Middle Schools in Aberdeen School District 06-1

The Aberdeen School District 06-1 in South Dakota is home to two middle schools: Holgate Middle School - 02 and Simmons Middle School - 03. Based on the available data, Holgate Middle School - 02 appears to be the standout performer in the district, consistently ranking higher in statewide rankings and outperforming Simmons Middle School - 03 and the overall district in academic achievement.

Holgate Middle School - 02 ranked 32nd out of 147 South Dakota middle schools in the 2023-2024 school year, while Simmons Middle School - 03 ranked 88th. In the 2024-2025 school year, Holgate had higher percentages of students proficient or better in English Language Arts and Mathematics across all grade levels compared to Simmons and the district. Both schools, however, had a chronic absenteeism rate of 20.2%, which is higher than the state average.

While Simmons Middle School - 03 had a significantly higher percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch at 40.39% in the 2023-2024 school year, compared to 26.12% at Holgate Middle School - 02, the per-student spending and student-teacher ratios were relatively similar between the two schools. This suggests a relatively equitable distribution of resources, despite the difference in student demographics. Further investigation into the factors contributing to the performance gap between the two schools could help identify best practices that could be replicated across the district.