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Wagner Middle School - 03

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

Wagner Middle School - 03 ranks 151 st of 246 South Dakota middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 5-8

151^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 246 South Dakota Middle Schools

Better than 39% of South Dakota middle schools

Summary

Wagner Middle School - 03 is a public middle school serving grades 5-8 in the Wagner Community School District 11-4 in Wagner, South Dakota. The school has 274 students and is ranked 151 out of 246 South Dakota middle schools, with a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger. The district as a whole is ranked 119 out of 147 in the state and has a 1-star rating.

Wagner Middle School - 03 faces several challenges, including high chronic absenteeism rates ranging from 20.2% to 30.8% over the past few years, significantly higher than the state average. The school also consistently underperforms the state averages in Smarter Balanced Assessments for English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science. For example, in 2024-2025, only 38.05% of students were proficient or better in ELA, compared to the state average of 50.93%. While the school has some bright spots in its subgroup performance, with Hispanic and White students performing relatively well, Female, Male, and Native American students lag behind their peers statewide.

The school's performance has declined over the years, dropping from a 4-star rating in 2014-2015 to a 1-star rating in recent years. Nearby middle schools like Tripp-Delmont Junior High - 02, Armour Middle School - 03, and Avon Middle School - 05 generally outperform Wagner Middle School - 03 on test scores and other metrics, while Andes Central Middle School - 04 performs even worse. With a high per-student spending of $15,197 in 2023-2024, Wagner Middle School - 03 appears to have adequate resources, but the school's underperformance suggests the resources may not be effectively utilized to improve student outcomes.

283

Students ?

12.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$15,800

Per pupil spending ?

100%

Free/discounted lunch ?

101 Walnut Ave SW
Wagner, SD 57380

(605) 384-3913

District: Wagner Community School District 11-4

Students who attend Wagner Middle School - 03 usually attend:

High:

Wagner High School - 01

Feeder schools for Wagner Middle School - 03:

Elementary:

Wagner Elementary - 02

Racial breakdown:

American Indian:

60.8%

White:

27.6%

Two or more races:

10.6%

See top rated South Dakota middle schools

Compare Wagner Middle School - 03 to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 14th percentile in 2021 → 39th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 39th (2025) from a 14th-percentile low (2021)

Worth a look

!Test scores below the South Dakota average (30% vs 47% meeting standards)

!High chronic absenteeism (29% vs 20% South Dakota)

!Mathematics scores 20 pts below the South Dakota average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school30%

District avg32%

South Dakota avg47%

151^st of 246

South Dakota public middle schools ?

Bottom 39%▼ down 30 pts since 2015

From top 31% (2015) to bottom 39% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of South Dakota Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

119^th of 147Wagner Community School District 11-4 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	44.7	151 of 246	38.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	28.3	112 of 147	23.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	32.1	113 of 150	24.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	39.6	97 of 143	32.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	20.2	125 of 145	13.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	46.5	87 of 149	41.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	45.8	89 of 147	39.5%	★★☆☆☆
2017	44.8	96 of 146	34.2%	★★☆☆☆
2016	51.4	67 of 147	54.4%	★★★☆☆
2015	61.7	45 of 145	69.0%	★★★★☆
2013	28.0	129 of 145	11.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	37.4	111 of 146	24.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	27.4	118 of 140	15.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	36.6	115 of 139	17.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	47.8	92 of 139	33.8%	★★☆☆☆
2008	46.1	96 of 136	29.4%	★★☆☆☆
2007	35.9	116 of 136	14.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	45.8	99 of 141	29.8%	★★☆☆☆
2005	42.2	105 of 136	22.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	54.9	79 of 134	41.0%	★★☆☆☆
2003	50.4	77 of 133	42.1%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	40.1	153 of 229	33.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	19.1	99 of 107	7.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	27.6	90 of 112	19.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	33.5	78 of 102	23.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	16.6	102 of 113	9.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	42.1	69 of 107	35.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	55.0	48 of 99	51.5%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	57.5	27 of 117	76.9%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	60.4	52 of 187	72.2%	★★★★☆
2024	58.0	24 of 65	63.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	67.6	14 of 70	80.0%	★★★★☆
2022	80.0	5 of 46	89.1%	★★★★★
2021	54.0	24 of 63	61.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	74.4	12 of 79	84.8%	★★★★☆
2018	78.3	9 of 71	87.3%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	47.8	128 of 233	45.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	36.2	84 of 115	27.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	34.9	86 of 116	25.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	43.3	67 of 104	35.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	25.0	97 of 115	15.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	48.0	59 of 110	46.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	35.1	89 of 111	19.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	50.7	52 of 115	54.8%	★★★☆☆

Native American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	46.2	52 of 111	53.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	33.5	18 of 31	41.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	57.7	6 of 27	77.8%	★★★★☆
2022	67.8	5 of 24	79.2%	★★★★☆
2021	39.5	15 of 25	40.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	66.6	3 of 29	89.7%	★★★★★
2018	64.2	10 of 30	66.7%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	43.8	89 of 181	50.8%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	76.9	27 of 230	88.3%	★★★★☆
2024	60.2	47 of 132	64.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	68.1	32 of 136	76.5%	★★★★☆
2022	77.2	17 of 132	87.1%	★★★★☆
2021	72.7	18 of 136	86.8%	★★★★☆
2019	88.4	4 of 136	97.1%	★★★★★
2018	90.6	1 of 131	99.2%	★★★★★

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)

White (2025)88th percentile+50 vs school

Hispanic (2025)77th percentile+38 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)72nd percentile+34 vs school

Multi-racial (2025)55th percentile+16 vs school

Native American (2025)53rd percentile+15 vs school

Special Education (2025)51st percentile+12 vs school

Male (2025)45th percentile+6 vs school

Female (2025)33rd percentile-5 vs school

By subject vs South Dakota (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts38%-13 vs state

Science30%-14 vs state

Mathematics23%-20 vs state

★

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Schools Near Wagner 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 5th Grade	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 5th Grade	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 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Science 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Science All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Wagner Middle School - 03	Public	5-8	101 Walnut Ave SW	Wagner	57380	Charles Mix County	Wagner Community School District 11-4	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(605) 384-3913	283	22	12.8	100.0%	78 (27.6%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	172 (60.8%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (10.6%)	44.7	151^st of 246 public middle schools	38.6%		28.3	112^th of 147 public middle schools	23.8%	39	18.6	34.6	46.3	50.0	38.1	3.4	28.2	25.4	32.0	23.2	13.6	43.1	29.8	$15,800	$745	$15,055
Andes Central Middle School - 04	Public	6-8	1001 High St	Lake Andes	57356	Charles Mix County	Andes Central School District 11-1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(605) 487-5207	51	7	7.4	100.0%	9 (17.6%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (9.8%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (51.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (21.6%)	14	219^th of 246 public middle schools	11.0%		6.2	141^st of 147 public middle schools	4.1%	78		16.7	21.1	8.3	16.3		11.1	10.5	8.3	10.2		8.3		$22,828	$1,193	$21,635
Avon Middle School - 05	Public	5-8	210 Pine St	Avon	57315	Bon Homme County	Avon School District 04-1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(605) 286-3291	63	6	9.8	25.4%	56 (88.9%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (3.2%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (3.2%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (4.8%)	60.1	96^th of 246 public middle schools	61.0%		50.8	77^th of 147 public middle schools	47.6%	19	36.4	75.0	41.7	40.0	49.2	45.5	68.8	33.3	45.0	49.2	27.3	35.0	32.3	$15,857	$500	$15,357
Armour Middle School - 03	Public	6-8	905 Dobson Ave	Armour	57313	Douglas County	Armour School District 21-1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(605) 724-2698	50	5	9.4	18.0%	40 (80.0%)	2 (4.0%)	3 (6.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (6.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (4.0%)	60.6	94^th of 246 public middle schools	61.8%		55.6	65^th of 147 public middle schools	55.8%	29		55.6	47.8	52.9	51.0		44.4	52.2	47.1	49.0		35.3		$13,952	$999	$12,953
Tripp-Delmont Junior High - 02	Public	7-8	105 S Sloan	Tripp	57376	Hutchinson County	Tripp-Delmont School District 33-5	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(605) 935-6766	18	2	10.4	61.1%	18 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	43.5	159^th of 246 public middle schools	35.4%					(n/a)			40.0	38.5	38.9			20.0	30.8	27.8		38.5		$22,426	$40	$22,385

Frequently Asked Questions about Wagner Middle School - 03

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

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

Is Wagner Middle School - 03 a good school?

Wagner Middle School - 03 ranks 151^st of 246 South Dakota middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Wagner Middle School - 03?

In the 2024-25 school year, 283 students attended Wagner Middle School - 03.

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

Students at Wagner Middle School - 03 are 61% American Indian, 28% White, 11% Two or more races, 1% Hispanic.

What district is Wagner Middle School - 03 in?

Wagner Community School District 11-4

Rate Wagner 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.