math Proficiency
65.6%
18.9% above state avg
Graduation Rate
97.8%
10.3% above state avg
Chronic Absenteeism
5.5%
9.5% better than state avg
Composite
22.0
English
21.2
Math
21.7
Reading
22.0
Science
22.4
Attendance Rate
94.8%
FAY (Full Academic Year) students
Dropout Rate
0.6%
Grades 7-12
South Dakota evaluates schools using the School Performance Index (SPI), a comprehensive 0-100 point measure. The SPI incorporates student achievement, academic growth, graduation rates, attendance, and English learner progress. Schools and districts work toward continuous improvement under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) framework.