Very Good

#96 of 574 schools in SD

Top 17% in state

Howard Jr. High - 05

Middle School · Howard School District 48-3

500 N Section Line St, Howard, SD 57349

Last updated: July 2026

Enrollment

Student-Teacher

17.5:1

Score

7.9

Grades

6th – 8th

Enrollment

Student-Teacher

17.5:1

Score

7.9

Grades

6th – 8th

Data vintage
2022-23

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

South Dakota schools

#96 of 574

In Howard

#2 of 3

public schools

In district

#2 of 3

Howard School District 48-3

Academic performance

9.0 / 10

Excellent

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Middle School in Howard · grades 6th – 8th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

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About Howard Jr. High - 05

Howard Jr. High - 05 is a public middle school in Howard, SD, part of Howard School District 48-3. Howard Jr.

High - 05 serves approximately 70 students, and covers grades 6th-8th, and has a 17.5:1 student-teacher ratio. Howard Jr. High - 05 has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.9 out of 10 and ranks #96 of 574 schools in SD.

Structured state assessment records for Howard Jr. High - 05 show 65% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 60% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

How it compares1.9 pts above SD schools

7.9

This school 7.9 · Very Good
SD avg 6.0

What Parents Should Know

At 70 students, Howard Jr. High - 05 is on the smaller side. That usually buys more individual attention and teachers who know every kid by name, with the trade-off of fewer electives and extracurriculars than a larger school can staff. Ask what activities it actually offers.

Howard Jr. High - 05 sits in a rural area, which can mean longer drives for some families. Rural schools are often community anchors with smaller classes, but check transportation, after-school options, and access to specialized services before you commit.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics

Student Progress8.3Excellent40%

Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.

View breakdown

Years of Data13

Annual Change-1.49 pts/yr

Data Period2009–2022

TrendDeclining

Academics9.0Excellent35%

Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.

View breakdown

Math Proficiency64.5% (2022 EdFacts)

Reading/ELA Proficiency64.5% (2022 EdFacts)

Overall Proficiency65% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)

Expected (poverty-adj.)49% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)

vs. Expected+15.5 pts

Adjusted Percentile84th

Resources & Environment5.9Average25%

Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.

View breakdown

Student-Teacher Ratio17.5:1

Per-Pupil Spending$14,128

Chronic Absenteeism11.4%

Howard Jr. High - 05 — Students at Howard Jr. High - 05 score 64% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 49%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

24.3%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores SD EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 64.9% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)

School

State

N/A

ELA Proficiency 60.3% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)

School

State

N/A

Based on 26 test records from SD state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009

Math

84.5%

ELA

74.5%

2010

Math

64.5%

ELA

54.5%

2011

Math

84.5%

ELA

74.5%

2012

Math

84.5%

ELA

74.5%

2014

Math

44.5%

ELA

34.5%

2015

Math

74.5%

ELA

74.5%

2016

Math

64.5%

ELA

64.5%

2017

Math

54.5%

ELA

54.5%

2018

Math

47%

ELA

52%

2019

Math

47%

ELA

52%

2020*

Math

64.5%

ELA

54.5%

2021*

Math

64.5%

ELA

54.5%

2022

Math

64.5%

ELA

64.5%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 8.3/10.

How Howard Jr. High - 05 Compares

See how Howard Jr. High - 05 performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score

7.9/10

83th percentile in SD

Academic

9.0/10

Excellent

Growth

8.3/10

Excellent

Environment

5.9/10

Average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch

Students eligible for subsidized meals

24%

Teaching Staff

18:1 student-teacher ratio

4 teachers

Chronic Absenteeism

Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)

11.4%

Location

500 N Section Line St, Howard, SD 57349

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Howard Jr. High - 05 may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. Lake Preston Middle School - 03 (rated 6.6/10, 25.0 miles away, in nearby Lake Preston), a more accessible option. Another option is De Smet Middle School - 03 (rated 4.5/10, 25.5 miles away, in nearby De Smet), a more accessible option. Additionally, McCook Central Middle School - 03 (rated 4.3/10, 21.2 miles away, in nearby Salem), a more accessible option. For more schools in Howard, see our Howard schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 28.9 mi

School	Distance	Enrollment	Rating
Howard High School - 01 Howard	0.0 mi	98	9.3
Howard Elementary - 02 Howard	0.3 mi	131	6.4
Shannon Colony Elementary - 08 Winfred	5.8 mi	29	—
Graceville Colony - 07 Winfred	13.6 mi	21	—
ST MARY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Salem	21.2 mi	40	6.6
McCook Central Elementary - 02 Salem	21.2 mi	208	3.6
McCook Central High School - 01 Salem	21.2 mi	121	5.0
McCook Central Middle School - 03 Salem	21.2 mi	115	4.3
Goldenview Colony School - 04 Salem	23.0 mi	28	—
Laura Ingalls Wilder Elementary - 02 De Smet	25.4 mi	178	6.9
De Smet High School - 01 De Smet	25.5 mi	90	7.7
De Smet Middle School - 03 De Smet	25.5 mi	86	4.5
Lake Preston Elementary - 02 Lake Preston	25.0 mi	104	9.1
Lake Preston High School - 01 Lake Preston	25.0 mi	51	7.7
Lake Preston Middle School - 03 Lake Preston	25.0 mi	33	6.6
Orland Colony Elementary - 04 Montrose	21.2 mi	39	3.7
MADISON CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Madison	19.5 mi	5	—
Madison Elementary - 07 Madison	20.2 mi	507	6.1
ST THOMAS SCHOOL Madison	20.6 mi	35	6.3
Bridgewater-Emery High School - 01 Emery	28.9 mi	108	6.0

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 57349 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$70,365

Median Home Value

$116,000

Median Rent

$550/mo

Population

1,450

College Educated

12.2%

Homeownership

79.7%

Poverty Rate

13.2%

Median Age

47.9

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School	Enrollment	Rating
Faulkton Middle School - 08 Faulkton, SD	52	7.9
CHRIST THE KING SCHOOL Sioux Falls, SD	82	8.0
Gettysburg Middle School - 03 Gettysburg, SD	50	8.0
Ethan Jr. High - 03 Ethan, SD	43	7.6
Hanson Middle School - 02 Alexandria, SD	75	7.6
Warner Middle School - 03 Warner, SD	73	7.6

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Howard Jr. High - 05

What grades does Howard Jr. High - 05 serve?

Howard Jr. High - 05 serves students in grades 6th through 8th.

How many students attend Howard Jr. High - 05?

Howard Jr. High - 05 has an enrollment of approximately 70 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Howard Jr. High - 05?

The student-teacher ratio at Howard Jr. High - 05 is 17.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Howard Jr. High - 05 rank in SD?

Howard Jr. High - 05 ranks #96 of 574 schools in SD.

What is Howard Jr. High - 05's MySchoolScout rating?

Howard Jr. High - 05 has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.9 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Howard Jr. High - 05?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Howard Jr. High - 05 has 65% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 60% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is Howard Jr. High - 05 a charter school?

No, Howard Jr. High - 05 is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Howard Jr. High - 05 a Title I school?

No, Howard Jr. High - 05 is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Howard Jr. High - 05?

24.3% of students at Howard Jr. High - 05 qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.