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Dakota Valley Middle School - 03

Q: Is Dakota Valley Middle School - 03 a good school?

Dakota Valley Middle School - 03 ranks 28 th of 246 South Dakota middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

28^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 246 South Dakota Middle Schools

Better than 89% of South Dakota middle schools

Summary

Dakota Valley Middle School - 03 is a public middle school located in North Sioux City, South Dakota, serving grades 6-8 with a total enrollment of 341 students. The school is part of the Dakota Valley School District 61-8, which is ranked 23 out of 147 school districts in the state and has a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Dakota Valley Middle School - 03 consistently performs well on the Smarter Balanced Assessments, outperforming the state averages in both English Language Arts and Mathematics across all grade levels. The school has shown strong performance in supporting its special education and low-income student populations, ranking highly among South Dakota middle schools in these areas. While the school's chronic absenteeism rates have fluctuated, they remain lower than the state average, indicating a relatively strong attendance record.

Compared to the nearby Elk Point-Jefferson Middle School - 03, Dakota Valley Middle School - 03 has significantly higher academic performance, with 70.33% of students proficient or better in ELA and 54.9% in Mathematics, compared to Elk Point-Jefferson's 46.25% and 53.74%, respectively. Dakota Valley Middle School - 03 has maintained a strong academic standing, ranking among the top 25-40 middle schools in South Dakota for the past several years, with a consistent 4-star rating from SchoolDigger.

345

Students ?

17.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$11,293

Per pupil spending ?

12.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1150 Northshore Dr
North Sioux City, SD 57049

(605) 422-3830

District: Dakota Valley School District 61-8

Students who attend Dakota Valley Middle School - 03 usually attend:

High:

Dakota Valley High School - 01

Feeder schools for Dakota Valley Middle School - 03:

Elementary:	Dakota Valley Elementary - 02
	Dakota Valley Upper Elementary - 04

Racial breakdown:

White:

74.5%

Hispanic:

10.1%

Two or more races:

7.5%

See top rated South Dakota middle schools

Compare Dakota Valley Middle School - 03 to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 88th percentile in 2015 → 89th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the South Dakota average (61% vs 47% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 11% of South Dakota middle schools

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school61%

District avg58%

South Dakota avg47%

28^th of 246

South Dakota public middle schools ?

Top 11%▲ up 1 pts since 2015

See the entire ranking list of South Dakota Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

23^rd of 147Dakota Valley School District 61-8 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	77.9	28 of 246	88.6%	★★★★☆
2024	76.9	25 of 147	83.0%	★★★★☆
2023	67.1	38 of 150	74.7%	★★★★☆
2022	73.5	23 of 143	83.9%	★★★★☆
2021	62.4	43 of 145	70.3%	★★★★☆
2019	69.2	39 of 149	73.8%	★★★★☆
2018	73.2	26 of 147	82.3%	★★★★☆
2017	64.6	42 of 146	71.2%	★★★★☆
2016	73.9	27 of 147	81.6%	★★★★☆
2015	79.1	18 of 145	87.6%	★★★★☆
2013	61.7	57 of 145	60.7%	★★★☆☆
2012	64.4	52 of 146	64.4%	★★★☆☆
2011	55.4	79 of 140	43.6%	★★☆☆☆
2010	55.4	78 of 139	43.9%	★★☆☆☆
2009	57.2	67 of 139	51.8%	★★★☆☆
2008	50.4	86 of 136	36.8%	★★☆☆☆
2007	51.9	87 of 136	36.0%	★★☆☆☆
2006	50.0	88 of 141	37.6%	★★☆☆☆
2005	52.8	81 of 136	40.4%	★★☆☆☆
2004	63.8	40 of 134	70.1%	★★★★☆
2003	54.0	69 of 133	48.1%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	70.3	6 of 47	87.2%	★★★★☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	62.2	12 of 39	69.2%	★★★★☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	73.1	9 of 117	92.3%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	67.9	48 of 229	79.0%	★★★★☆
2024	78.5	13 of 107	87.9%	★★★★☆
2023	66.4	30 of 112	73.2%	★★★★☆
2022	72.4	18 of 102	82.4%	★★★★☆
2021	53.7	58 of 113	48.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	62.0	34 of 107	68.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	69.7	27 of 99	72.7%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	66.6	19 of 117	83.8%	★★★★☆
2024	85.2	2 of 26	92.3%	★★★★★
2023	54.7	11 of 24	54.2%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	54.9	72 of 187	61.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	67.6	12 of 65	81.5%	★★★★☆
2023	40.6	45 of 70	35.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	36.8	43 of 63	31.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	53.7	33 of 79	58.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	67.7	19 of 71	73.2%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	80.1	20 of 233	91.4%	★★★★★
2024	71.8	23 of 115	80.0%	★★★★☆
2023	63.9	32 of 116	72.4%	★★★★☆
2022	70.3	21 of 104	79.8%	★★★★☆
2021	69.5	23 of 115	80.0%	★★★★☆
2019	71.1	28 of 110	74.5%	★★★★☆
2018	71.9	21 of 111	81.1%	★★★★☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	61.9	25 of 115	78.3%	★★★★☆
2021	65.0	5 of 18	72.2%	★★★★☆

Native American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	52.1	35 of 111	68.5%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	62.7	31 of 181	82.9%	★★★★☆
2023	60.4	8 of 27	70.4%	★★★★☆
2022	75.7	4 of 25	84.0%	★★★★☆
2018	53.0	15 of 32	53.1%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	75.7	29 of 230	87.4%	★★★★☆
2024	70.3	29 of 132	78.0%	★★★★☆
2023	61.7	40 of 136	70.6%	★★★★☆
2022	69.0	31 of 132	76.5%	★★★★☆
2021	56.2	57 of 136	58.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	61.8	47 of 136	65.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	68.9	31 of 131	76.3%	★★★★☆

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)

English Language Learner (2025)92nd percentile+4 vs school

Male (2025)91st percentile+3 vs school

White (2025)87th percentile~ school

African American (2025)87th percentile~ school

Hispanic (2025)84th percentile-5 vs school

Special Education (2025)83rd percentile-6 vs school

Female (2025)79th percentile-10 vs school

Multi-racial (2025)78th percentile-10 vs school

Asian (2025)69th percentile-19 vs school

Native American (2025)68th percentile-20 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)61st percentile-27 vs school

By subject vs South Dakota (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts70%+19 vs state

Mathematics55%+11 vs state

Science50%+7 vs state

★

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Schools Near Dakota Valley 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
Dakota Valley Middle School - 03	Public	6-8	1150 Northshore Dr	North Sioux City	57049	Union County	Dakota Valley School District 61-8	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(605) 422-3830	345	20	17.0	12.5%	257 (74.5%)	7 (2.0%)	35 (10.1%)	12 (3.5%)	5 (1.4%)	3 (0.9%)	26 (7.5%)	77.9	28^th of 246 public middle schools	88.6%		76.9	25^th of 147 public middle schools	83.0%	3	69.4	73.7	67.6	70.3	53.2	59.3	51.9	54.9	50.0	$11,293	$568	$10,724
Elk Point-Jefferson Middle School - 03	Public	6-8	402 S Douglas St	Elk Point	57025	Union County	Elk Point-Jefferson School District 61-7	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(605) 356-5901	151	9	16.2	19.2%	134 (88.7%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (5.3%)	1 (0.7%)	1 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (4.6%)	63.6	81^st of 246 public middle schools	67.1%		47.4	82^nd of 147 public middle schools	44.2%	1	40.0	45.5	54.2	46.3	40.0	59.1	64.6	53.7	56.3	$14,638	$270	$14,368

Frequently Asked Questions about Dakota Valley Middle School - 03

Is Dakota Valley Middle School - 03 a good school?

Dakota Valley Middle School - 03 ranks 28^th of 246 South Dakota middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Dakota Valley Middle School - 03?

Students at Dakota Valley Middle School - 03 are 74% White, 10% Hispanic, 8% Two or more races, 3% Asian, 2% African American, 1% American Indian.

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

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

How many students attend Dakota Valley Middle School - 03?

In the 2024-25 school year, 345 students attended Dakota Valley Middle School - 03.

What district is Dakota Valley Middle School - 03 in?

Dakota Valley School District 61-8

Rate Dakota Valley 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.