Smee School District 15-3

12250 Sd Hwy 1806
Wakpala, SD 57658
(District boundaries shown in map)
: 
1/
10
Bottom 50%

Top Rankings

Smee School District 15-3 ranks among the top 20% of public school district in South Dakota for:

Category
Attribute
Student Attention
Lowest student-teacher ratio (Top 1%)
For the 2026-27 school year, there are 3 public schools serving 174 students in Smee School District 15-3. This district's average testing ranking is 2/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public schools in South Dakota.
Public Schools in Smee School District 15-3 have an average math proficiency score of 12% (versus the South Dakota public school average of 43%), and reading proficiency score of 41% (versus the 51% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 98% of the student body (majority American Indian), which is more than the South Dakota public school average of 34% (majority American Indian).

Overview

This School District
This State (SD)
# Schools
3 Schools
724 Schools
# Students
174 Students
146,776 Students
# Teachers
20 Teachers
10,614 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
9:1
9:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Smee School District 15-3, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 146 school districts in South Dakota (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 40-59% has decreased from 50% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (SD)
#138 out of 148 school districts
(Bottom 50%)

Showing 2012–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓

(21-22)
10-14%
42%

Showing 2011–2022. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓

35-39%
51%

Showing 2011–2022. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓

≤10%
42%
(21-22)
40-59%
82%

Showing 2013–2022. Full 12-year historical data available below ↓

(2022-23)
38.3%
22.5%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.09
0.53

Showing 2014–2023. Full 29-year historical data available below ↓

% American Indian
95%
14%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 31-year historical data available below ↓

% Asian
n/a
2%
% Hispanic
1%
9%
% Black
n/a
3%
% White
2%
66%

Showing 2005–2020. Full 26-year historical data available below ↓

% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
2%
6%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 12-year historical data available below ↓

All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $29,810 is higher than the state median of $14,736. The school district revenue/student has declined by 9% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $28,466 is higher than the state median of $15,173. The school district spending/student has declined by 16% over four school years.
This School District
This State (SD)
Total Revenue
$5 MM
$2,163 MM

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Spending
$5 MM
$2,227 MM

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Revenue / Student
$29,810
$14,736

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Spending / Student
$28,466
$15,173

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Best Smee School District 15-3 Public Schools (2026-27)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Wakpala High School - 01
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
12250 Sd Hwy 1806
Wakpala, SD 57658
(605) 845-3040
Gr: 9-12 | 38 students Student-teacher ratio: 6:1
Rank: #22.
Wakpala Elementary - 02
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: 40-49%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
12250 Sd Hwy 1806
Wakpala, SD 57658
(605) 845-3040
Gr: K-5 | 95 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #33.
Wakpala Middle School - 04
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: 30-39%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
12250 Sd Hwy 1806
Wakpala, SD 57658
(605) 845-3040
Gr: 6-8 | 41 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 97%

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools belong to Smee School District 15-3?
Smee School District 15-3 manages 3 public schools serving 174 students.
What is the rank of Smee School District 15-3?
Smee School District 15-3 is ranked #132 out of 146 school districts in South Dakota (bottom 50%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2021-2022 school year. This district ranks in the top 20% of South Dakota school districts for: Lowest student-teacher ratio (Top 1%)
What is the racial composition of students in Smee School District 15-3?
95% of Smee School District 15-3 students are American Indian, 2% of students are White, 2% of students are Two or more races, and 1% of students are Hispanic.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Smee School District 15-3?
Smee School District 15-3 has a student/teacher ratio of 9:1, which is lower than the South Dakota state average of 14:1.
What is Smee School District 15-3's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $28,466 is higher than the state median of $15,173. The school district spending/student has declined by 16% over four school years.

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Quick Facts (26-27)

  • District size: 3 schools
  • Grades: K-12
  • Enrollment: 174 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 9:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 98%
  • : 40-59% (Top 50% in SD)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 10-14% (Btm 50%)
  • : 35-39% (Btm 50%)
  • : ≤10% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), SD Dept. of Education

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