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Northwestern High School - 01

Public Grades 9-12

115^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 130 South Dakota High Schools

Better than 12% of South Dakota high schools

Summary

Northwestern High School - 01 serves 91 students in grades 9–12 in Mellette, South Dakota. Its latest reported graduation rate was 68%, down from 100% the year before. Most concerning, that rate is 20 percentage points below the state’s 88% rate.

On the latest 11th-grade ACT results, the school was below the state in all three subjects and matched the reported rates for the Northwestern Area School District 56-7: 42% in English language arts (ELA), 20% in mathematics, and 33% in science, compared with state rates of 48%, 34%, and 45%. Mathematics is the clearest weakness: the school was lowest among nearby schools with scores in both math and science, and its math rate was 23 points below their average. In ELA, it was second-lowest, just above Central High School - 01. Earlier, in 2024–2025, Northwestern’s 11th graders had stronger results against the state, and its ELA result also exceeded Redfield High School - 01’s.

SchoolDigger ranked Northwestern 115th of 130 South Dakota high schools for 2025–2026, at the 12th percentile with 1 star—down from 20th of 166, the 88th percentile, and 4 stars the prior year. Its 2024–2025 student-teacher ratio was 11.8, and 14% of students were free/reduced lunch eligible that year. SchoolDigger’s statewide measure for how well the school served Hispanic students placed it at the 57th percentile in 2024–2025, compared with the school’s overall 88th percentile; for students receiving special education, it was at the 63rd percentile. The latest graduation rate is also 3 points above the district’s 65% rate, while nearby rates ranged from 86% at Central to 100% at Warner High School - 01.

Students ?

11.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,315

Per pupil spending ?

14.3%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

221 3rd St
Mellette, SD 57461

(605) 887-3467

District: Northwestern Area School District 56-7

Feeder schools for Northwestern High School - 01:

Elementary:	Northwestern Elementary - 04
Middle:	Northwestern Middle School - 02

Racial breakdown:

White:

95.6%

Hispanic:

2.2%

African American:

1.1%

See top rated South Dakota high schools

Compare Northwestern High School - 01 to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 39th percentile in 2016 → 12th in 2026

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 12 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the South Dakota average (32% vs 42% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (12th percentile)

!Graduation rate below the South Dakota average (68% vs 88%)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school32%

District avg32%

South Dakota avg42%

115^th of 130

South Dakota public high schools ?

Bottom 12%▼ down 27 pts since 2016

From bottom 39% (2016) to bottom 12% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of South Dakota High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

81^st of 126Northwestern Area School District 56-7 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
2026	19.6	115 of 130	11.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	80.9	20 of 166	88.0%	★★★★☆
2024	85.3	16 of 141	88.7%	★★★★☆
2023	84.5	13 of 138	90.6%	★★★★★
2022	86.7	13 of 134	90.3%	★★★★★
2021	81.7	14 of 140	90.0%	★★★★★
2019	30.1	102 of 135	24.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	77.6	18 of 138	87.0%	★★★★☆
2017	45.8	86 of 137	37.2%	★★☆☆☆
2016	47.3	86 of 141	39.0%	★★☆☆☆
2015	57.4	58 of 133	56.4%	★★★☆☆
2013	84.0	9 of 144	93.8%	★★★★★
2012	47.6	90 of 143	37.1%	★★☆☆☆
2011	51.5	77 of 141	45.4%	★★☆☆☆
2010	81.5	12 of 150	92.0%	★★★★★
2009	58.3	68 of 144	52.8%	★★★☆☆
2008	43.5	85 of 135	37.0%	★★☆☆☆
2007	55.0	74 of 141	47.5%	★★☆☆☆
2006	23.7	114 of 136	16.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	79.3	14 of 137	89.8%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2026	21.9	81 of 96	15.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	72.9	35 of 164	78.7%	★★★★☆
2021	72.5	20 of 89	77.5%	★★★★☆
2019	36.1	59 of 83	28.9%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	45.0	35 of 81	56.8%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	73.5	27 of 154	82.5%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2026	20.8	81 of 95	14.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	83.3	20 of 162	87.7%	★★★★☆
2024	87.1	12 of 107	88.8%	★★★★☆
2023	91.3	6 of 96	93.8%	★★★★★
2022	87.7	10 of 87	88.5%	★★★★☆
2021	84.9	8 of 89	91.0%	★★★★★

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	49.0	52 of 140	62.9%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2026	13.8	111 of 121	8.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	77.3	23 of 158	85.4%	★★★★☆
2024	76.8	22 of 125	82.4%	★★★★☆
2023	78.5	15 of 121	87.6%	★★★★☆
2022	78.3	21 of 123	82.9%	★★★★☆
2021	78.4	17 of 129	86.8%	★★★★☆
2019	25.4	100 of 123	18.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	71.8	23 of 123	81.3%	★★★★☆

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)

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)82nd percentile-5 vs school

Special Education (2025)63rd percentile-25 vs school

Hispanic (2025)57th percentile-31 vs school

Female (2026)16th percentile+4 vs school

Male (2026)15th percentile+3 vs school

White (2026)8th percentile-3 vs school

By subject vs South Dakota (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts42%-7 vs state

Science33%-12 vs state

Mathematics20%-14 vs state

★

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Schools Near Northwestern High School - 01

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				SD ACT English Language Arts (2026)	SD ACT Mathematics (2026)	SD ACT Science (2026)	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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	SD ACT English Language Arts 11th Grade	SD ACT Mathematics 11th Grade	SD ACT Science 11th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Northwestern High School - 01	Public	9-12	221 3rd St	Mellette	57461	Spink County	Northwestern Area School District 56-7	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(605) 887-3467	91	8	11.8	14.3%	87 (95.6%)	1 (1.1%)	2 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.1%)	19.6	115^th of 130 public high schools	11.5%		80.9	20^th of 166 public high schools	88.0%	95	41.7	20.0	33.3	$14,315	$71	$14,244
Warner High School - 01	Public	9-12	110 1st Ave SW	Warner	57479	Brown County	Warner School District 06-5	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(605) 225-6194	85	8	10.9	9.4%	79 (92.9%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (3.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (3.5%)	98	1^st of 130 public high schools	99.2%		97.5	1^st of 166 public high schools	99.4%		73.9	69.6	73.9	$11,260	$65	$11,195
Turtle Creek High School - 04	Public	9-12	17267 3rd St	Redfield	57469	Spink County	Redfield School District 56-4	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(605) 472-4520	8	1	8.8	—	5 (62.5%)	1 (12.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (25.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Redfield High School - 01	Public	9-12	111 6th Ave E	Redfield	57469	Spink County	Redfield School District 56-4	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(605) 472-4520	153	14	10.7	19.0%	139 (90.8%)	3 (2.0%)	8 (5.2%)	1 (0.7%)	2 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	66.2	38^th of 130 public high schools	70.8%		74.1	33^rd of 166 public high schools	80.1%	5	48.4	54.8	48.4	$17,060	$2,371	$14,688
Central High School - 01	Public	9-12	2200 S Roosevelt St	Aberdeen	57401	Brown County	Aberdeen School District 06-1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(605) 725-8100	1,384	80	17.2	33.8%	1,022 (73.8%)	31 (2.2%)	121 (8.7%)	38 (2.7%)	93 (6.7%)	9 (0.7%)	70 (5.1%)	29	99^th of 130 public high schools	23.8%		46.1	97^th of 166 public high schools	41.6%	2	41.1	26.8	40.1	$10,660	$445	$10,215

Frequently Asked Questions about Northwestern High School - 01

What is the racial makeup of Northwestern High School - 01?

Students at Northwestern High School - 01 are 96% White, 2% Hispanic, 1% African American, 1% Two or more races.

Is Northwestern High School - 01 a good school?

Northwestern High School - 01 ranks in the bottom 11.5% of South Dakota high schools.

How many students attend Northwestern High School - 01?

In the 2024-25 school year, 91 students attended Northwestern High School - 01.

What district is Northwestern High School - 01 in?

Northwestern Area School District 56-7

What schools feed into Northwestern High School - 01?

Northwestern High School - 01 is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Northwestern Elementary - 04
Middle : Northwestern Middle School - 02

Rate Northwestern High School - 01!

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SDSouth Dakota District Rankings

Schools in Mellette, SD

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Latest South Dakota data All new data »

2025–26 attendance data, dropout rates & graduation ratesNewNov 6, 2026

2025–26 SD ACT & Smarter Balanced Assessments scoresNewNov 6, 2026

2024–25 attendance data & graduation rates (updated)NewNov 1, 2026

2025–26 immunization ratesOct 24, 2026

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.