Top Rankings
Watertown School District 14-4 ranks among the top 20% of public school district in South Dakota for:
Category
Attribute
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 20%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 8 public schools serving 3,542 students in Watertown School District 14-4. This district's average testing ranking is 8/10, which is in the top 30% of public schools in South Dakota.
Public Schools in Watertown School District 14-4 have an average math proficiency score of 52% (versus the South Dakota public school average of 43%), and reading proficiency score of 60% (versus the 51% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 18% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the South Dakota public school average of 33% (majority American Indian).
Overview
This School District
This State (SD)
# Schools
8 Schools
734 Schools
# Students
3,542 Students
146,041 Students
# Teachers
234 Teachers
10,645 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
15:1
15:1
District Rank
Watertown School District 14-4, which is ranked within the top 30% of all 146 school districts in South Dakota (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 90% has increased from 86% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#46 out of 148 school districts
(Top 50%)
(Top 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
51%
42%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
59%
51%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
49%
42%
Graduation Rate
90%
82%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.32
0.53
# American Indian Students
129 Students
20,873 Students
% American Indian Students
4%
14%
# Asian Students
26 Students
2,252 Students
% Asian Students
1%
2%
# Hispanic Students
263 Students
11,917 Students
% Hispanic Students
7%
8%
# Black Students
9 Students
4,730 Students
% Black Students
n/a
3%
# White Students
2,911 Students
97,780 Students
% White Students
82%
67%
# Hawaiian Students
n/a
197 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
204 Students
8,292 Students
% of Two or more races Students
6%
6%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
64
3,175
# Students in K Grade:
236
11,936
# Students in 1st Grade:
215
10,796
# Students in 2nd Grade:
219
10,955
# Students in 3rd Grade:
223
10,445
# Students in 4th Grade:
215
10,671
# Students in 5th Grade:
283
10,790
# Students in 6th Grade:
276
10,961
# Students in 7th Grade:
299
11,058
# Students in 8th Grade:
290
11,237
# Students in 9th Grade:
333
12,230
# Students in 10th Grade:
303
11,381
# Students in 11th Grade:
293
10,546
# Students in 12th Grade:
293
9,860
# Ungraded Students:
-
-
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $12,794 in this school district is less than the state median of $13,121. The school district revenue/student has grown by 11% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $13,363 is higher than the state median of $12,623. The school district spending/student has grown by 11% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$45 MM
$1,916 MM
Spending
$47 MM
$1,844 MM
Revenue / Student
$12,794
$13,121
Spending / Student
$13,363
$12,623
Best Watertown School District 14-4 Public Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Lincoln Elementary - 05
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
1100 13th St Ne
Watertown, SD 57201
(605) 882-6340
Watertown, SD 57201
(605) 882-6340
Grades: PK-4
| 338 students
Rank: #22.
Mckinley Elementary - 06
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
5 12th St Sw
Watertown, SD 57201
(605) 882-6350
Watertown, SD 57201
(605) 882-6350
Grades: PK-4
| 255 students
Rank: #33.
Watertown Middle School - 02
(Math: 48% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1700 11th St Ne
Watertown, SD 57201
(605) 882-6370
Watertown, SD 57201
(605) 882-6370
Grades: 7-8
| 587 students
Rank: #44.
Mellette Elementary - 07
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
619 2nd St Nw
Watertown, SD 57201
(605) 882-6385
Watertown, SD 57201
(605) 882-6385
Grades: PK-4
| 235 students
Rank: #55.
Watertown High School - 01
(Math: 39% | Reading: 69%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
200 Ne 9th St
Watertown, SD 57201
(605) 882-6316
Watertown, SD 57201
(605) 882-6316
Grades: 9-12
| 1,222 students
Rank: #66.
Jefferson Elementary - 09
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
1701 N Maple St
Watertown, SD 57201
(605) 882-6390
Watertown, SD 57201
(605) 882-6390
Grades: PK-4
| 332 students
Rank: #77.
Watertown Intermediate School - 13
(Math: 47% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
601 11th St Ne
Watertown, SD 57201
(605) 882-6355
Watertown, SD 57201
(605) 882-6355
Grades: 5-6
| 556 students
Rank: n/an/a
45425 152nd St
Summit, SD 57266
(605) 882-6340
Summit, SD 57266
(605) 882-6340
Grades: K-8
| 17 students
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools belong to Watertown School District 14-4?
Watertown School District 14-4 manages 8 public schools serving 3,542 students.
What is the rank of Watertown School District 14-4?
Watertown School District 14-4 is ranked #35 out of 146 school districts in South Dakota (top 30%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2021-2022 school year. This district ranks in the top 20% of South Dakota school districts for: Highest graduation rate (Top 20%) and Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
What is the racial composition of students in Watertown School District 14-4?
82% of Watertown School District 14-4 students are White, 7% of students are Hispanic, 6% of students are Two or more races, 4% of students are American Indian, and 1% of students are Asian.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Watertown School District 14-4?
Watertown School District 14-4 has a student/teacher ratio of 15:1, which is higher than the South Dakota state average of 14:1.
What is Watertown School District 14-4's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $13,363 is higher than the state median of $12,623. The school district spending/student has grown by 11% over four school years.
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