Education, Training, & Schools

The Rapid City School District, second largest in South Dakota, is dedicated to providing students equal access to an excellent educational program which results in their becoming responsible citizens who know how to learn, how to value life-long learning, and how to cope with life in a changing society.

With an enrollment of 13,340 students, the district encompasses over 419 square miles. It consists of 16 elementary, five middle schools, and three high schools. The district provides multi-faceted educational opportunities through regular and special classes, and also through Community Education programs and extensive after-school co-curricular activities.

Douglas School District

Douglas Schools are located adjacent to Ellsworth Air Force Base and provide public school services for the dependents of Air Force personnel living on or near Ellsworth AFB, as well as the population living in the Box Elder/Rapid Valley areas and surrounding rural areas (encompassing 146 square miles).  Douglas School originated as a one room country school near Box Elder in 1891. 

The district enrolls approximately 2,550 students.  44% of whom are dependents of  Air Force personnel.  The district provides K-12 curriculum with a full range of academic offerings with an emphasis on literacy and mathmatics.  Staff development focused on building goals, is facilitated by building-based School Improvement Teams.  In addition, the district has a broad, varied, and well-directed activities program for K-12 students. 

In the Black Hills, education doesn't end with high school. This region is home to two state universities, a technical institute and several private colleges.

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City

Relevant work experience combined with leadership, project management, teaming, and communication skills-that's what companies are looking for and that's what they get from South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. Located in Rapid City, the School of Mines specializes in engineering and science.  More than 85 percent of our students have gained real work experience through internships and co-ops before graduating, and an alumni survey indicates that over 90 percent would return to the Black Hills if positions were available.

With an enrollment of 2,177, SDSM&T offers 31 degrees at the associate's, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels. More than 60 percent of the students enrolled at the School of Mines hold a job, creating a labor pool of nearly 1,400. For more information, please visit our website at http://sdmines.sdsmt.edu/sdsmt.

Western Dakota Technical Institute, Rapid City

Western Dakota Tech, the technical institute serving the western South Dakota region, is located in Rapid City. WDT offers more than 20 programs in a variety of fields, including Business and computers, Health Services, Legal and Public Services, Manufacturing and Mechanical Trades and Science and Technology. More than 94 percent of WDT graduates are either working or continuing their education, and more than 82 percent of those placed in careers are working in South Dakota.  WDT focuses its efforts on helping students gain the skills and experiences they need to succeed. Through hands-on learning, internships, and industry partnerships, WDT students graduate ready to make real and immediate contributions to their employers and to their communities.

The Corporate Education Center offers a variety of training programs and classes for area businesses and industries. The Corporate Education Center trains more than 3,000 people a year through scheduled classes at WDT and through customized training delivered on-site. The Corporate Education Center customizes training programs to meet individual business needs, uses only qualified, experienced trainers, and brings the training to a business location. For more information, please visit our website at http://www.wdt.edu/.

For more information, contact:

Black Hills State University, Spearfish

Business is one of the largest majors at Black Hills State University.  Along with the innovative undergraduate program, the University has recently added an MBA that is offered in Rapid City.  The University also has significant course offerings in education, science, and liberal arts.

• As the third largest university in the state system, BHSU has an enrollment of 4,722. The university offers more than 80 majors and minors as well as 17 health sciences preperation programs.  BHSU also delivers master's degrees in other areas including: education, strategic leadership, and integrative genomics. Visit our website a www.bhsu.edu. 

University Center, Rapid City

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At the newly opened University Center-Rapid City, there are more than 100 courses offered each semester.  BHSU offers 13 bachelor’s degree programs, 2 master’s degree programs, 3 associate’s degree programs and 5 minors. Visit the website at www.UCRapidCity.org

National American University, Rapid City

National American University Holdings, Inc. operates National American University. Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, National American University has been providing quality career education since 1941. National American University opened its first campus in Rapid City, South Dakota, and the university has grown to multiple locations throughout the central United States.  In 1996, National American University started developing online courses through its distance learning virtual campus, and today offers students the flexibility and convenience to take classes at times and places of their choice to fit their busy lifestyle.

The Rapid City campus offers diploma, associate, bachelor’s and master’s degree programs for today’s in-demand careers in business, allied health, nursing, information technology, veterinary technology, and criminal justice.  Students have the option of taking classes on-campus, online, or a combination of both.

National American University’s central administration is headquartered in Rapid City and has over 1000 employees system-wide with over 300 of them employed locally. 

For more information, visit our website at www.national.edu.

Oglala Lakota College, Rapid City

Oglala Lakota College was one of the first tribally controlled colleges in the United States. The concept of a tribally controlled college is that it be sanctioned by an Indian tribe, it’s governed by an Indian tribe, it’s governing body be made up of tribal members; and meet the needs of reservation people in their pursuit of higher education.

From its initial status as a community college, Oglala Lakota has grown to now offer Baccalaureate degrees and a Master’s degree in Lakota Leadership along with certificates and A.A. degrees. This last semester enrollment increased from 1,100 students to1,400 students with a full-time equivalency of 900 students per semester.

For more information, please take a look at our website, www.olc.edu.

Training

The South Dakota Workforce Development Program is an opportunity to extend training and educational resources so that South Dakota employers will be provided with a well-trained and skilled workforce.

Training is provided in conjunction with an educational institution approved by the Workforce Development Coordinator. Technical instructors, curriculum materials, instructional materials and equipment are available through the coordinating educational institution to help deliver quality programs.

Companies are expected to work with the coordinating agency in developing the project. Companies may participate in trainee selection, curriculum development, project implementation, and project and trainee monitoring and evaluation.

The program supports three types of training:

1. New employee skills training for new or expanding businesses.
2. Current employee retraining to prevent trainee dislocation and to make the company more competitive.
3. Current employee upgrade training to provide promotional opportunities for the trainee.

Training is customized to meet the needs of the individual employer using appropriate training methods. Training may occur on-the-job in productive activity, or training may occur in a classroom setting. Some training may involve a combination of both methods.

The program supports up to one-half the total cost of training with participating companies providing a dollar for dollar cash or in-kind match for jobs that result in an after-training wage of $8.00 or more per hour. Newly trained employees must receive a 50 cents per hour raise and health insurance coverage is required.

Governor's Office of Economic Development
711 East Wells Avenue
Pierre, SD 57501
Phone: 800-872-6190
Email: goedinfo@state.sd.us

The Corporate Education Center offers a variety of training programs and classes for area businesses and industries. The Corporate Education Center trains more than 3,000 people a year through scheduled classes at WDT and through customized training delivered on site. The Corporate Education Center customizes training programs to meet individual business needs, uses only qualified, experienced trainers, and brings the training to a business location.

Patsy Schmidt, Associate Vice President
The Corporate Education Center
Phone:(605) 394-4034 ext. 150
Email: pschmidt@wdti.tech.sd.us