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Estelline Middle School - 03

Q: Is Estelline Middle School - 03 a good school?

Estelline Middle School - 03 ranks 160 th of 246 South Dakota middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

160^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 246 South Dakota Middle Schools

Better than 35% of South Dakota middle schools

Summary

Estelline Middle School - 03 is a public middle school serving grades 6-8 in Estelline, South Dakota, with a total enrollment of 53 students. The school is part of the Estelline School District 28-2, which is ranked 96 out of 147 districts in the state and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Estelline Middle School - 03 has consistently underperformed compared to the state and its own district averages on Smarter Balanced Assessments in English Language Arts and Mathematics. In the 2024-2025 school year, only 30.35% of all students were proficient or better in ELA, compared to 50.93% statewide. In Mathematics, the school's proficiency rate was 42.86%, while the state average was 43.49%. The school has also struggled with high chronic absenteeism rates, reaching 20.2% in the 2024-2025 school year, significantly higher than the state average. When compared to nearby middle schools, such as Arlington Junior High - 03, Sioux Valley Middle School - 04, and Deubrook Junior High - 02, Estelline Middle School - 03 performs significantly worse, with higher academic proficiency rates, lower chronic absenteeism, and better overall rankings from SchoolDigger.

The significant performance gaps between different student subgroups at Estelline Middle School - 03 suggest that the school may need to address issues of equity and ensure that all students have access to the resources and support they need to succeed. The school's declining performance and the stark contrast with nearby higher-performing schools indicate that the district and school leadership may need to implement targeted interventions and strategies to improve the educational experience and outcomes for all students at Estelline Middle School - 03.

Students ?

13.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$13,354

Per pupil spending ?

36.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

708 Davis Ave
Estelline, SD 57234

(605) 873-2201

District: Estelline School District 28-2

Students who attend Estelline Middle School - 03 usually attend:

High:

Estelline High School - 01

Feeder schools for Estelline Middle School - 03:

Elementary:

Estelline Elementary - 02

Racial breakdown:

White:

80.0%

Hispanic:

15.0%

Two or more races:

5.0%

See top rated South Dakota middle schools

Compare Estelline Middle School - 03 to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 51st percentile in 2015 → 35th in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the South Dakota average (35% vs 47% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped — down 16 percentile points since 2015

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school35%

District avg44%

South Dakota avg47%

160^th of 246

South Dakota public middle schools ?

Bottom 35%▼ down 16 pts since 2015

From top 49% (2015) to bottom 35% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of South Dakota Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

96^th of 147Estelline School District 28-2 among South Dakota districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	43.2	160 of 246	35.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	52.4	71 of 147	51.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	55.5	65 of 150	56.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	55.4	60 of 143	58.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	40.7	96 of 145	33.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	63.8	46 of 149	69.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	34.7	113 of 147	23.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	23.6	124 of 146	15.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	43.7	97 of 147	34.0%	★★☆☆☆
2015	51.1	71 of 145	51.0%	★★★☆☆
2013	51.7	88 of 145	39.3%	★★☆☆☆
2012	59.1	65 of 146	55.5%	★★★☆☆
2011	65.5	47 of 140	66.4%	★★★☆☆
2010	52.9	83 of 139	40.3%	★★☆☆☆
2009	57.3	66 of 139	52.5%	★★★☆☆
2008	62.4	52 of 136	61.8%	★★★☆☆
2007	66.8	39 of 136	71.3%	★★★★☆
2006	38.0	116 of 141	17.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	42.1	106 of 136	22.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	77.1	11 of 134	91.8%	★★★★★
2003	55.0	67 of 133	49.6%	★★★☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	29.6	107 of 117	8.5%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	35.2	167 of 229	27.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	25.8	98 of 117	16.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	29.9	151 of 187	19.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	55.0	106 of 233	54.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	54.3	51 of 115	55.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	61.5	34 of 116	70.7%	★★★★☆
2022	50.0	50 of 104	51.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	51.4	49 of 115	57.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	79.3	16 of 110	85.5%	★★★★☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	57.3	33 of 115	71.3%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	32.6	136 of 181	24.9%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	41.9	152 of 230	33.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	44.5	79 of 132	40.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	48.9	68 of 136	50.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	59.3	49 of 132	62.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	39.3	91 of 136	33.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	64.5	42 of 136	69.1%	★★★★☆
2018	24.7	112 of 131	14.5%	★☆☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Multi-racial (2025)71st percentile+36 vs school

Male (2025)55th percentile+20 vs school

White (2025)34th percentile~ school

Female (2025)27th percentile-8 vs school

Special Education (2025)25th percentile-10 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)19th percentile-16 vs school

Hispanic (2025)16th percentile-19 vs school

English Language Learner (2025)9th percentile-26 vs school

By subject vs South Dakota (2024-2025) ?

Mathematics43%~ state avg

English Language Arts30%-21 vs state

Science29%-14 vs state

★

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Schools Near Estelline Middle School - 03

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts (2025)				Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2025)				Smarter Balanced Assessments Science (2025)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Estelline Middle School - 03	Public	6-8	708 Davis Ave	Estelline	57234	Hamlin County	Estelline School District 28-2	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(605) 873-2201	60	4	13.9	36.7%	48 (80.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (15.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (5.0%)	43.2	160^th of 246 public middle schools	35.0%		52.4	71^st of 147 public middle schools	51.7%	89	26.3	50.0	19.1	30.4	42.1	56.3	33.3	42.9	28.6	$13,354	$674	$12,680
Castlewood Middle School - 03	Public	6-8	310 E Harry St	Castlewood	57223	Hamlin County	Castlewood School District 28-1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(605) 793-2497	76	4	18.2	18.4%	69 (90.8%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (6.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (2.6%)	40.5	168^th of 246 public middle schools	31.7%		48.1	81^st of 147 public middle schools	44.9%	87	28.0	48.2	41.7	39.5	36.0	33.3	16.7	29.0	33.3	$11,116	$121	$10,995
Deubrook Junior High - 02	Public	7-8	100 School Ave	White	57276	Brookings County	Deubrook Area School District 05-6	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(605) 629-1114	47	4	11.6	14.9%	45 (95.7%)	1 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (2.1%)	54.4	116^th of 246 public middle schools	52.8%		46.9	85^th of 147 public middle schools	42.2%	31		50.0	35.3	44.4		39.3	47.1	42.2	47.1	$12,837	$04	$12,833
Clear Lake Middle School - 04	Public	6-8	410 5th St W	Clear Lake	57226	Deuel County	Deuel School District 19-4	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(605) 874-2162	104	6	16.4	26.0%	96 (92.3%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (4.8%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (2.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	63.4	82^nd of 246 public middle schools	66.7%		74.8	27^th of 147 public middle schools	81.6%	55	39.0	53.3	41.2	43.8	63.4	50.0	44.1	53.3	61.8	$11,540	$00	$11,540
Sioux Valley Middle School - 04	Public	6-8	200 Hansina Ave	Volga	57071	Brookings County	Sioux Valley School District 05-5	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(605) 627-5657	156	12	12.6	14.1%	143 (91.7%)	1 (0.6%)	5 (3.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (3.8%)	67.3	66^th of 246 public middle schools	73.2%		58.5	58^th of 147 public middle schools	60.5%	8	62.5	61.0	51.0	58.2	50.0	44.1	56.9	50.0	43.1	$10,693	$15	$10,679
Arlington Junior High - 03	Public	7-8	306 S Main St	Arlington	57212	Kingsbury County	Arlington School District 38-1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(605) 983-5598	47	3	18.1	19.1%	45 (95.7%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (4.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	77.1	29^th of 246 public middle schools	88.2%		88.2	9^th of 147 public middle schools	93.9%	20		54.5	57.7	56.3		77.3	65.4	70.8	53.9	$14,459	$27	$14,432

Frequently Asked Questions about Estelline Middle School - 03

Is Estelline Middle School - 03 a good school?

Estelline Middle School - 03 ranks 160^th of 246 South Dakota middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What high school do graduates of Estelline Middle School - 03 attend?

Students who attend Estelline Middle School - 03 usually go on to attend Estelline High School - 01

What district is Estelline Middle School - 03 in?

Estelline School District 28-2

How many students attend Estelline Middle School - 03?

In the 2024-25 school year, 60 students attended Estelline Middle School - 03.

What is the racial makeup of Estelline Middle School - 03?

Students at Estelline Middle School - 03 are 80% White, 15% Hispanic, 5% Two or more races.

Rate Estelline Middle School - 03!

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the South Dakota Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.