South Dakota School District Jumps to Top 15 for Salaries

A rural school district in the Black Hills is showing how paying teachers well can transform an entire community.

The Lead-Deadwood School District in South Dakota jumped from 22nd place to the top 15 statewide for average teacher salaries this year. Superintendent Erik Person projects they'll crack the top 15 again next year, a remarkable rise from ranking 88th just three years ago.

The investment is already paying dividends beyond recruitment. Base teacher salaries now rank 14th highest in the state, up from 30th last year and 55th two years ago.

Person delivered his second annual "District Pulse" presentation Monday, sharing both wins and challenges with the community. He called it an "unvarnished look" at where the district stands, "warts and all."

The district enrolled 606 students at the time of the presentation, up from 588 at the school year's start. While enrollment continues to face pressure from homeschooling alternatives, Person said early graduation is actually a success indicator, with over half of the students who left mid-year graduating in December.

To compete with larger districts, Lead-Deadwood is expanding opportunities. They completely rebuilt their family and consumer sciences classroom over four years, bringing back four residential kitchens and one commercial kitchen. A passionate staff member now teaches hospitality skills to students.

The district also created a new middle school career and technical education program. These hands-on learning opportunities give students reasons to stay engaged and excited about school.

The Ripple Effect

Person emphasized that school spirit creates contagious energy. When kids get excited about what's happening at school, families notice and enrollment grows organically.

The district introduced GOOSE (Get Out Of School Early), an incentive program where staff earn rewards for attending student events. Getting teachers more involved in the full school experience strengthens connections with students and families.

Person acknowledged the district is working to re-engage students who've struggled with attendance or chosen alternative education paths. His team is researching ways to offer different learning routes within the building to keep more kids connected to school.

The trophy cases tell the story of a proud tradition dating back to the early 1900s. Now the district is working to recapture that competitive spirit in both athletics and academics.

Small towns can compete for top teaching talent when they prioritize fair compensation, and students thrive when their teachers feel valued and supported.