South Dakota student population shrinks as more choose homeschools

South Dakota K-12 enrollment fell 0.5% to 163,053 for the 2025 headcount, while alternative instruction and homeschooling rose 8% to 12,433 students.

South Dakota's K-12 population declined slightly in the 2025 headcount while enrollment in alternative instruction grew. The numbers come from headcount taken Sept. 26, 2025, and released by the South Dakota Department of Education by Dec. 31. Statewide totals and district-level snapshots show small declines in public and nonpublic schools and an increase in homeschooling and other alternative instruction. Key figures: - Total K-12 students statewide: 163,053, a decrease of 934 students (0.5%) from last year. - Public school enrollment: 135,577 across 147 districts, down 1,736 students (slightly more than 1%). - Nonpublic enrollment: 15,043, down 142 students; this includes 9,462 in private schools and 5,072 in tribal/BIE schools. - Alternative instruction/homeschooling: 12,433 students, up 944 (an 8% increase) from last year. - Watertown and Castlewood: Watertown public enrollment fell by 169 to 3,366 while Watertown private enrollment rose to 105; Castlewood increased by 13 to 350 students. - Sioux Falls area: the Sioux Falls School District declined by 171 to 24,050 students; the Sioux Falls metro totals show small overall growth in public and nonpublic counts and a rise in alternative instruction to 3,140 (up 305, or 10.7%). Summary: Statewide counts show a small overall drop in K-12 enrollment alongside continued growth in alternative instruction and homeschooling, shifting a larger share of students out of traditional public and nonpublic schools. Undetermined at this time.