Best Middle Schools in Howard, SD

The city of Howard, South Dakota is home to a single middle school, Howard Junior High - 05, which serves as a standout institution within the Howard School District 48-3. This middle school consistently outperforms the state average on standardized tests, ranking 26th out of 246 middle schools in South Dakota for the 2024-2025 school year, placing it in the top 10% of middle schools statewide.

Howard Junior High - 05 boasts impressive academic achievements, with proficiency rates significantly above the state average in both English Language Arts and Mathematics across all grade levels. The school's 8th grade proficiency rates in Mathematics (72%) and Science (64%) are particularly noteworthy, exceeding the state averages by over 30 percentage points. Additionally, the Howard School District as a whole is ranked 10th out of 147 districts in the state and has a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger, further highlighting the excellence of the educational system in this area.

While the school serves a diverse population, with 24.29% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, it continues to deliver exceptional educational outcomes for all learners. The school's strong academic performance, coupled with its ability to support the needs of students from various socioeconomic backgrounds, make it a model for other schools to emulate. However, the school may have an opportunity to further strengthen its literacy instruction and support, as the proficiency rates in English Language Arts are slightly lower compared to Mathematics and Science.