Needs Improvement
#543 of 574 schools in SD
South Middle School - 36
Middle School · Rapid City Area School District 51-4 · Rapid City, SD
A Rapid City Area School District 51-4 middle school where students score 12 points below what's typical for similar communities.
2 Indiana St, Rapid City, SD 57701
- Math 24% proficient (2022)
- Reading 37% proficient (2022)
- 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at South Middle School - 36 score 30% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 42%).
2022 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. SD average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 39 points across the 14-year record (2009–2022) and has held near 31% recently.
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 41% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 50% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 28 test records from SD state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
44%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where South Middle School - 36 sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 33Car-Dependent
- Bike 14Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High4,515/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Rapid City), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$52,733
Median home value
$229,900
Median rent
$892/mo
College educated
28.2%
Homeownership
59.4%
Poverty rate
18.8%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 57701; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
3 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Thomas More Middle SchoolPrivate · tuition | 6.5private | 6–8 | 0.5 mi | 164 | Compare → |
| Jefferson Building - 64Enrollment path unverified | 5.3 | PK–12 | 1.0 mi | 35 | Compare → |
| Wellfully - 65Enrollment path unverified | Not rated | 1–12 | 1.5 mi | 11 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Rapid City Area School District 51-4
- Schools in district
- 26
- Rank in district
- #17 of 24
- District spending per student
- $10,380NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 10.5%Census SAIPE · 2024
South Middle School - 36 is listed in Rapid City Area School District 51-4; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About South Middle School - 36
South Middle School - 36 is a public middle school in Rapid City, SD, part of Rapid City Area School District 51-4, serving approximately 502 students in grades 6th-8th with a 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 3.4 out of 10 and ranks #543 of 574 schools in SD. State assessment records show 41% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 50% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about South Middle School - 36
What grades does South Middle School - 36 serve?
South Middle School - 36 serves students in grades 6th through 8th.
How many students attend South Middle School - 36?
South Middle School - 36 has an enrollment of approximately 502 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at South Middle School - 36?
The student-teacher ratio at South Middle School - 36 is 12.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does South Middle School - 36 rank in SD?
South Middle School - 36 ranks #543 of 574 schools in SD.
What is South Middle School - 36's MySchoolScout rating?
South Middle School - 36 has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.4 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 South Middle School - 36?
Based on loaded state assessment records, South Middle School - 36 has 41% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 50% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Is South Middle School - 36 a charter school?
No, South Middle School - 36 is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is South Middle School - 36 a Title I school?
No, South Middle School - 36 is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for South Middle School - 36?
44.0% of students at South Middle School - 36 qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 6th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 502
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 12.2:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 41
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Pennington County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 44.6%
- Phone
- (605) 394-4024
- Area population (ZIP 57701)
- 45,221
- Area average commute
- 17.2 min
- Area median age
- 37.7
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 57701; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2022; directory SY 2023–24
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