| District | City | Rating | Students | Schools | Grades | Zip Codes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hill City School District 51-2 | Hill City | 7/10 Good · 66th pct | 493 | 3 | PK–12 | 2 |
| Meade School District 46-1 | Wasta | 7/10 Good · 63rd pct | 3,058 | 11 | PK–12 | 1 |
| Wall School District 51-5 | Quinn | 6/10 Average · 53rd pct | 283 | 4 | K–12 | 3 |
| Douglas School District 51-1 | Box Elder | 5/10 Average · 41st pct | 2,750 | 5 | PK–12 | 1 |
| New Underwood School District 51-3 | Caputa | 4/10 Below Average · 30th pct | 291 | 3 | K–12 | 3 |
| Rapid City School District 51-4 | Rapid City | 4/10 Below Average · 30th pct | 12,747 | 27 | PK–12 | 3 |
How Pennington County compares
Together they enroll 19,622 students across 53 schools. The largest is Rapid City School District 51-4 with 12,747 students. Districts here average 5.5/10, below the South Dakota average of 5.6/10. Ratings range from 4/10 to 7/10.
School Districts in Pennington County, South Dakota
Pennington County has 6 public school districts covering 13 zip codes. The top-rated district in Pennington County is Hill City School District 51-2 (7/10). Ratings are based on the share of students proficient in reading and math on state assessments (NCES EDFacts, 2021–22 for most districts), ranked against all districts in South Dakota. Directory details come from NCES CCD 2024–25.
Enter your zip code on any page to confirm your exact district assignment — district boundaries are address-specific and may not follow county or city lines.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many school districts are in Pennington County, SD?
6 school districts serve zip codes in Pennington County, SD. This page lists each one with its rating, enrollment, grade span and the zip codes it covers.
What is the best-rated school district in Pennington County, SD?
Of the districts serving Pennington County, Hill City School District 51-2 has the highest rating on this site at 7/10. That places it in the 66th percentile among South Dakota school districts.
How are these school district ratings calculated?
Each rating is the share of students scoring proficient or above on South Dakota reading and math assessments, ranked against other districts in South Dakota and converted to a 1–10 scale. Percentiles compare districts within South Dakota only, never across state lines.