Best High Schools in South Dakota

All 121 ranked high schools in South Dakota, ordered by state rank, with each school's rank history.

2012–2026 data · 35,000+ schools · 491 cities · 100% free

Top 50 high schools in South Dakota, 2026-27

121 South Dakota high schools are ranked in this edition, ordered here by state rank.

  1. Lincoln High School — Sioux Falls · #1 in SD · #956 nationally
  2. Brandon Valley High School — Brandon · #2 in SD · #2,113 nationally
  3. Hill City High School — Hill City · #3 in SD · #2,602 nationally
  4. Warner High School — Warner · #4 in SD · #2,794 nationally
  5. Howard High School — Howard · #5 in SD · #2,914 nationally
  6. Dakota Valley High School — North Sioux City · #6 in SD · #3,506 nationally
  7. T F Riggs High School — Pierre · #7 in SD · #3,560 nationally
  8. Harrisburg High School — Harrisburg · #8 in SD · #4,198 nationally
  9. Washington High School — Sioux Falls · #9 in SD · #4,239 nationally
  10. Sturgis Brown High School — Sturgis · #10 in SD · #4,301 nationally
  11. Jefferson High School - 67 — Sioux Falls · #11 in SD · #4,381 nationally
  12. Kadoka Area High School — Kadoka · #12 in SD · #4,897 nationally
  13. Baltic High School — Baltic · #13 in SD · #5,180 nationally
  14. Corsica-Stickney High School — Corsica · #14 in SD · #5,212 nationally
  15. Gettysburg High School — Gettysburg · #15 in SD · #5,259 nationally
  16. Roosevelt High School — Sioux Falls · #16 in SD · #5,539 nationally
  17. Stevens High School - 42 — Rapid City · #17 in SD · #5,691 nationally
  18. Elk Point-Jefferson High School — Elk Point · #18 in SD · #5,733 nationally
  19. Custer High School — Custer · #19 in SD · #5,739 nationally
  20. Lennox High School — Lennox · #20 in SD · #5,763 nationally
  21. Spearfish High School — Spearfish · #21 in SD · #5,891 nationally
  22. Northwestern High School — Mellette · #22 in SD · #6,054 nationally
  23. Madison High School — Madison · #23 in SD · #6,156 nationally
  24. West Central High School — Hartford · #24 in SD · #6,426 nationally
  25. Wagner High School — Wagner · #25 in SD · #6,481 nationally
  26. Canistota High School - 01 — Canistota · #26 in SD · #6,567 nationally
  27. Brookings High School — Brookings · #27 in SD · #6,736 nationally
  28. Tea Area High School — Tea · #28 in SD · #6,769 nationally
  29. Hanson High School — Alexandria · #29 in SD · #6,959 nationally
  30. Castlewood High School — Castlewood · #30 in SD · #6,962 nationally
  31. Irene - Wakonda High School — Irene · #31 in SD · #6,964 nationally
  32. Chester High School — Chester · #32 in SD · #6,998 nationally
  33. Bon Homme High School — Tyndall · #33 in SD · #7,027 nationally
  34. Ethan High School — Ethan · #34 in SD · #7,443 nationally
  35. Canton High School — Canton · #35 in SD · #7,608 nationally
  36. Chamberlain High School — Chamberlain · #36 in SD · #7,618 nationally
  37. Timber Lake High School — Timber Lake · #37 in SD · #7,628 nationally
  38. Ipswich High School — Ipswich · #38 in SD · #7,698 nationally
  39. Yankton High School — Yankton · #39 in SD · #7,943 nationally
  40. Arlington High School — Arlington · #40 in SD · #7,980 nationally
  41. Highmore High School — Highmore · #41 in SD · #8,297 nationally
  42. Frederick High School - 01 — Frederick · #42 in SD · #8,302 nationally
  43. Faith High School — Faith · #43 in SD · #8,363 nationally
  44. Burke High School — Burke · #44 in SD · #8,490 nationally
  45. Groton Area High School — Groton · #45 in SD · #8,572 nationally
  46. Centerville High School - 01 — Centerville · #46 in SD · #8,934 nationally
  47. Mount Vernon High School — Mount Vernon · #47 in SD · #9,044 nationally
  48. Britton-Hecla High School — Britton · #48 in SD · #9,418 nationally
  49. Freeman High School — Freeman · #49 in SD · #9,600 nationally
  50. Kimball High School — Kimball · #50 in SD · #9,682 nationally

High schools by city in South Dakota

Ranks are from the 2026-27 U.S. News & World Report Best High Schools edition. How HighSchoolTrends uses this data.