Top High Schools in South Dakota And Where They Rank Nationally

Back-to-school season is officially in full swing across the Mount Rushmore State. Hallways are full again, high school sports are kicking off, and students are settling into a brand-new school year.

South Dakota takes a lot of pride in its local education, but how do our top High Schools stack up when measured against the rest of the country?

U.S. News & World Report recently released its latest annual list of the best high schools in the nation. After diving into the data for South Dakota, one thing is pretty clear: The best high schools in the state have set themselves apart from their peers in some big ways, but when it comes to the national rankings, there's still some work to do.

Here is a look at the top 10 high schools in South Dakota, along with where they actually fall on the national stage.

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Top 10 High Schools in South Dakota From U.S. News & World Report

10) Sturgis Brown High School: Sturgis, South Dakota

Graduation Rate: 92%
National Ranking: 4,301

9) Washington High School: Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Graduation Rate: 86%
National Ranking: 4,239

8) Harrisburg High School: Harrisburg, South Dakota

Graduation Rate: 91%
National Ranking: 4,198

7) T.F. Riggs High School: Pierre, South Dakota

Graduation Rate: 91%
National Ranking: 3,560

6) Dakota Valley High School: North Sioux City

Graduation Rate: 93%
National Ranking: 3,506

5) Howard High School: Howard

Graduation Rate: 96%
National Ranking: 2,914

4) Warner High School: Warner

Graduation Rate: 96%
National Ranking: 2,794

3) Hill City High School: Hill City

Graduation Rate: 97%
National Ranking: 2,602

2) Brandon Valley High School, Brandon

Graduation Rate: 95%
National Ranking: 2,113

1) Lincoln High School: Sioux Falls

Graduation Rate: 88%
National Ranking: 956

Congratulations to Lincoln High School for earning the top spot at the #1 High School in South Dakota, along with the other standout schools across the state that made this year's top 10.

So, why does Lincoln sit at #956 nationally, while other top South Dakota schools falling further down the nationwide rankings?

A big part of it has to do with AP/IB Exams. A full 40% of the national score is based on what percentage of the entire senior class takes (and passes) Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) exams. Many South Dakota schools don't require these exams for graduation, hence why their scores dropped.

Also, the top 500 national spots are occupied by specialized, selective-enrollment magnet and charter schools that screen their applicants. Most South Dakota schools are open-enrollment, which can also skew the numbers a bit.

So, is the list biased? Absolutely. But, setting that aside, being named "Best in South Dakota" is still a huge achievement. A national algorithm that favors charter and magnet schools doesn't change the incredible work happening in our classrooms every day.

Story Source: U.S. News & World Report

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If you live in South Dakota chances are you've eaten many of the items on this food list.

But if you are visiting our state or if you just haven't gotten around to chowing down on these great eats, you need to get on it.

Some foods are distinctly South Dakotan. Here are the 9 South Dakota Foods You Must Try Before You Check Out …

Gallery Credit: Ben Davis

Source: Top High Schools in South Dakota And Where They Rank Nationally

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