Summary:
The city of Bowdle, South Dakota is home to 4 schools, including 2 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 1 high school, serving students from preschool through 12th grade. The schools in Bowdle vary in size, with student populations ranging from 12 to 38 students. While the schools face some challenges, such as high chronic absenteeism rates and varying free and reduced lunch rates, one school stands out as a top performer in the region.
Bowdle Elementary - 02 is consistently ranked among the best elementary schools in South Dakota, reaching as high as 42nd out of 207 in 2016-2017. The school's test scores are impressive, with 57.9% of students proficient or better in English Language Arts and 63.16% in Mathematics for all grades in 2024-2025, outperforming both the Bowdle School District and the state of South Dakota. In contrast, Bowdle High School - 01 has shown some improvement in its ranking, but its test scores, particularly in Mathematics, are significantly below the state averages, which could be an area of concern.
The small student populations at the Bowdle schools may present both challenges and opportunities, and the varying free and reduced lunch rates across the schools suggest potential differences in the socioeconomic backgrounds of the student populations. The high chronic absenteeism rates at Bowdle Elementary - 02 and Bowdle Junior High - 03 are also worth further investigation to understand the underlying causes and implement strategies to improve attendance.
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