Spearfish School District 40-2 serves 2,301 students across 8 schools in Lawrence County, South Dakota, within a town locale. The district demonstrates academic performance above state averages on standardized measures, with 54.3% of students meeting math proficiency standards compared to the state average of 46.7%, and 54.2% meeting reading proficiency standards versus 46.8% statewide. The graduation rate of 92.9% exceeds the state average of 87.5%, with a notably low dropout rate of 0.5%.
The student population is predominantly White at 85.7%, with Hispanic students comprising 5.3%, Asian students 0.8%, and Black students 0.6%. Economically disadvantaged students represent 14.6% of enrollment, while English learners constitute 0.4% and students with disabilities account for 13.4%.
Chronic absenteeism stands at 11.5%, indicating an area of concern relative to academic outcomes. Per-pupil spending of $10,103 is notably lower than the state average of $13,873, a difference of approximately $3,770 per student annually. This spending differential occurs despite the district's above-average academic performance and graduation rates, suggesting efficient resource allocation or demographic factors that may influence comparative funding needs across the state.
This summary was generated by AI from public data sources. Last updated May 5, 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
2,301
Schools
8
Per-Pupil Spending
$10,103
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
54.3%
Staff counts are Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) from NCES 2024-25 data.
School Performance Index
60.3
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
55.0%
Students meeting growth standard
Math Progress
53.5%
Students meeting growth standard
ELA Proficiency
54.2%
7.4% above state avg
Math Proficiency
54.3%
7.6% above state avg
Graduation Rate
92.9%
5.4% above state avg
Chronic Absenteeism
11.5%
3.5% better than state avg
Composite
22.6
English
21.5
Math
21.8
Reading
24.0
Science
22.7
Attendance Rate
93.7%
FAY (Full Academic Year) students
Dropout Rate
0.5%
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.