School Choice in South Dakota
South Dakota runs 1 private school choice program, together serving about 1,771 students. None of them reaches a universal tier, so eligibility is limited.
Partners in Education Tax Credit Program
Tax-Credit Scholarship- Students
- 1,771
- Eligible
- 47%
- Average award
- $2,200
- Launched
- 2016
The average award is 18% of what the state spends per pupil in its public schools.
Homeschooling in South Dakota
Homeschooling is legal in every state. South Dakota recognises one legal route to it, compulsory attendance runs from age 6–18, and notice to the state is required. The South Dakota homeschool requirements are set out in full on their own page.
How South Dakota compares
Nationally, 36 jurisdictions run 82 private-choice programs serving roughly 2,279,109 students, and 18 have at least one program any student may apply to. The state-by-state guide sets out how the programs differ.
Where this comes from
Program data from EdChoice's School Choice in America dashboard, retrieved 2026-09-16; homeschool requirements from HSLDA. Participation and award figures are the most recent EdChoice publishes and lag the current school year. Educational information, not legal or financial advice — confirm eligibility with the program before you rely on it.
More on South Dakota: its freedom score and rank