Wakpala Middle School - 04

Q: Is Wakpala Middle School - 04 a good school?

Wakpala Middle School - 04 ranks 100 th of 147 South Dakota middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Wakpala Middle School - 04 is a public middle school located in Wakpala, South Dakota, serving grades 6-8 with a total enrollment of 37 students. The school is part of the Smee School District 15-3, which is ranked 114 out of 126 school districts in the state and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Wakpala Middle School - 04 has consistently ranked in the bottom 10% of South Dakota middle schools over the past several years, with rankings ranging from 100 to 145 out of around 150 schools. In comparison, the nearby Mobridge Middle School - 02 has consistently ranked in the middle to upper-middle range of South Dakota middle schools, ranking between 64 and 84 out of around 150 schools. Wakpala Middle School - 04 also has significantly lower proficiency rates in both English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics compared to the state average and Mobridge Middle School - 02. Additionally, the school has consistently high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 34.2% to 39.0%, which is much higher than the 12.0% rate at Mobridge Middle School - 02.

Despite the relatively high spending per student at Wakpala Middle School - 04, ranging from $19,666 to $37,592 over the past few years, the school's academic performance remains significantly below the state average and nearby schools. This suggests that the school and Smee School District 15-3 may need to re-evaluate how resources are being allocated and utilized to improve student outcomes. While the school has shown some strengths in serving certain subgroups, the overall data indicates that substantial improvements are needed to provide a high-quality education for all students.

Detail:

Public 6-8

12250 SD Hwy 1806
Wakpala, SD 57658

(605) 845-3040

District: Smee School District 15-3

SchoolDigger Rank:
100^th of 147 South Dakota Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $24,296

Students who attend Wakpala Middle School - 04 usually attend:

High:

Wakpala High School - 01

Feeder schools for Wakpala Middle School - 04:

Elementary:

Wakpala Elementary - 02

Student/teacher ratio: 8.5

Number of students: 35

Racial breakdown:

American Indian:

94.3%

Hispanic:

2.9%

Two or more races:

2.9%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 100%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Wakpala Middle School - 04 ranks worse than 68% of middle schools in South Dakota. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 37.48. (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: American Indian (94.3%), Hispanic (2.9%), two or more races (2.9%). (See more...)

Compare Details 100% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Wakpala Middle School - 04 is 8.5. (See more...)

Compare Wakpala Middle School - 04 employs 4 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Wakpala Middle School - 04 is $24,296.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Wakpala Middle School - 04:

SchoolDigger ranks Wakpala Middle School - 04 100^th of 147 South Dakota public middle schools. (See Wakpala Middle School - 04 in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Native American students:

Smee School District 15-3:

SchoolDigger ranks Smee School District 15-3 114^th of 126 South Dakota school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Wakpala Middle School - 04

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Rank History for all students at Wakpala Middle School - 04

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	SD State Percentile
2015	1.75	145^th	145	0.0%
2016	1.71	142^nd	147	3.4%
2017	5.70	137^th	146	6.2%
2018	5.33	140^th	147	4.8%
2019	4.28	145^th	149	2.7%
2021	8.54	139^th	145	4.1%
2022	11.03	133^rd	143	7.0%
2023	10.77	140^th	150	6.7%
2024	37.48	100^th	147	32.0%

See the entire list of South Dakota Middle School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Wakpala Middle School - 04

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	SD State Percentile
2018	15.51	65^th	71	8.5%
2019	10.43	74^th	79	6.3%
2021	27.94	53^rd	63	15.9%
2022	27.06	41^st	46	10.9%
2023	26.77	56^th	70	20.0%
2024	78.18	8^th	65	87.7%

See the entire list of Best South Dakota Middle Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Homeless students at Wakpala Middle School - 04

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	SD State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2019	34.79	1^st	1	0.0%

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

Rank History for Male students at Wakpala Middle School - 04

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	SD State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2019	3.12	109^th	110	0.9%

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

Rank History for Native American students at Wakpala Middle School - 04

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	SD State Percentile
2018	35.01	22^nd	30	26.7%
2019	31.32	22^nd	29	24.1%
2021	45.63	11^th	25	56.0%
2022	45.84	15^th	24	37.5%
2023	42.05	13^th	27	51.9%
2024	86.12	3^rd	31	90.3%

See the entire list of Best South Dakota Middle Schools for Native American 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 Wakpala Middle School - 04

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Year	White	African American	Hispanic	American Indian	Two or More Races	Total
2013	0	0	0	41	0	41
2014	0	0	1	42	0	43
2015	0	0	0	46	0	46
2016	0	1	0	38	1	40
2017	0	0	0	42	2	44
2018	0	0	0	51	0	51
2019	0	0	0	46	2	48
2020	1	0	1	50	2	54
2021	0	0	1	46	3	50
2022	0	0	0	31	2	33
2023	0	0	1	35	1	37
2024	0	0	1	33	1	35

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 Wakpala Middle School - 04

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2013	41	3.8	10.5	92.7
2014	43	3.2	13.1	93
2015	46	3.0	15.3	93.5
2016	40	4.0	10.0	100
2017	44	4.1	10.5	100
2018	51	3.8	13.1	100
2019	48	4.2	11.2	100
2020	54	4.9	10.8	100
2021	50	4.7	10.5	100
2022	33	3.8	8.5	84.8
2023	37	3.4	10.6	100
2024	35	4.0	8.5	100

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 Wakpala Middle School - 04

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2013	41	3.8	10.5	92.7
2014	43	3.2	13.1	93
2015	46	3.0	15.3	93.5
2016	40	4.0	10.0	100
2017	44	4.1	10.5	100
2018	51	3.8	13.1	100
2019	48	4.2	11.2	100
2020	54	4.9	10.8	100
2021	50	4.7	10.5	100
2022	33	3.8	8.5	84.8
2023	37	3.4	10.6	100
2024	35	4.0	8.5	100

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 Wakpala Middle School - 04

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2020	$2,333 (12.6%)	$16,240 (87.4%)	$18,573
2021	$2,414 (12.3%)	$17,252 (87.7%)	$19,666
2022	$5,722 (15.2%)	$31,871 (84.8%)	$37,592
2023	$5,069 (20.9%)	$19,227 (79.1%)	$24,296

Data source: South Dakota Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Wakpala 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 145^th of 149 Middle schools	Ranks 140^th of 150 Middle schools	4%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
6th Grade English Language Arts (Wakpala Middle School - 04)	22.2	7.1	15.1%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Smee School District 15-3)	22.2	7.1	15.1%
6th Grade English Language Arts (South Dakota)	50.8	44.6	6.3%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Wakpala Middle School - 04)	22.2	30	7.8%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Smee School District 15-3)	22.2	30	7.8%
7th Grade English Language Arts (South Dakota)	54.1	50.7	3.4%
7th Grade Mathematics (Wakpala Middle School - 04)	22.2	15.4	6.8%
7th Grade Mathematics (Smee School District 15-3)	22.2	15.4	6.8%
7th Grade Mathematics (South Dakota)	45.6	40.6	5%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Wakpala Middle School - 04)	13.3	38.5	25.1%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Smee School District 15-3)	13.3	38.5	25.1%
8th Grade English Language Arts (South Dakota)	52.1	48.8	3.4%
All Grades English Language Arts (Wakpala Middle School - 04)	19.6	24.3	4.7%
All Grades English Language Arts (Smee School District 15-3)	32	32.4	0.4%
All Grades English Language Arts (South Dakota)	53.2	49.7	3.5%
All Grades Mathematics (Wakpala Middle School - 04)	9.8	12.1	2.3%
All Grades Mathematics (Smee School District 15-3)	9.3	10.6	1.3%
All Grades Mathematics (South Dakota)	44.9	41.8	3.1%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	48	37	22.9%
African American	0	0
American Indian	46	35	23.9%
Asian	0	0
Hispanic	0	1
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	0	0
Two or More Races	2	1	50%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	100%	100%

Schools Near Wakpala 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
Wakpala Middle School - 04	Public	6-8	12250 SD Hwy 1806	Wakpala	57658	Corson County	Smee School District 15-3	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(605) 845-3040	35	4	8.5	100.0%	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (2.9%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (94.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (2.9%)	37.5	100^th of 147 public middle schools	32.0%		10.8	140^th of 150 public middle schools	6.7%	40	50.0	38.5		38.9	35.7			13.9		$24,296	$5,069	$19,227
Mobridge Middle School - 02	Public	6-8	1107 1st Ave E	Mobridge	57601	Walworth County	Mobridge-Pollock 62-6	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(605) 845-9210	111	8	13.2	41.4%	54 (48.6%)	3 (2.7%)	4 (3.6%)	2 (1.8%)	42 (37.8%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (5.4%)	47.2	83^rd of 147 public middle schools	43.5%		48	84^th of 150 public middle schools	44.0%	1	57.6	52.8	41.9	50.0	42.4	38.9	37.2	39.3	37.2	$11,022	$1,014	$10,008
McLaughlin Middle School - 03	Public	6-8	701 Main	Mc Laughlin	57642	Corson County	McLaughlin School District 15-2	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(605) 823-4484	71	9	8.3	100.0%	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (2.8%)	67 (94.4%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (2.8%)	2.6	147^th of 147 public middle schools	0.0%		3.9	147^th of 150 public middle schools	2.0%		10.7	13.0		8.6	7.1	17.4		8.6		$20,942	$3,363	$17,580

Frequently Asked Questions about Wakpala Middle School - 04

What district is Wakpala Middle School - 04 in?

Smee School District 15-3

What high school do graduates of Wakpala Middle School - 04 attend?

Students who attend Wakpala Middle School - 04 usually go on to attend Wakpala High School - 01

How many students attend Wakpala Middle School - 04?

In the 2023-24 school year, 35 students attended Wakpala Middle School - 04.

What is the racial makeup of Wakpala Middle School - 04?

Students at Wakpala Middle School - 04 are 94% American Indian, 3% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races.

Is Wakpala Middle School - 04 a good school?

Wakpala Middle School - 04 ranks 100^th of 147 South Dakota middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Rate Wakpala Middle School - 04!

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the South Dakota Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.