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8.1avg / 10

Howard School District 48-3

School District · Howard, South Dakota

Students: 328
Teachers (FTE): 26

Avg Rating

8.1

out of 10

Schools

4

2 elem, 1 mid, 1 high

Enrollment

328

Student-Teacher Ratio

12.6:1

How this district compares

South Dakota rank

#3 of 142

districts by avg. composite

Vs. state average

+1.8

above South Dakota avg

Per-pupil spending

$14,128

+$1,458 vs South Dakota median

District size

328 students

Typical than South Dakota median

The short answer

Howard School District 48-3 ranks #3 of 142 South Dakota districts by overall school rating. Howard School District 48-3's schools with real test data average 8.1/10 across 3 schools. Its top-rated schools are Howard High School - 01 (8.6/10), Howard Jr. High - 05 (8.0/10), and Howard Elementary - 02 (7.7/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.

Most improved · 2022 → 2024
Howard Elementary - 02

STAAR proficiency rose +12.6 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Howard School District 48-3 schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.

Top-Rated Schools in Howard School District 48-3

Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (3 of 4). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.

#SchoolRating
1Howard High School - 018.6 / 10
2Howard Jr. High - 058.0 / 10
3Howard Elementary - 027.7 / 10

See all 4 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.

About Howard School District 48-3

Howard School District 48-3 is a Howard, South Dakota school district serving 4 schools.The district educates 328 students with a student-teacher ratio of 12.6:1. District-level spending was $14,128 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).

With an average rating of 8.1/10, Howard School District 48-3 is among the strongest-performing districts in the state.

The highest-rated school in the district is Howard High School - 01, which has a composite score of 8.6/10.

In standardized testing, Howard School District 48-3 students show an average math proficiency of 62.9% and ELA proficiency of 66.8%.

The district includes 2 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 1 high school.

District Map

Schools in Howard School District 48-3, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.

District Average Test Scores

Math Proficiency62.9%
School
State
Not reported
ELA Proficiency66.8%
School
State
Not reported

Average proficiency across all schools in Howard School District 48-3 with test data.

Schools in Howard School District 48-3

4 schools

District Details

State
South Dakota
City
Howard
Total Enrollment
328
Teachers (FTE)
26
District spending per student
$14,128NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
Child poverty rate
11.3%Census SAIPE · 2024
District directory year
2023

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Howard School District 48-3?

Howard School District 48-3 has 4 schools in total — 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.

What is the average rating for Howard School District 48-3?

The average composite rating for Howard School District 48-3 is 8.1/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.

What is the district spending per student in Howard School District 48-3?

Howard School District 48-3's district-level spending was $14,128 per student in fiscal year 2023, according to NCES F-33. This is district context, not an individual-school expense.

What is the student-teacher ratio in Howard School District 48-3?

The average student-teacher ratio in Howard School District 48-3 is 12.6:1.

What is the top-rated school in Howard School District 48-3?

Howard High School - 01 is the highest-rated school in Howard School District 48-3 with a composite score of 8.6/10.

What are the test scores in Howard School District 48-3?

Across schools in Howard School District 48-3 with test data, the average math proficiency is 62.9% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 66.8%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.

How does Howard School District 48-3 compare to other districts in South Dakota?

Howard School District 48-3 has an average school rating of 8.1/10 across 4 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in South Dakota by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.

How does MySchoolScout rate schools?

MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.

District Averages

Overall Rating
8.1/10
Math Proficiency
62.9%
ELA Proficiency
66.8%

How we rate schools

A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.

See how we rate

Other School Districts in SD

Compare Howard School District 48-3 with neighboring districts in the state.

See all districts in SD →

Data from NCES Common Core of Data, South Dakota Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.

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