Summary:
The city of Buffalo, South Dakota is home to 3 schools serving students from elementary through high school, all part of the Harding County School District 31-1. The standout schools in this district are Harding County Middle School - 03, which has consistently ranked among the top 25% of South Dakota middle schools, and Harding County High School - 01, which has also been a top performer, ranking in the top 25% of South Dakota high schools for the past 2 years.
Harding County Middle School - 03 boasts strong academic performance, with English Language Arts and Mathematics proficiency rates significantly higher than the state averages, particularly in the 7th grade. The school also has a relatively low student-teacher ratio of 16.2, which may contribute to its success. In contrast, Harding County High School - 01 struggles with Mathematics proficiency, with only 20% of 11th graders proficient or better, compared to the state average of 35.56%.
Across the district, the free/reduced lunch rates range from 25% at Harding County High School - 01 to 29.35% at Buffalo Elementary - 02, indicating a relatively high proportion of economically disadvantaged students. Additionally, chronic absenteeism rates are a concern, particularly at the middle school and high school levels, which may impact student learning and achievement.
Thank you for your feedback!