South Dakota, School Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
The collection consists of school records located at the South Dakota State Historical Society in Pierre, for the years 1879 to 1970. The records include:


 * Teacher's term reports
 * School census
 * Attendance

The records are generally arranged by county, year, and school district number. This collection is being published as images become available.

The listing of school-aged children is a common practice throughout the United States. The records are usually compiled on a yearly basis. School records helped local governments determine funding needs for individual schools. The information is usually reliable although the ages are sometimes off by a year and legal guardians may be confused with parents.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:

School Census
 * Names of pupils
 * Ages of pupils
 * Gender of pupils
 * Name of town and county
 * School District Number
 * Beginning and ending dates of grading period
 * Beginning and ending dates for school year

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of the child
 * The approximate age or birth date of the child
 * The years the child attended school
 * The place where the child attended school
 * The names of the child's parents

View the Images
View images in this collection by visiting the :
 * 1) Select the County
 * 2) Select the School Districts and Year Range to view the images.

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

What Do I Do Next?
Whenever possible, view the original records to verify the information and to find additional information that might not be reported. These pieces of information can lead you to additional records and family members.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Search for other vital records, such as birth, marriage, and death
 * Search for the family in state and federal census records
 * Search for land and property records
 * Search for probate records

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

 * Collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This list can help you identify possible relatives
 * If you cannot locate your ancestor in the locality in which you believe they lived, then try searching records of a nearby school or town as of boundaries could have changed
 * Standard spelling of names typically did not exist. Try variations of your ancestor’s name while searching the index or browsing through images
 * Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names, or even initials

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in the state of South Dakota.
 * South Dakota Guided Research
 * Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Research: 1850-1905 | 1905-Present

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.