Willow Lake School District 12-3

400 Garfield Ave
Willow Lake, SD 57278
(District boundaries shown in map)
3/
10
Bottom 50%
For the 2026 school year, there is 1 public high school serving 56 students in Willow Lake School District 12-3. This district's average high testing ranking is 8/10, which is in the top 30% of public high schools in South Dakota.
Public High School in Willow Lake School District 12-3 have an average math proficiency score of 50% (versus the South Dakota public high school average of 40%), and reading proficiency score of 50% (versus the 63% statewide average).
Public High School in Willow Lake School District 12-3 have a Graduation Rate of 50%, which is less than the South Dakota average of 82%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Willow Lake High School - 01, with ≥50% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in South Dakota or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 5% of the student body (majority American Indian), which is less than the South Dakota public high school average of 35% (majority American Indian).

Overview

This School District
This State (SD)
# Schools
6 Schools
217 Schools
# Students
338 Students
46,971 Students
# Teachers
27 Teachers
3,330 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
13:1
13:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Willow Lake School District 12-3, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 146 school districts in South Dakota (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 80% has increased from 50% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (SD)
#105 out of 148 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
41%
42%
40-44%
51%
20-24%
42%
(21-22)
≥80%
82%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.09
0.54
% American Indian
1%
19%
% Asian
n/a
1%
% Hispanic
2%
7%
% Black
1%
3%
% White
96%
65%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
n/a
5%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $11,497 in this school district is less than the state median of $13,146. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $10,657 is less than the state median of $12,647. The school district spending/student has declined by 8% over four school years.
This School District
This State (SD)
Total Revenue
$4 MM
$1,916 MM
Spending
$4 MM
$1,844 MM
Revenue / Student
$11,497
$13,146
Spending / Student
$10,657
$12,647

Best Willow Lake School District 12-3 Public High Schools (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Willow Lake High School - 01
(Math: <50% | Reading: ≥50%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
400 Garfield Ave
Willow Lake, SD 57278
(605) 625-5945
Gr: 9-12 | 56 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 5%

Recent Articles

Helping Children Overcome First-Week School Anxiety
Helping Children Overcome First-Week School Anxiety
Learn practical strategies to help children overcome first-week school anxiety, with expert-backed tips for parents and educators.
Public School Immunization Requirements 2026–2027
Public School Immunization Requirements 2026–2027
Learn public school immunization and health requirements for 2026–2027, including vaccines, exemptions, and state policy updates.
Public Schools in a Minute: 2026 Snapshot Guide
Public Schools in a Minute: 2026 Snapshot Guide
A clear 2026 snapshot of public schools in the U.S., including enrollment, funding, trends, and what families should know.

Quick Facts (2026)

  • District size: 6 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 338 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 13:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 4%
  • : ≥80% (Top 50% in SD)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 41% (Btm 50%)
  • : 40-44% (Btm 50%)
  • : 20-24% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), SD Dept. of Education

Quick Links