Based on a comprehensive analysis of data, the Quality Counts report card answers a key question: Where does my state rank for educational opportunities and performance?
States are graded and ranked in three categories: Chance for Success (January), School Finance (June), and K-12 Achievement (September). A state’s overall grade, published in September, is the average of its scores on the three separate indices tracked for the report card.
This year, South Dakota finishes 31st among the 50 states and the District of Columbia, with an overall score of 73.8 out of 100 points and a grade of C. The nation as a whole posts a grade of C.
Diving into the findings for the three graded indices, South Dakota earns a B-minus in the Chance-for-Success category and ranks 21st. The average state earns a B-minus. In School Finance, South Dakota receives a D-plus and ranks 38th. For the K-12 Achievement Index, it finishes 30th with a grade of C-minus. The average state earns a grade of C in both School Finance and K-12 Achievement. More details on results in these categories are reported below.
The EdWeek Research Center developed the Chance-for-Success Index to better understand the role that education plays in promoting positive outcomes across an individual’s lifetime. Based on an original state-by-state analysis, this index combines information from 13 indicators that span a person’s life from cradle to career. Those indicators fall into three sub-sections: early foundations, school years, and adult outcomes.
The index evaluates each state using a range of measuring sticks, including:
Diving into the findings, South Dakota earns a B-minus in the Chance-for-Success category and ranks 21st. The average state earns a B-minus.
Early Foundations: Are Kids Getting Off to a Good Start?
For early foundations, which examines factors that help children get off to a good start, South Dakota earns an A-minus and ranks 10th. The average state posts a B.
School Years: How Are Students Faring in School?
South Dakota receives a C-plus for the school years, a sub-category focusing on metrics related to pre-K enrollment through postsecondary participation. It finishes 27th in the nation in this area. By comparison, the nation as a whole earns a C-plus.
Adult Outcomes: Are Adults Finding Opportunities for Success?
In the area of adult outcomes, based on postsecondary educational attainment and workforce indicators, South Dakota’s grade is a C-plus. It ranks 24th in the nation. The national average is a C-plus.
This year, South Dakota finishes 38th among the 50 states and the District of Columbia, with an overall score of 69.1 out of 100 points and a grade of D-plus. The nation as a whole posts a grade of C.
The school finance analysis examines two critical aspects of school spending. Of the eight indicators in this category, four assess school spending patterns, while the remaining metrics gauge equity in the distribution of funding across the districts within each state.
Spending: How Much Are States Devoting to Education?
The spending metrics shed light on major questions, such as:
Across the spending indicators, South Dakota finishes with an F compared with a national average of D. South Dakota ranks 38th in the nation in this area.
Equity: How Are Funds Distributed Across Districts?
For each state, topics covered by the equity analysis include:
On the equity measures, South Dakota receives a B-plus, which places it 33rd in the national rankings. The nation as a whole earns a B-plus.