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#298 of 574 schools in SD

Watertown Middle School - 02

Middle School · Watertown School District 14-4

PO Box 730, Watertown, SD 57201

Enrollment

587

Student-Teacher

15.9:1

Score

6.2

Grades

7th – 8th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

South Dakota schools

#298 of 574

In Watertown

#5 of 8

public schools

In district

#5 of 8

Watertown School District 14-4

Academic performance

8.0 / 10

Excellent

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Watertown Middle School - 02

6.2/10

Middle School in Watertown · grades 7th – 8th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Lincoln Elementary - 05

8.0/10

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

Great Plains Lutheran High School

7.2/10

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

About Watertown Middle School - 02

Watertown Middle School - 02 is a public middle school in Watertown, SD, part of Watertown School District 14-4. Watertown Middle School - 02 serves approximately 587 students, and covers grades 7th-8th, and has a 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio. Watertown Middle School - 02 has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.2 out of 10 and ranks #298 of 574 schools in SD.

Structured state assessment records for Watertown Middle School - 02 show 60% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 70% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

How it compares0.7 pts below district
  • This school 6.2 · Average
  • District avg 6.9
  • SD avg 6.0

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress6.0Average40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data13
Annual Change-2.68 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics8.0Excellent35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency48% (2022 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency64% (2022 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency56% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)48% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected+8.2 pts
Adjusted Percentile70th
Resources & Environment4.1Below Average25%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio15.9:1
Per-Pupil Spending$10,402
Chronic Absenteeism18.4%

Watertown Middle School - 02 — Students at Watertown Middle School - 02 score 56% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 48%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

27.9%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores SD EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 59.8% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 69.5% (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
86%
ELA
79%
2010
Math
87%
ELA
79%
2011
Math
88%
ELA
79%
2012
Math
82%
ELA
83%
2014
Math
51%
ELA
66%
2015
Math
53%
ELA
69%
2016
Math
51%
ELA
62%
2017
Math
48%
ELA
62%
2018
Math
50%
ELA
67%
2019
Math
50%
ELA
67%
2020*
Math
42%
ELA
63%
2021*
Math
42%
ELA
63%
2022
Math
48%
ELA
64%

* 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: 6.0/10.

How Watertown Middle School - 02 Compares

See how Watertown Middle School - 02 performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
6.2/10
48th percentile in SD
Academic
8.0/10
Excellent
Growth
6.0/10
Average
Environment
4.1/10
Below Average
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
28%
Teaching Staff
16:1 student-teacher ratio
37 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
18.4%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · 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 Middle School - 02 may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. Watertown Intermediate School - 13 (rated 7.6/10, 1.0 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Castlewood Middle School - 03 (rated 5.3/10, 14.0 miles away, in nearby Castlewood), with a comparable rating. Additionally, Waverly-South Shore Middle School - 03 (rated 4.0/10, 8.2 miles away, in nearby Waverly), a more accessible option. For more schools in Watertown, see our Watertown schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 14.6 mi
School Distance Rating
Lincoln Elementary - 05 Watertown 0.7 mi 8.0
GREAT PLAINS LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL Watertown 0.6 mi 7.2
Watertown Intermediate School - 13 Watertown 1.0 mi 7.6
ST MARTINS LUTHERAN SCHOOL Watertown 0.9 mi 5.4
Jefferson Elementary - 09 Watertown 0.8 mi 5.4
WATERTOWN CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Watertown 0.9 mi 6.2
Watertown High School - 01 Watertown 1.3 mi 5.9
Mellette Elementary - 07 Watertown 1.4 mi 7.5
IMACULATE CONCEPTION Watertown 1.8 mi 7.1
Roosevelt Elementary - 08 Watertown 2.1 mi 4.2
McKinley Elementary - 06 Watertown 2.4 mi 6.9
Waverly-South Shore Elementary - 02 Waverly 8.2 mi 4.7
Waverly-South Shore High School - 01 Waverly 8.2 mi 5.8
Waverly-South Shore Middle School - 03 Waverly 8.2 mi 4.0
Castlewood Elementary - 02 Castlewood 14.0 mi 7.0
Castlewood High School - 01 Castlewood 14.0 mi 8.6
Castlewood Middle School - 03 Castlewood 14.0 mi 5.3
Claremont Colony Elementary - 04 Castlewood 16.2 mi
Sunrise Colony - 15 Watertown 17.7 mi
Florence Elementary - 02 Florence 14.6 mi 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 Rating
Mitchell Middle School - 02 Mitchell, SD 5.9
Tea Area Middle School - 02 Tea, SD 6.5
George McGovern Middle School -09 Sioux Falls, SD 5.7
Sturgis Williams Middle School - 02 Sturgis, SD 5.7
Huron Middle School - 02 Huron, SD 5.6
Georgia Morse Middle School - 02 Pierre, SD 5.4

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Watertown Middle School - 02

What grades does Watertown Middle School - 02 serve?

Watertown Middle School - 02 serves students in grades 7th through 8th.

How many students attend Watertown Middle School - 02?

Watertown Middle School - 02 has an enrollment of approximately 587 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Watertown Middle School - 02?

The student-teacher ratio at Watertown Middle School - 02 is 15.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Watertown Middle School - 02 rank in SD?

Watertown Middle School - 02 ranks #298 of 574 schools in SD.

What is Watertown Middle School - 02's MySchoolScout rating?

Watertown Middle School - 02 has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.2 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 Middle School - 02?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Watertown Middle School - 02 has 60% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 70% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is Watertown Middle School - 02 a charter school?

No, Watertown Middle School - 02 is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Watertown Middle School - 02 a Title I school?

No, Watertown Middle School - 02 is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Watertown Middle School - 02?

27.9% of students at Watertown Middle School - 02 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 →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
13 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
40 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
7th – 8th
Enrollment
587
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.9:1
Teachers (FTE)
37
Free/Reduced Lunch
27.9%
Type
regular
Setting
Remote Town
County
Codington County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
18.4%

District

Watertown School District 14-4
District Enrollment
3,690
Schools in District
9
Per-Pupil Spending
$10,402
District Rank
#5 of 8

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