South Dakota
U.S.
Rank
It shouldn’t be as difficult as carving Mount Rushmore to carve out some power for parents but this big state has a long climb till it reaches true parent power heights.
Opportunity
Score:
Grade:
D
Rank:
#34
South Dakota provides parents with limited power to customize their students’…
Score:
Grade:
D
Rank:
#43
Lacking rigorous elementary and secondary teacher preparation programs; tenure decisions not tied to teacher effectiveness and student growth…
Innovation
Score:
Grade:
D
Rank:
#42
South Dakota’s Tools for Teachers website launched in the 2020-2021 school year, providing educators access to high-quality digital tools…

March 13, Gov. Noem recommended schools close temporarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and April 6 recommended they remain closed and…
4th Grade Math Proficiency:
8th Grade Math Proficiency:
4th Grade Reading Proficiency:
8th Grade Reading Proficiency:
Average SAT Score:
Average ACT Score:
Graduation Rate:
Policy Environment

Governor Kristi Noem took office in 2018 and has modestly expanded the scholarship tax program twice since then. She vowed to “protect the rights of p

South Dakota has a Blaine Amendment, and the South Dakota Supreme Court has interpreted it restrictively. That Court has explicitly…

School report cards are immediately apparent on the homepage of South Dakota’s DOE website. Report cards give an overall district/school score…