Western South Dakota News

American Indian or Alaskan Native students were the most represented ethnicity among students at Shannon County's only university in the 2022-23 school year, according to the latest disclosure from the National Center for Education Statistics.

Of the 1,147 students attending the only institution in the county at the time, 96% were American Indian or Alaskan Native. This is a decrease of 18% in enrollment numbers, compared to the previous year.

White students comprised the second largest ethnic group in the county, followed by Hispanic students.

Countywide, the number of undergraduates attending the only university in the county during the 2022-23 school year fell by 18.9%.

Graduation rates reveal a significant achievement gap among different ethnicities. While white students graduate at a rate of 62.1%, Black and Hispanic students graduate at a rate of around 40%.

Ethnic Group	% of Total Student Body
American Indian or Alaskan Native	96%
White	2%
Hispanic	1%
Multiracial	1%