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5.2avg / 10

Willow Lake School District 12-3

School District · Willow Lake, South Dakota

Students: 338
Teachers (FTE): 25

Avg Rating

5.2

out of 10

Schools

6

4 elem, 1 mid, 1 high

Enrollment

338

Student-Teacher Ratio

13.5:1

How this district compares

South Dakota rank

#130 of 142

districts by avg. composite

Vs. state average

-1.2

below South Dakota avg

Per-pupil spending

$11,529

$1,141 vs South Dakota median

District size

338 students

Typical than South Dakota median

The short answer

Willow Lake School District 12-3 ranks #130 of 142 South Dakota districts by overall school rating. Willow Lake School District 12-3's schools with real test data average 5.2/10 across 4 schools. Its top-rated schools are Willow Lake Elementary - 02 (8.0/10), Willow Lake High School - 01 (6.3/10), and Willow Lake Middle School - 03 (3.8/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.

Most improved · 2022 → 2024
Mayfield Colony Elementary - 04

STAAR proficiency rose +8.4 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Willow Lake School District 12-3 schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.

Top-Rated Schools in Willow Lake School District 12-3

Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (4 of 6). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.

#SchoolRating
1Willow Lake Elementary - 028.0 / 10
2Willow Lake High School - 016.3 / 10
3Willow Lake Middle School - 033.8 / 10
4Mayfield Colony Elementary - 042.5 / 10

See all 6 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.

About Willow Lake School District 12-3

Willow Lake School District 12-3 is a Willow Lake, South Dakota school district serving 6 schools.The district educates 338 students with a student-teacher ratio of 13.5:1. District-level spending was $11,529 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).

With an average rating of 5.2/10, Willow Lake School District 12-3 demonstrates solid academic performance.

The highest-rated school in the district is Willow Lake Elementary - 02, which has a composite score of 8.0/10.

In standardized testing, Willow Lake School District 12-3 students show an average math proficiency of 43.4% and ELA proficiency of 49.5%.

The district includes 4 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 1 high school.

District Map

Schools in Willow Lake School District 12-3, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.

District Average Test Scores

Math Proficiency43.4%
School
State
Not reported
ELA Proficiency49.5%
School
State
Not reported

Average proficiency across all schools in Willow Lake School District 12-3 with test data.

District Details

State
South Dakota
City
Willow Lake
Total Enrollment
338
Teachers (FTE)
25
District spending per student
$11,529NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
Child poverty rate
8.8%Census SAIPE · 2024
District directory year
2023

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Willow Lake School District 12-3?

Willow Lake School District 12-3 has 6 schools in total — 4 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 Willow Lake School District 12-3?

The average composite rating for Willow Lake School District 12-3 is 5.2/10. 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 Willow Lake School District 12-3?

Willow Lake School District 12-3's district-level spending was $11,529 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 Willow Lake School District 12-3?

The average student-teacher ratio in Willow Lake School District 12-3 is 13.5:1.

What is the top-rated school in Willow Lake School District 12-3?

Willow Lake Elementary - 02 is the highest-rated school in Willow Lake School District 12-3 with a composite score of 8.0/10.

What are the test scores in Willow Lake School District 12-3?

Across schools in Willow Lake School District 12-3 with test data, the average math proficiency is 43.4% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 49.5%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.

How does Willow Lake School District 12-3 compare to other districts in South Dakota?

Willow Lake School District 12-3 has an average school rating of 5.2/10 across 6 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
5.2/10
Math Proficiency
43.4%
ELA Proficiency
49.5%

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 Willow Lake School District 12-3 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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