Irene - Wakonda School District 13-3

The Irene - Wakonda School District 13-3 serves the local community with 3 schools - 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high school. While the high school, Irene - Wakonda High School - 01, consistently ranks among the top schools in the state, the elementary and middle schools have shown more mixed performance.

Irene - Wakonda High School - 01 stands out as the district's top performer, earning a 4-star rating and ranking in the top 26-31 high schools in South Dakota. The school boasts impressive academic results, with 94.44% of 11th graders proficient or better in English Language Arts and 72.23% proficient or better in Science. In contrast, Irene - Wakonda Elementary - 02 and Irene - Wakonda Junior High - 04 have struggled, with the elementary school ranking 121st out of 204 in 2022-2023 and only 204th out of 300 in 2024-2025.

Across the district, high chronic absenteeism rates at the elementary and middle schools, ranging from 20.2%, likely contribute to the academic challenges. Additionally, the relatively high free/reduced lunch rates, from 29.49% at the high school to 32.3% at the elementary school, suggest the district serves a population with significant economic challenges. The variation in spending per student and student-teacher ratios across the schools indicates the district may need to re-evaluate its resource allocation to ensure equity and optimal learning environments for all students.