Top Rankings
Watertown School District 14-4 ranks among the top 20% of public school district in South Dakota for:
Category
Attribute
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 20%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 4 public preschools serving 1,160 students in Watertown School District 14-4. This district's average pre testing ranking is 8/10, which is in the top 30% of public pre schools in South Dakota.
Public Preschools in Watertown School District 14-4 have an average math proficiency score of 69% (versus the South Dakota public pre school average of 45%), and reading proficiency score of 56% (versus the 45% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 20% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the South Dakota public preschool average of 34% (majority American Indian and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (SD)
# Schools
8 Schools
146 Schools
# Students
3,542 Students
30,673 Students
# Teachers
234 Teachers
2,365 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
15:1
15:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Watertown School District 14-4, which is ranked within the top 30% of all 146 school districts in South Dakota (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 86% has decreased from 87% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#46 out of 148 school districts
(Top 50%)
(Top 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
(22-23)50%
42%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
59%
51%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
49%
42%
Graduation Rate
(22-23)86%
82%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.32
0.54
% American Indian
4%
13%
% Asian
1%
1%
% Hispanic
7%
9%
% Black
n/a
5%
% White
82%
66%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
6%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $12,794 in this school district is less than the state median of $13,121. The school district revenue/student has grown by 11% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $13,363 is higher than the state median of $12,623. The school district spending/student has grown by 11% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$45 MM
$1,916 MM
Spending
$47 MM
$1,844 MM
Revenue / Student
$12,794
$13,121
Spending / Student
$13,363
$12,623
Best Watertown School District 14-4 Public Preschools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Lincoln Elementary - 05
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
1100 13th St Ne
Watertown, SD 57201
(605) 882-6340
Watertown, SD 57201
(605) 882-6340
Grades: PK-4
| 338 students
Rank: #22.
Mckinley Elementary - 06
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
5 12th St Sw
Watertown, SD 57201
(605) 882-6350
Watertown, SD 57201
(605) 882-6350
Grades: PK-4
| 255 students
Rank: #33.
Mellette Elementary - 07
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
619 2nd St Nw
Watertown, SD 57201
(605) 882-6385
Watertown, SD 57201
(605) 882-6385
Grades: PK-4
| 235 students
Rank: #44.
Jefferson Elementary - 09
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
1701 N Maple St
Watertown, SD 57201
(605) 882-6390
Watertown, SD 57201
(605) 882-6390
Grades: PK-4
| 332 students
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