Top Rankings
Smee School District 15-3 ranks among the top 20% of public school district in South Dakota for:
Category
Attribute
Student Attention
Lowest student:teacher ratio (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 2 public elementary schools serving 119 students in Smee School District 15-3. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 2/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public elementary schools in South Dakota.
Public Elementary Schools in Smee School District 15-3 have an average math proficiency score of 15% (versus the South Dakota public elementary school average of 43%), and reading proficiency score of 40% (versus the 49% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 100% of the student body (majority American Indian), which is more than the South Dakota public elementary school average of 36% (majority American Indian).
Overview
This School District
This State (SD)
# Schools
3 Schools
497 Schools
# Students
183 Students
101,009 Students
# Teachers
21 Teachers
7,507 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
9:1
9:1
District Rank
Smee School District 15-3, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 146 school districts in South Dakota (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 40-59% has decreased from 50% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#138 out of 148 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)

Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
10-14%
42%

Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
35-39%
51%

Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
≤10%
42%

Graduation Rate
40-59%
82%

Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.09
0.55
# American Indian Students
175 Students
16,670 Students
% American Indian Students
96%
17%
# Asian Students
n/a
1,571 Students
% Asian Students
n/a
2%
# Hispanic Students
2 Students
8,335 Students
% Hispanic Students
1%
8%
# Black Students
n/a
3,317 Students
% Black Students
n/a
3%
# White Students
n/a
64,951 Students
% White Students
n/a
64%
# Hawaiian Students
n/a
129 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
6 Students
6,036 Students
% of Two or more races Students
3%
6%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
-
2,878
# Students in K Grade:
14
11,668
# Students in 1st Grade:
14
10,796
# Students in 2nd Grade:
13
10,955
# Students in 3rd Grade:
13
10,445
# Students in 4th Grade:
16
10,671
# Students in 5th Grade:
14
10,790
# Students in 6th Grade:
14
10,958
# Students in 7th Grade:
11
9,781
# Students in 8th Grade:
10
9,926
# Students in 9th Grade:
12
674
# Students in 10th Grade:
22
577
# Students in 11th Grade:
17
475
# Students in 12th Grade:
13
415
# Ungraded Students:
-
-
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $27,027 is higher than the state median of $13,121. The school district revenue/student has grown by 6% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $25,344 is higher than the state median of $12,623. The school district spending/student has grown by 6% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$5 MM
$1,916 MM

Spending
$5 MM
$1,844 MM

Revenue / Student
$27,027
$13,121

Spending / Student
$25,344
$12,623

Best Smee School District 15-3 Public Elementary Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Wakpala Elementary - 02
(Math: 11-19% | Reading: 40-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
12250 Sd Hwy 1806
Wakpala, SD 57658
(605) 845-3040
Wakpala, SD 57658
(605) 845-3040
Grades: K-5
| 84 students
Rank: #22.
Wakpala Middle School - 04
(Math: 11-19% | Reading: 30-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
12250 Sd Hwy 1806
Wakpala, SD 57658
(605) 845-3040
Wakpala, SD 57658
(605) 845-3040
Grades: 6-8
| 35 students
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