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Average

#276 of 574 schools in SD

Top 48% in state

Timber Lake Middle School - 03

Middle School · Timber Lake School District 20-3

PO Box 1000, Timber Lake, SD 57656

Enrollment

81

Student-Teacher

10.1:1

Score

6.4

Grades

6th – 8th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Timber Lake

#3 of 3

public schools

South Dakota middle schools

#60 of 144

In district

#3 of 3

Timber Lake School District 20-3

School environment

9.6 / 10

Exceptional

About Timber Lake Middle School - 03

Timber Lake Middle School - 03 serves 81 students in grades 6-8 in the remote rural community of Timber Lake, South Dakota. With 8 full-time equivalent teachers, the school maintains an excellent student-teacher ratio of 10.1:1, allowing for personalized attention and strong relationships between educators and students. The school demonstrates solid academic performance, earning a 7.3 out of 10 MySchoolScout rating and ranking 100th out of 586 middle schools statewide, placing it in the 83rd percentile.

Students show particular strength in English Language Arts, with 67% achieving proficiency or above across all grade levels. Mathematics presents more opportunity for growth, with 47% of students meeting proficiency standards. Timber Lake Middle School serves a tight-knit community where the median household income is $61,607 and median home values are $87,200.

About one in four residents holds a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate stands at 14%. The school's ZIP code area has a population of 842 residents. Located in Dewey County's remote rural setting, Timber Lake Middle School offers students a close-knit educational environment where small class sizes foster individual attention and community connections that extend well beyond the classroom walls.

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 81 students, Timber Lake Middle School - 03 is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.

Located in a rural area, Timber Lake Middle School - 03 may involve longer commutes for some families. Rural schools often serve as community anchors and may have smaller class sizes, but parents should consider transportation logistics, after-school program availability, and access to specialized services.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress2.7Needs Improvement40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change-5.76 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics8.3Excellent35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency47%
Reading/ELA Proficiency67%
Overall Proficiency57%
Expected (poverty-adj.)45%
vs. Expected+12.2 pts
Adjusted Percentile74th
Resources & Environment9.6Exceptional25%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio10.1:1
Per-Pupil Spending$18,185

Timber Lake Middle School - 03 — Students at Timber Lake Middle School - 03 score 57% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 45%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

37%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores SD EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 58.7%
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 72.0%
School
State
N/A

Based on 6 test records from SD state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

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

2019
Math
72%
ELA
77%
2021*
Math
57%
ELA
72%
2022
Math
47%
ELA
67%

* 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: 2.7/10.

How Timber Lake Middle School - 03 Compares

See how Timber Lake Middle School - 03 performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
6.4/10
52th percentile in SD
Academic
8.3/10
8.3/10
Growth
2.7/10
Below average
Environment
9.6/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
37%
Teaching Staff
10:1 student-teacher ratio
8 teachers

Location

PO Box 1000, Timber Lake, SD 57656

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Timber Lake Middle School - 03 may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. McLaughlin Middle School - 03 (rated 6.4/10, 29.3 miles away, in nearby Mclaughlin), with a very similar rating. Additionally, McIntosh Middle School - 03 (rated 5.4/10, 36.9 miles away, in nearby Mcintosh), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Timber Lake, see our Timber Lake schools guide .

Nearby Schools

19 within 36.9 mi
School Distance Rating
Timber Lake Elementary - 02 Timber Lake 0.0 mi 9.4
Timber Lake High School - 01 Timber Lake 0.0 mi 8.8
Rock Creek Grant School Bullhead 23.6 mi 7.3
Little Eagle School Little Eagle 21.6 mi 8.1
LITTLE EAGLE GRANT SCHOOL Little Eagle 21.6 mi 5.7
Eagle Butte Primary - 02 Eagle Butte 30.4 mi 8.1
Eagle Butte Jr. High - 06 Eagle Butte 30.4 mi
Eagle Butte High School - 01 Eagle Butte 30.4 mi
E. A. G. L. E. Center High School - 07 Eagle Butte 30.4 mi
Cheyenne-Eagle Butte School Eagle Butte 30.5 mi
WINDSWEPT ACADEMY Eagle Butte 30.5 mi 4.3
Eagle Butte Upper Elementary - 03 Eagle Butte 31.0 mi 5.1
McLaughlin High School - 01 Mclaughlin 29.3 mi 6.6
McLaughlin Middle School - 03 Mclaughlin 29.3 mi 6.4
McLaughlin Elementary - 02 Mclaughlin 29.4 mi 6.6
Tiospaye Topa School Ridgeview 28.6 mi
McIntosh Elementary - 02 Mcintosh 36.9 mi 3.5
McIntosh High School - 01 Mcintosh 36.9 mi 6.7
McIntosh Middle School - 03 Mcintosh 36.9 mi 5.4

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 57656 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$63,571

Median Home Value

$86,800

Median Rent

$567/mo

Population

911

College Educated

23.8%

Homeownership

71.6%

Avg Commute

24.7 min

Poverty Rate

13.5%

Median Age

30.8

Community Profile

The community surrounding Timber Lake Middle School - 03 has a median household income of $63,571. It is a community where 24% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $86,800, with a median rent of $567/month. The area has a poverty rate of 13.5%. The average commute for residents is 25 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
McLaughlin Middle School - 03 Mclaughlin, SD 6.4
Willow Lake Middle School - 03 Willow Lake, SD 6.4
Ipswich Middle School - 04 Ipswich, SD 6.5
Viborg-Hurley Middle School - 03 Viborg, SD 6.3
Florence Middle School - 03 Florence, SD 6.6
Freeman Jr High - 05 Freeman, SD 6.2

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Timber Lake Middle School - 03

What grades does Timber Lake Middle School - 03 serve?

Timber Lake Middle School - 03 serves students in grades 6th through 8th.

How many students attend Timber Lake Middle School - 03?

Timber Lake Middle School - 03 has an enrollment of approximately 81 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Timber Lake Middle School - 03?

The student-teacher ratio at Timber Lake Middle School - 03 is 10.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Timber Lake Middle School - 03 rank in SD?

Timber Lake Middle School - 03 is ranked #276 out of 574 schools in SD.

What is Timber Lake Middle School - 03's MySchoolScout rating?

Timber Lake Middle School - 03 has a composite rating of 6.4 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Timber Lake Middle School - 03?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Timber Lake Middle School - 03 has 58.7% math proficiency and 72.0% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Timber Lake Middle School - 03 a charter school?

No, Timber Lake Middle School - 03 is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Timber Lake Middle School - 03 a Title I school?

No, Timber Lake Middle School - 03 is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Timber Lake Middle School - 03?

37.0% of students at Timber Lake Middle School - 03 qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
6th – 8th
Enrollment
81
Student-Teacher Ratio
10.1:1
Teachers (FTE)
8
Free/Reduced Lunch
37.0%
Type
regular
Setting
Remote Rural
County
Dewey County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Timber Lake School District 20-3
District Enrollment
389
Schools in District
3
Per-Pupil Spending
$19,724
District Rank
#3 of 3

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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