Sturgis is home to three public schools: Brown High School with a 2011-12 enrollment of 693, Williams Middle School with 463 students, and Sturgis Elementary with 661 students. The schools are part of the Meade District 46-1, which encompasses about 3,100 of Meade County’s 3,482 square miles. About 75 percent of the Meade School District's students attend the three schools in Sturgis. During the 2010-2011 academic year, the Meade County School District's fall enrollment was 2443 in grades K-12.

Academics

Students in the Meade County School District take the annual Dakota STEP test to ensure that the district is making adequate yearly progress (AYP) in reading and math. According the State of South Dakota's report card, Meade County students achieved AYP in all categories in all grades tested in elementary, middle and high schools in the spring of 2011. Brown High School’s graduation rate was 75.1 percent in 2011, down from the 85.9 percent rate posted in 2010 and lower than the statewide average of 83.3 percent.

With a 2.8 percent dropout rate, the district graduated 146 students in 2011. One hundred and two students took the ACT exam. The average composite score was 21.6. To view a statistical profile of funding, student and staff data, see the South Dakota Department of Education's 2010-2011 Profile of Meade School District.

Governance

Sturgis is home to the district’s administrative offices. The Meade County Board of Education is composed of nine members, elected to either two or three year terms. School board meetings are held at Williams Middle School, 1230 Douglas Street, the second Tuesday of each month at 6:30 pm. Meetings are open to the public. The board agenda is available the Friday prior to the meeting. Citizens wishing to address the board should indicate on a sign-in sheet whether they will comment on an agenda item or during an open forum. Citizens wishing to place an item on the agenda should contact the superintendent at least 10 days prior to a meeting. 

Budget

Meade School District’s board set a 2011-12 budget with estimated total expenditures of about $22.6 million. The district requested local tax dollars through its levies for general fund ($6,144,588), capital outlay ($3,918,870) special education ($1,829,510), and pension fund ($395,800). The district hired 336 employees for the 2011-12 term, 198 of whom were K-12 and special education teachers. A description of revenues and expenditures can be seen in more detail on the South Dakota Department of Education's 2010-2011 Profile of Meade School District.