Spearfish School Budget Analysis

April 10, 2025
Seal SD Liberty

Report: Spearfish School Budget Analysis – $27.2 Million Per Year in South Dakota: Are We Producing Einstein-Level Excellence?

Spearfish, South Dakota, nestled in the Northern Black Hills, is home to the Spearfish School District 40-2 (SSD), which serves a vibrant community with a rich history of valuing education. With an annual budget of $27.2 million, the district educates 2,423 students across seven schools, as reported by U.S. News Education and the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) for the 2020–2021 and 2021–2022 school years. This report analyzes SSD’s spending, evaluates what South Dakotans are getting for this investment, and assesses whether it’s fostering the kind of Einstein-level excellence we should expect for such a significant sum. While this analysis doesn’t aim to criticize the district, it seeks to illustrate whether this $27.2 million investment aligns with a liberty-minded vision of education that prioritizes critical thinking, innovation, and individual excellence over government-driven standardization.

Budget Breakdown: Where Does the $27.2 Million Go?

SSD’s annual revenue is $27,200,000, equating to a per-pupil spending of $11,225, according to U.S. News Education data. This figure is below the South Dakota state average of $14,087 per pupil (Education Data Initiative, 2025) and significantly less than the national average of $15,633 (U.S. Census Bureau, 2024). Here’s how the district allocates its budget, based on typical South Dakota district allocations and SSD-specific insights:

  • Instruction: $16,320,000 (60% of the budget, estimated)
    This covers teacher salaries, classroom materials, and direct educational activities. With 2,423 students and a student-teacher ratio of 16:1 (Niche, 2024), SSD employs approximately 151 teachers. Assuming an average teacher salary of $48,204 (South Dakota average, Argus Leader, 2020), this equates to roughly $7.28 million for salaries, leaving the rest for resources like textbooks, technology, and supplies.
  • Support Services: $8,160,000 (30%, estimated)
    This includes administrative costs, student support (counselors, nurses), maintenance, transportation, and operational expenses. Spearfish’s location in the Black Hills requires transportation across a district serving both urban and rural areas, with operational costs for seven schools, including utilities and repairs, especially given South Dakota’s harsh winters. The district employs a full-time Special Education Director and a School Nursing Supervisor, indicating some focus on student support.
  • Other Expenses: $1,360,000 (5%, estimated)
    This likely covers extracurricular activities, food services, and miscellaneous costs. SSD’s 9% economically disadvantaged student population at Spearfish High School (U.S. News, 2020) suggests funding for federal free and reduced-price meal programs, though exact figures aren’t specified.
  • Unaccounted/Reserve: $1,360,000 (5%, estimated)
    The remaining portion may include debt service, capital projects, or reserve funds, though specific details aren’t available in public data.

What Are We Getting for $27.2 Million?

With $27.2 million invested annually, SSD should be producing students capable of Einstein-level excellence—thinkers who can innovate, solve complex problems, and lead in a competitive global landscape. Let’s evaluate the district’s outcomes to see if this hope is being realized.

  • Academic Performance:
    According to Niche (2024), 49% of SSD students are proficient in math and 55% in reading based on state test scores. This is above South Dakota’s state averages of 43% in math and 51% in reading (Ballotpedia, 2022). Nationally, the U.S. averages are 40% in math and 53% in reading (NAEP, 2022), so SSD performs better than both state and national benchmarks. At Spearfish High School, 50–54% of students are proficient in math and 65–69% in reading (Public School Review, 2020), placing it in the top 20% of South Dakota schools (Public School Review, 2020). However, these scores, while solid, don’t scream Einstein-level brilliance—there’s room for growth, especially in math, to match global leaders like Singapore (575 PISA math, 2022).
  • Graduation Rate:
    SSD’s graduation rate isn’t directly reported, but Spearfish High School boasts a 95% graduation rate (Public School Review, 2020), significantly higher than South Dakota’s state average of 84% (Ballotpedia, 2018–2019) and the national average of 88% (NCES, 2022). This is a strong indicator of student success and preparation for future endeavors, aligning with expectations for a well-funded district.
  • Student Opportunities:
    Spearfish High School offers Advanced Placement (AP) courses, with a 26% participation rate (U.S. News, 2020), allowing students to earn college credit and demonstrate college-level readiness. The district also provides diverse extracurriculars, including athletics and clubs, which Niche reviews (2024) highlight as a strength for student engagement. However, there’s no mention of cutting-edge STEM programs like robotics or coding, which are critical for future innovation. Niche reviews note a lack of cultural and ethnic diversity (11% minority enrollment, U.S. News, 2020), which some students feel limits their exposure, though this doesn’t directly impact academic excellence.
  • Critical Thinking and Liberty:
    SSD doesn’t appear to prioritize liberty-focused education—such as constitutional studies or financial literacy—or emphasize critical thinking over test prep. The district uses the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) for state testing (U.S. News, 2020), focusing on annual summative tests in English language arts, math, and science. This test-driven approach mirrors the national trend of declining IQ scores since 2010 (Northwestern Now, 2023), as students are trained to pass exams rather than think independently. Niche reviews (2024) praise teachers for being “exceptional—friendly, approachable, and always willing to help,” but also note issues with administration support for marginalized groups, such as the local GSA alliance facing challenges with approved materials being torn down, suggesting a lack of focus on fostering an inclusive environment where all students can thrive.

Are We Producing Einstein-Level Excellence?

For $27.2 million, SSD should be a breeding ground for brilliance—students who can innovate like Einstein, think critically, and lead in STEM fields. The data shows a mixed picture:

  • Solid Academic Performance: Proficiency rates (49% math, 55% reading) are above state and national averages, and Spearfish High School’s 50–54% math and 65–69% reading proficiency place it in the top 20% in South Dakota. The 95% graduation rate is a standout, showing strong student outcomes.
  • Lack of Innovation: There’s no mention of cutting-edge programs like robotics, coding, or advanced STEM labs, which are essential for producing future innovators. Top global performers like Singapore (575 PISA math, 2022) prioritize such skills—SSD isn’t keeping pace.
  • Liberty and Critical Thinking Gap: The district doesn’t appear to prioritize liberty-first education—constitutional studies, financial literacy, or inquiry-based learning are absent from available data. The focus on standardized testing (SBAC) likely contributes to the national IQ drop, driven by an overemphasis on rote learning over independent thought.
  • Resource Allocation: Spending $11,225 per pupil—below state and national averages—may limit resources for advanced programs. For comparison, Massachusetts spends $22,000 per pupil and achieves top NAEP scores (294 in 8th-grade math, 2022). SSD’s budget, while significant, isn’t fully translating into groundbreaking results, especially with a 9% economically disadvantaged student population that may need additional support.

The Path Forward for Spearfish

SSD’s $27.2 million budget provides a strong foundation—above-average proficiency, a 95% graduation rate, and AP opportunities—but it’s not producing Einstein-level excellence. To get there, Spearfish must adopt a liberty-first approach, focusing on critical thinking, innovation, and individual empowerment. My plan for South Dakota education includes constitutional studies to teach liberty, financial literacy for self-reliance, STEM with robotics and coding for future-ready skills, and a rejection of CRT/DEI—all without federal interference. SSD could redirect funds from test prep to inquiry-based learning, invest in STEM labs, and empower parents with school choice, ensuring that $27.2 million isn’t just spent—it’s invested in brilliance.

Spearfish deserves an education system that fosters true excellence, not just good-enough results. Let’s demand more for our $27.2 million—students who can think, innovate, and lead, not just pass a test. Share if you’re ready to see Einstein-level thinkers in Spearfish! #OdomForLiberty #SouthDakotaStrong #TrumpTough #MAGA2026 #EducationFreedom #FreedomFirst #CriticalThinkingMatters #NoCRTNoDEI

Why This Report Matters

  • Budget Breakdown: Estimates SSD’s $27.2 million spending—60% on instruction, 30% on support services—using U.S. News Education data and typical allocations.
  • Performance Analysis: Highlights above-average proficiency (49% math, 55% reading) and a strong 95% graduation rate, but notes the lack of STEM innovation—falls short of Einstein-level excellence.
  • Liberty Critique: Notes the absence of liberty-focused education and overemphasis on testing, contributing to the national IQ drop since 2010.

This report’s a liberty reality check—demands more for SSD’s $27.2 million!