Summary:
The city of Wagner, South Dakota is home to 3 schools that serve students from elementary through high school, all part of the Wagner Community School District 11-4. While the high school, Wagner High School - 01, is a standout performer, the elementary and middle schools in the district appear to be underperforming compared to state averages.
Wagner High School - 01 has consistently ranked among the top 39-61 high schools in the state over the past 3 school years, earning a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger in the most recent year. The school has strong academic performance, with 72.72% of 11th graders proficient or better in English Language Arts and 57.58% proficient or better in Science. In contrast, Wagner Elementary - 02 and Wagner Middle School - 03 both have low rankings within their respective school types and have struggled with low proficiency rates in English Language Arts and Mathematics.
Across the district, there are concerns about high chronic absenteeism rates, especially at the middle school level, and the 100% free/reduced lunch rates suggest a high-poverty student population. While per-student spending levels are higher than the state average, it's unclear if this additional funding is translating into improved academic outcomes. The stark contrast in school performance within the district indicates a need to closely examine the factors contributing to the high school's success and determine how those practices can be replicated at the lower grade levels.
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