Meade School District 46-1

The Meade School District 46-1 in South Dakota encompasses 11 schools, including 8 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high school. The district serves a diverse student population across a range of communities, from the larger town of Sturgis to smaller, more rural areas.

Within the district, a few schools stand out for their exceptional performance. Whitewood Elementary - 04 and Elm Springs Elementary - 13 are both 5-star rated schools, with Whitewood Elementary consistently ranking among the top elementary schools in the state and Elm Springs Elementary ranking 23rd out of 300 South Dakota elementary schools. These schools boast impressive test scores, with over 70% of students proficient or better in English Language Arts and Mathematics. In contrast, smaller, more rural schools like Opal Elementary - 15 and Hereford Elementary - 08 struggle with lower test scores.

The district's only high school, Sturgis Brown High School - 01, has a 3-star rating and ranks in the top half of South Dakota high schools. It maintains a relatively high graduation rate of 86.4% and solid test scores, particularly in English Language Arts. However, the district as a whole faces challenges, such as a chronic absenteeism rate of 20.2% across all schools and significant variations in free and reduced-price lunch rates, which may indicate equity concerns that need to be addressed.