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 2 public elementary schools serving 136 students in Smee School District 15-3. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 1/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public elementary schools in South Dakota.
Public Elementary Schools in Smee School District 15-3 have an average math proficiency score of 10% (versus the South Dakota public elementary school average of 43%), and reading proficiency score of 40% (versus the 49% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 98% of the student body (majority American Indian), which is more than the South Dakota public elementary school average of 36% (majority American Indian).
Overview
This School District
This State (SD)
# Schools
3 Schools
494 Schools
# Students
174 Students
101,278 Students
# Teachers
20 Teachers
7,454 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.
Overall District Rank
#138 out of 148 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Showing 2012–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
(21-22)10-14%
42%
Showing 2011–2022. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
35-39%
51%
Showing 2011–2022. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
≤10%
42%
Graduation Rate
(21-22)40-59%
82%
Showing 2013–2022. Full 12-year historical data available below ↓
Chronically Absent Students
(2022-23)38.3%
22.5%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.09
0.56
Showing 2014–2023. Full 29-year historical data available below ↓
% American Indian
95%
16%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 31-year historical data available below ↓
% Asian
n/a
2%
% Hispanic
1%
9%
% Black
n/a
3%
% White
2%
64%
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.
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 Elementary Schools (2026-27)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Wakpala Elementary - 02
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: 40-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
12250 Sd Hwy 1806
Wakpala, SD 57658
(605) 845-3040
Wakpala, SD 57658
(605) 845-3040
Gr: K-5 | 95 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #22.
Wakpala Middle School - 04
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: 30-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
12250 Sd Hwy 1806
Wakpala, SD 57658
(605) 845-3040
Wakpala, SD 57658
(605) 845-3040
Gr: 6-8 | 41 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
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