Interior Elementary - 09

Interior Elementary - 09 is a small public elementary school located in Interior, South Dakota, serving grades K-8 with a total enrollment of 21 students. The school is part of the Kadoka Area School District 35-2, which is ranked 51 out of 147 school districts in the state and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

While Interior Elementary - 09 has a relatively low student-teacher ratio and high per-student spending, the school is facing significant challenges. It has experienced high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 20.2% to 35.2% over the past few years, which is significantly higher than the state average. Academically, the school's performance on Smarter Balanced Assessments is significantly below the district and state averages in both English Language Arts and Mathematics, with only 18.18% of students proficient or better in ELA in the 2024-2025 school year, compared to 50.93% statewide. The school's performance is particularly low for certain student subgroups, such as female students, male students, Hispanic students, Native American students, and low socioeconomic status students.

The combination of high chronic absenteeism, low academic performance, and equity concerns suggests that Interior Elementary - 09 may benefit from targeted interventions and support to address the unique challenges facing the school and its student population. Addressing these issues will likely require a comprehensive, data-driven approach that takes into account the school's unique context and the needs of its diverse student body.