Groton Area Middle School - 04

Q: Is Groton Area Middle School - 04 a good school?

Groton Area Middle School - 04 ranks 42 nd of 147 South Dakota middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Groton Area Middle School - 04 is a public middle school serving grades 6-8 in Groton, South Dakota, with 127 students. The school is part of the Groton Area School District 06-6, which is ranked 17 out of 126 districts in the state and has a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Groton Area Middle School - 04 consistently outperforms the state average in Smarter Balanced Assessments for English Language Arts and Mathematics across all grade levels. For example, in 2023-2024, the school had 60.97% proficiency in ELA and 45.53% in Math, compared to the state averages of 50.04% and 42.95% respectively. The school has been ranked among the top 10 middle schools in South Dakota for several years, reaching as high as 3rd in 2020-2021. Additionally, the school's performance for female, male, and white student subgroups is also exceptional, with many top 10 rankings in the state. Groton Area Middle School - 04 has maintained relatively low chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 14.9% to 17.9% over the past few years, which is lower than the state average. The school's spending per student, ranging from $9,472 to $10,398 over the past few years, is higher than the state average, indicating a strong investment in the students' education.

When compared to the nearby Simmons Middle School and Holgate Middle School in Aberdeen, Groton Area Middle School - 04 outperforms them in both ELA and Math proficiency rates, as well as in statewide rankings. This further highlights the school's academic excellence, which has been consistently maintained over several years, indicating a strong and effective educational program that supports the success of all its students.

Detail:

Public 6-8

502 N 2nd St
Groton, SD 57445

(605) 397-8381

District: Groton Area School District 06-6

SchoolDigger Rank:
42^nd of 147 South Dakota Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $10,398

Students who attend Groton Area Middle School - 04 usually attend:

High:

Groton Area High School - 01

Feeder schools for Groton Area Middle School - 04:

Elementary:

Groton Area Elementary - 02

Student/teacher ratio: 13.9

Number of students: 126

Racial breakdown:

White:

95.2%

Two or more races:

3.2%

Hispanic:

1.6%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 17.5%

See top rated South Dakota middle schools

Compare Groton Area Middle School - 04 to nearby middle schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Groton Area Middle School - 04 ranks better than 71.4% of middle schools in South Dakota. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 64.11. (See more...)

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (95.2%), two or more races (3.2%), Hispanic (1.6%). (See more...)

Compare Details 17.5% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Groton Area Middle School - 04 is 13.9. (See more...)

Compare Groton Area Middle School - 04 employs 9 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Groton Area Middle School - 04 is $10,398.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Groton Area Middle School - 04:

SchoolDigger ranks Groton Area Middle School - 04 42^nd of 147 South Dakota public middle schools. (See Groton Area Middle School - 04 in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Female students:

Male students:

White students:

Groton Area School District 06-6:

SchoolDigger ranks Groton Area School District 06-6 17^th of 126 South Dakota school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Your rating for Groton Area Middle School - 04?

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Rank History for Groton Area Middle School - 04

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Rank History for all students at Groton Area Middle School - 04

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	SD State Percentile
2005	75.43	17^th	136	87.5%
2006	70.71	25^th	141	82.3%
2007	69.46	33^rd	136	75.7%
2008	75.64	14^th	136	89.7%
2009	56.76	69^th	139	50.4%
2010	75.49	18^th	139	87.1%
2011	82.40	7^th	140	95.0%
2012	73.97	19^th	146	87.0%
2013	77.82	13^th	145	91.0%
2015	80.32	13^th	145	91.0%
2016	79.38	17^th	147	88.4%
2017	90.00	4^th	146	97.3%
2018	84.43	8^th	147	94.6%
2019	81.98	10^th	149	93.3%
2021	87.70	3^rd	145	97.9%
2022	90.69	5^th	143	96.5%
2023	88.87	4^th	150	97.3%
2024	64.11	42^nd	147	71.4%

See the entire list of South Dakota Middle School Rankings!

Rank History for Female students at Groton Area Middle School - 04

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	SD State Percentile
2018	70.22	25^th	99	74.7%
2019	77.39	9^th	107	91.6%
2021	85.92	4^th	113	96.5%
2022	88.59	3^rd	102	97.1%
2023	91.24	2^nd	112	98.2%
2024	61.43	36^th	107	66.4%

See the entire list of Best South Dakota Middle Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Groton Area Middle School - 04

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	SD State Percentile
2018	91.15	2^nd	111	98.2%
2019	80.88	12^th	110	89.1%
2021	87.02	3^rd	115	97.4%
2022	88.83	2^nd	104	98.1%
2023	85.36	9^th	116	92.2%
2024	65.38	34^th	115	70.4%

See the entire list of Best South Dakota Middle Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for White students at Groton Area Middle School - 04

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	SD State Percentile
2018	78.42	15^th	131	88.5%
2019	79.13	13^th	136	90.4%
2021	84.88	4^th	136	97.1%
2022	86.94	8^th	132	93.9%
2023	86.30	7^th	136	94.9%
2024	56.98	57^th	132	56.8%

See the entire list of Best South Dakota Middle Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: South Dakota Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: South Dakota Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Groton Area Middle School - 04

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2005	91	0	0	0	1	n/a	n/a	92
2006	89	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	89
2007	101	0	0	1	0	n/a	n/a	102
2008	93	n/a	n/a	1	1	n/a	n/a	95
2009	97	0	0	2	1	n/a	n/a	100
2010	103	1	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	104
2011	103	1	0	2	1	0	0	107
2012	131	3	1	3	1	0	0	139
2013	120	5	3	2	0	0	0	130
2014	107	4	4	2	0	0	0	117
2015	122	3	3	3	0	0	0	131
2016	122	2	1	2	1	0	0	128
2017	124	1	3	1	1	0	0	130
2018	125	0	0	1	1	0	0	127
2019	125	0	0	0	0	0	0	125
2020	125	0	1	1	1	0	2	130
2021	131	0	1	5	3	0	1	141
2022	125	0	2	5	2	0	2	136
2023	117	0	1	4	1	0	4	127
2024	120	0	0	2	0	0	4	126

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Groton Area Middle School - 04

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2005	92	7.1	13.0	17.4
2006	89	7.1	12.5	18
2007	102	7.9	12.9	15.7
2008	95	9.4	10.1	14.7
2009	100	9.4	10.5	28
2010	104	8.6	12.0	16.3
2011	107	9.0	11.7	15
2012	139	10.8	12.8	14.4
2013	130	12.4	10.4	16.9
2014	117	9.7	12.0	15.4
2015	131	9.0	14.5	19.1
2016	128	9.0	14.2	19.5
2017	130	9.7	13.3	19.2
2018	127	9.1	13.9	18.1
2019	125	9.6	12.9	14.4
2020	130	9.8	13.2	13.8
2021	141	10.0	14.0	14.9
2022	136	10.4	13.0	8.8
2023	127	9.1	13.8	11
2024	126	9.0	13.9	17.5

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Groton Area Middle School - 04

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2005	92	7.1	13.0	17.4
2006	89	7.1	12.5	18
2007	102	7.9	12.9	15.7
2008	95	9.4	10.1	14.7
2009	100	9.4	10.5	28
2010	104	8.6	12.0	16.3
2011	107	9.0	11.7	15
2012	139	10.8	12.8	14.4
2013	130	12.4	10.4	16.9
2014	117	9.7	12.0	15.4
2015	131	9.0	14.5	19.1
2016	128	9.0	14.2	19.5
2017	130	9.7	13.3	19.2
2018	127	9.1	13.9	18.1
2019	125	9.6	12.9	14.4
2020	130	9.8	13.2	13.8
2021	141	10.0	14.0	14.9
2022	136	10.4	13.0	8.8
2023	127	9.1	13.8	11
2024	126	9.0	13.9	17.5

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Groton Area Middle School - 04

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2020	$98 (1.0%)	$9,706 (99.0%)	$9,804
2021	$99 (1.0%)	$9,373 (99.0%)	$9,472
2022	$389 (3.9%)	$9,577 (96.1%)	$9,966
2023	$27 (0.3%)	$10,371 (99.7%)	$10,398

Data source: South Dakota Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Groton Area Middle School - 04

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 10^th of 149 Middle schools	Ranks 4^th of 150 Middle schools	4%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
6th Grade English Language Arts (Groton Area Middle School - 04)	54.8	53.9	0.9%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Groton Area School District 06-6)	54.8	53.9	0.9%
6th Grade English Language Arts (South Dakota)	50.8	44.6	6.3%
6th Grade Mathematics (Groton Area Middle School - 04)	45.2	53.9	8.6%
6th Grade Mathematics (Groton Area School District 06-6)	45.2	53.9	8.6%
6th Grade Mathematics (South Dakota)	41.3	39.1	2.2%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Groton Area Middle School - 04)	79.1	79.1
7th Grade English Language Arts (Groton Area School District 06-6)	79.1	79.1
7th Grade English Language Arts (South Dakota)	54.1	50.7	3.4%
7th Grade Mathematics (Groton Area Middle School - 04)	62.8	60.5	2.3%
7th Grade Mathematics (Groton Area School District 06-6)	62.8	60.5	2.3%
7th Grade Mathematics (South Dakota)	45.6	41.2	4.4%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Groton Area Middle School - 04)	83.3	81.1	2.3%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Groton Area School District 06-6)	83.3	81.1	2.3%
8th Grade English Language Arts (South Dakota)	52.1	48.8	3.4%
8th Grade Mathematics (Groton Area Middle School - 04)	64.3	73	8.7%
8th Grade Mathematics (Groton Area School District 06-6)	64.3	73	8.7%
8th Grade Mathematics (South Dakota)	43.8	37.5	6.3%
8th Grade Science (Groton Area Middle School - 04)	71.4	64.9	6.6%
8th Grade Science (Groton Area School District 06-6)	71.4	64.9	6.6%
8th Grade Science (South Dakota)	41.2	38.1	3.1%
All Grades English Language Arts (Groton Area Middle School - 04)	72.4	71.4	1%
All Grades English Language Arts (Groton Area School District 06-6)	75.3	69.1	6.2%
All Grades English Language Arts (South Dakota)	53.2	49.7	3.5%
All Grades Mathematics (Groton Area Middle School - 04)	57.5	62.2	4.7%
All Grades Mathematics (Groton Area School District 06-6)	61.3	57.1	4.3%
All Grades Mathematics (South Dakota)	44.9	41.9	3%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	125	127	1.6%
African American	0	0
American Indian	0	1
Asian	0	1
Hispanic	0	4
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	125	117	6.4%
Two or More Races	0	4
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	14.4%	11%	3.4%

Schools Near Groton Area Middle School - 04

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts (2024)				Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2024)				Smarter Balanced Assessments Science (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2023)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Groton Area Middle School - 04	Public	6-8	502 N 2nd St	Groton	57445	Brown County	Groton Area School District 06-6	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(605) 397-8381	126	9	13.9	17.5%	120 (95.2%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (3.2%)	64.1	42^nd of 147 public middle schools	71.4%		88.9	4^th of 150 public middle schools	97.3%	38	46.2	62.8	73.2	61.0	41.0	34.9	61.0	45.5	46.3	$10,398	$27	$10,371
Langford Area Middle School - 03	Public	6-8	206 Chestnut St	Langford	57454	Marshall County	Langford Area 45-5	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(605) 493-6454	41	4	10.0	22.0%	36 (87.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (2.4%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (4.9%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (4.9%)	36.8	101^st of 147 public middle schools	31.3%		43.9	92^nd of 150 public middle schools	38.7%	9	33.3	58.3	28.6	39.5	50.0	50.0	21.4	39.5	28.6	$14,318	$33	$14,285
Holgate Middle School - 02	Public	6-8	2200 N Dakota St	Aberdeen	57401	Brown County	Aberdeen School District 06-1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(605) 725-7700	490	34	14.2	26.1%	362 (73.9%)	11 (2.2%)	26 (5.3%)	17 (3.5%)	33 (6.7%)	3 (0.6%)	38 (7.8%)	69.7	32^nd of 147 public middle schools	78.2%		70	35^th of 150 public middle schools	76.7%	3	61.3	61.7	49.1	57.4	57.4	57.7	50.9	55.4	39.1	$9,940	$411	$9,529
Simmons Middle School - 03	Public	6-8	1300 S 3rd St	Aberdeen	57401	Brown County	Aberdeen School District 06-1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(605) 725-7900	458	33	13.8	40.4%	306 (66.8%)	12 (2.6%)	39 (8.5%)	25 (5.5%)	34 (7.4%)	3 (0.7%)	39 (8.5%)	45.3	88^th of 147 public middle schools	40.1%		36.1	103^rd of 150 public middle schools	31.3%	15	43.3	49.4	51.3	48.2	36.2	46.4	41.4	41.6	30.3	$10,158	$420	$9,738

Groton Area Middle School - 04

Groton Area Middle School - 04:

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Groton Area School District 06-6:

What do you think?

Rank History for Groton Area Middle School - 04

Rank History for all students at Groton Area Middle School - 04

Rank History for Female students at Groton Area Middle School - 04

Rank History for Male students at Groton Area Middle School - 04

Rank History for White students at Groton Area Middle School - 04

Enrollment information for Groton Area Middle School - 04

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Groton Area Middle School - 04

Student/Teacher Ratio Groton Area Middle School - 04

Per Pupil Expenditures for Groton Area Middle School - 04

Impact of COVID-19 on Groton Area Middle School - 04

Rankings

Test Scores

Student Body

Schools Near Groton Area Middle School - 04

Groton Area Middle School - 04

Langford Area Middle School - 03

Holgate Middle School - 02

Simmons Middle School - 03

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