Best high schools for sports in South Dakota
More than 7.6 million high school students played sports across the U.S. during the 2021-22 academic year, according to data from the National Federation of State High School Associations. Those athletes participated in a slew of sports: from football—the most popular sport for high school boys with 1 million players nationwide—to track and field, which is the most popular sport amongst high school girls in the U.S. with more than 488,000 athletes.
The dynamic landscape of high school sports has created competition not only between athletes but the institutions they represent. With more than 23,500 public and private secondary and high schools across the country, determining the best options for athletes is an arduous process.
High schools across the country are vying to be crowned the best institution for athletes in America and not only has the battle become personal but regional as well. States like California and Florida, which have high-profile high-school athletic programs, also want bragging rights.
Young athletes will continue to thrive as sports return to pre-pandemic participation levels and high schools put in the work to be considered one of the best institutions in America for sports.
Stacker compiled a list of the best high schools for sports in South Dakota using data from Niche. These rankings factor in parent and student surveys on sports, total high school enrollment, K-12 sports championships, number of sports, and athletic participation rates.
#25. Alcester-Hudson High School
- City: Alcester
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: B
#24. Groton Area High School
- City: Groton
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: B
#23. Lincoln High School
- City: Sioux Falls
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A-
#22. Howard High School
- City: Howard
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: B
#21. Britton-Hecla High School
- City: Britton
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: B
#20. Madison High School
- City: Madison
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: B
#19. Philip High School
- City: Philip
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: B
#18. Winner High School
- City: Winner
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: B-
#17. Mobridge High School
- City: Mobridge
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: B
#16. Stevens High School
- City: Rapid City
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: B+
#15. Brookings High School
- City: Brookings
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: B+
#14. Warner High School
- City: Warner
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: B-
#13. Lennox High School
- City: Lennox
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: B-
#12. Parkston High School
- City: Parkston
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: B
#11. Bridgewater-Emery High School
- City: Emery
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: C+
#10. Sioux Valley High School
- City: Volga
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: B+
#9. Central High School
- City: Aberdeen
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: B+
#8. Harrisburg High School
- City: Harrisburg
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: B+
#7. Roosevelt High School
- City: Sioux Falls
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A-
#6. Yankton High School
- City: Yankton
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: B
#5. Dakota Valley High School
- City: North Sioux City
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A-
#4. West Central High School
- City: Hartford
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: B
#3. Washington High School
- City: Sioux Falls
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A
#2. T.F. Riggs High School
- City: Pierre
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: B+
#1. Brandon Valley High School
- City: Brandon
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A-
