Average

#335 of 574 schools in SD

Watertown High School - 01

High School · Watertown School District 14-4

PO Box 730, Watertown, SD 57201

Last updated: July 2026

Enrollment

1,222

Student-Teacher

17:1

Score

5.9

Grades

9th – 12th

Enrollment

1,222

Student-Teacher

17:1

Score

5.9

Grades

9th – 12th

Data vintage
2022-23

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

South Dakota schools

#335 of 574

In Watertown

#6 of 8

public schools

In district

#6 of 8

Watertown School District 14-4

Academic growth

8.7 / 10

Excellent

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High School in Watertown · grades 9th – 12th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

0.3 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

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About Watertown High School - 01

Watertown High School - 01 is a public high school in Watertown, SD, part of Watertown School District 14-4. Watertown High School - 01 serves approximately 1,222 students, and covers grades 9th-12th, and has a 17:1 student-teacher ratio. Watertown High School - 01 has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.9 out of 10 and ranks #335 of 574 schools in SD.

Structured state assessment records for Watertown High School - 01 show 53% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 72% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

How it compares0.8 pts below SD schools

5.9

This school 5.9 · Average
SD avg 6.7

What Parents Should Know

37% of students at Watertown High School - 01 were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, above the national average. Chronic absenteeism means missing 15 or more school days, and at high rates it drags on classroom pacing for everyone. Ask what the school does to help families get kids to class consistently.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics

Student Progress8.7Excellent25%

Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.

View breakdown

Years of Data13

Annual Change-1.2 pts/yr

Data Period2009–2022

TrendDeclining

Academics7.4Very Good25%

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

View breakdown

Math Proficiency39% (2022 EdFacts)

Reading/ELA Proficiency69% (2022 EdFacts)

Overall Proficiency54% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)

Expected (poverty-adj.)50% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)

vs. Expected+3.9 pts

Adjusted Percentile62th

College Readiness4.5Below Average30%

Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.

View breakdown

4-Year Graduation Rate88%

AP Participation10.6%

IB ProgramNo

Resources & Environment2.5Needs Improvement20%

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

View breakdown

Student-Teacher Ratio17:1

Per-Pupil Spending$10,402

Chronic Absenteeism37.2%

Watertown High School - 01 — Students at Watertown High School - 01 score 54% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 50%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

21%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores SD EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 52.5% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)

School

State

N/A

ELA Proficiency 72.2% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)

School

State

N/A

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

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

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

2009

Math

59%

ELA

71%

2010

Math

71%

ELA

77%

2011

Math

78%

ELA

78%

2012

Math

74%

ELA

76%

2014

Math

38%

ELA

61%

2015

Math

37%

ELA

64%

2016

Math

41%

ELA

75%

2017

Math

50%

ELA

75%

2018

Math

56%

ELA

79%

2019

Math

56%

ELA

79%

2020*

Math

42%

ELA

67%

2021*

Math

42%

ELA

67%

2022

Math

39%

ELA

69%

* 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: 8.7/10.

How Watertown High School - 01 Compares

See how Watertown High School - 01 performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score

5.9/10

42th percentile in SD

Academic

7.4/10

Very Good

Growth

8.7/10

Excellent

Environment

2.5/10

Needs Improvement

AP Courses

State avg: 2.1

Sports

10 boys' · 10 girls'

Advanced STEM

5/5

Subjects offered

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch

Students eligible for subsidized meals

21%

Teaching Staff

17:1 student-teacher ratio

72 teachers

Chronic Absenteeism

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

37.2%

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs3 AP courses offered

10.6% participation·State avg: 2.1 AP courses·CRDC 2021-22

Athletics20sports offered

10 boys'·10 girls'·30 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC 2021-22

Advanced STEM Courses5 of 5 advanced subjects offered

Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

PO Box 730, Watertown, SD 57201

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Watertown High School - 01 may also want to explore other high schools in the area. Castlewood High School - 01 (rated 8.6/10, 12.7 miles away, in nearby Castlewood), which scores notably higher. Another option is GREAT PLAINS LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL (rated 7.2/10, 1.0 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Waverly-South Shore High School - 01 (rated 5.8/10, 9.2 miles away, in nearby Waverly), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Watertown, see our Watertown schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 15.4 mi

School	Distance	Enrollment	Rating
Watertown Intermediate School - 13 Watertown	0.3 mi	556	7.6
Lincoln Elementary - 05 Watertown	0.7 mi	338	8.0
IMACULATE CONCEPTION Watertown	0.7 mi	162	7.1
GREAT PLAINS LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL Watertown	1.0 mi	133	7.2
Roosevelt Elementary - 08 Watertown	0.9 mi	148	4.2
ST MARTINS LUTHERAN SCHOOL Watertown	1.0 mi	123	5.4
Watertown Middle School - 02 Watertown	1.3 mi	587	6.2
WATERTOWN CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Watertown	1.2 mi	60	6.2
Mellette Elementary - 07 Watertown	1.1 mi	235	7.5
Jefferson Elementary - 09 Watertown	1.5 mi	332	5.4
McKinley Elementary - 06 Watertown	1.8 mi	255	6.9
Waverly-South Shore Elementary - 02 Waverly	9.2 mi	113	4.7
Waverly-South Shore High School - 01 Waverly	9.2 mi	90	5.8
Waverly-South Shore Middle School - 03 Waverly	9.2 mi	60	4.0
Castlewood Elementary - 02 Castlewood	12.7 mi	144	7.0
Castlewood High School - 01 Castlewood	12.7 mi	106	8.6
Castlewood Middle School - 03 Castlewood	12.7 mi	73	5.3
Claremont Colony Elementary - 04 Castlewood	15.1 mi	15	—
Sunrise Colony - 15 Watertown	19.0 mi	17	—
Florence Elementary - 02 Florence	15.4 mi	172	3.5

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 57201 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$64,809

Median Home Value

$223,600

Median Rent

$903/mo

Population

26,375

College Educated

21.3%

Homeownership

66%

Avg Commute

14.1 min

Poverty Rate

10.4%

Median Age

39.5

Similar Schools

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

School	Enrollment	Rating
Sturgis Brown High School - 01 Sturgis, SD	839	5.9
Central High School - 01 Aberdeen, SD	1,374	5.8
Douglas High School - 03 Box Elder, SD	752	5.8
Spearfish High School - 01 Spearfish, SD	771	6.1
T F Riggs High School - 01 Pierre, SD	808	6.1
Huron High School - 01 Huron, SD	853	5.6

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Watertown High School - 01

What grades does Watertown High School - 01 serve?

Watertown High School - 01 serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Watertown High School - 01?

Watertown High School - 01 has an enrollment of approximately 1,222 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Watertown High School - 01?

The student-teacher ratio at Watertown High School - 01 is 17:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Watertown High School - 01 rank in SD?

Watertown High School - 01 ranks #335 of 574 schools in SD.

What is Watertown High School - 01's MySchoolScout rating?

Watertown High School - 01 has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.9 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 Watertown High School - 01?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Watertown High School - 01 has 53% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 72% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is Watertown High School - 01 a charter school?

No, Watertown High School - 01 is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Watertown High School - 01 a Title I school?

No, Watertown High School - 01 is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Watertown High School - 01?

21.0% of students at Watertown High School - 01 qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.