Belle Fourche School District 09-1

2305 13th Ave
Belle Fourche, SD 57717
(District boundaries shown in map)
3/
10
Bottom 50%

Top Rankings

Belle Fourche School District 09-1 ranks among the top 20% of public school district in South Dakota for:

Category
Attribute
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2026 school year, there are 4 public schools serving 1,239 students in Belle Fourche School District 09-1. This district's average testing ranking is 3/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public schools in South Dakota.
Public Schools in Belle Fourche School District 09-1 have an average math proficiency score of 38% (versus the South Dakota public school average of 43%), and reading proficiency score of 45% (versus the 51% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 15% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the South Dakota public school average of 34% (majority American Indian).

Overview

This School District
This State (SD)
# Schools
4 Schools
727 Schools
# Students
1,239 Students
146,864 Students
# Teachers
96 Teachers
10,621 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
13:1
13:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Belle Fourche School District 09-1, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 146 school districts in South Dakota (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 55% has decreased from 90-94% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (SD)
#113 out of 148 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
38%
42%
43%
51%
42%
42%
55%
82%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.28
0.53
% American Indian
3%
14%
% Asian
n/a
2%
% Hispanic
8%
9%
% Black
n/a
3%
% White
85%
66%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
4%
6%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $12,881 in this school district is less than the state median of $13,047. The school district revenue/student has grown by 22% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $11,600 is less than the state median of $12,552. The school district spending/student has grown by 16% over four school years.
This School District
This State (SD)
Total Revenue
$16 MM
$1,916 MM
Spending
$14 MM
$1,844 MM
Revenue / Student
$12,881
$13,047
Spending / Student
$11,600
$12,552

Best Belle Fourche School District 09-1 Public Schools (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Belle Fourche High School - 01
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
1301 12th Ave
Belle Fourche, SD 57717
(605) 723-3350
Gr: 9-12 | 389 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 14%
Rank: #22.
South Park Elementary - 03
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
1816 Valley Dr
Belle Fourche, SD 57717
(605) 723-3382
Gr: 1-4 | 347 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 17%
Rank: #33.
Belle Fourche Middle School - 07
(Math: 33% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
1302 Ziebach St
Belle Fourche, SD 57717
(605) 723-3367
Gr: 5-8 | 414 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 16%
Rank: n/an/a
29 N 6th Ave
Belle Fourche, SD 57717
(605) 723-3379
Gr: K | 89 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 11%

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools belong to Belle Fourche School District 09-1?
Belle Fourche School District 09-1 manages 4 public schools serving 1,239 students.
What is the rank of Belle Fourche School District 09-1?
Belle Fourche School District 09-1 is ranked #108 out of 146 school districts in South Dakota (bottom 50%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2022-2023 school year. This district ranks in the top 20% of South Dakota school districts for: Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
What is the racial composition of students in Belle Fourche School District 09-1?
85% of Belle Fourche School District 09-1 students are White, 8% of students are Hispanic, 4% of students are Two or more races, and 3% of students are American Indian.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Belle Fourche School District 09-1?
Belle Fourche School District 09-1 has a student/teacher ratio of 13:1, which is lower than the South Dakota state average of 14:1.
What is Belle Fourche School District 09-1's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $11,600 is less than the state median of $12,552. The school district spending/student has grown by 16% over four school years.

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Quick Facts (2026)

  • District size: 4 schools
  • Grades: K-12
  • Enrollment: 1,239 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 13:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 15%
  • : 55% (Top 30% in SD)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 38% (Btm 50%)
  • : 43% (Btm 50%)
  • : 42% (Top 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), SD Dept. of Education

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