¶¶Òô³ÉÈË

Willow Lake School District 12-3

400 Garfield Ave
Willow Lake, SD 57278
(District boundaries shown in map)
3/
10
Bottom 50%
For the 2025 school year, there are 6 public schools serving 338 students in Willow Lake School District 12-3. This district's average testing ranking is 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public schools in South Dakota.
Public Schools in Willow Lake School District 12-3 have an average math proficiency score of 41% (versus the South Dakota public school average of 43%), and reading proficiency score of 50% (versus the 51% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 4% 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
6 Schools
734 Schools
# Students
338 Students
146,041 Students
# Teachers
27 Teachers
10,645 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)
#118 out of 148 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(22-23)
41%
42%
40-44%
51%
20-24%
42%
≥80%
82%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.09
0.53
% American Indian
1%
14%
% Asian
n/a
2%
% Hispanic
2%
8%
% Black
1%
3%
% White
96%
67%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
n/a
6%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $11,497 in this school district is less than the state median of $13,121. The school district revenue/student has declined by 13% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $10,657 is less than the state median of $12,623. The school district spending/student has declined by 13% 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
$13,121
Spending / Student
$10,657
$12,623

Best Willow Lake School District 12-3 Public Schools (2025)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
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
Grades: 9-12
| 56 students
Rank: #2 - 32. - 3.
Collins Colony Elementary - 06
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
19606 Collins Ave.
Willow Lake, SD 57278
(605) 625-5945
Grades: K-8
| 16 students
Rank: #2 - 32. - 3.
Shamrock Colony Elementary - 05
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
19087 413th Ave
Willow Lake, SD 57278
(605) 625-5945
Grades: K-8
| 21 students
Rank: #44.
Willow Lake Middle School - 03
(Math: 40-49% | Reading: 50-59%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
400 Garfield Ave
Willow Lake, SD 57278
(605) 625-5945
Grades: 6-8
| 63 students
Rank: #55.
Mayfield Colony Elementary - 04
(Math: 21-39% | Reading: 40-59%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
43188 Mayfield Rd
Willow Lake, SD 57278
(605) 625-5945
Grades: K-8
| 32 students
Rank: #66.
Willow Lake Elementary - 02
(Math: 30-39% | Reading: 40-49%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
400 Garfield Ave
Willow Lake, SD 57278
(605) 625-5945
Grades: PK-5
| 150 students

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools belong to Willow Lake School District 12-3?
Willow Lake School District 12-3 manages 6 public schools serving 338 students.
What is the rank of Willow Lake School District 12-3?
Willow Lake School District 12-3 is ranked #93 out of 146 school districts in South Dakota (bottom 50%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2022-2023 school year.
What is the racial composition of students in Willow Lake School District 12-3?
96% of Willow Lake School District 12-3 students are White, 2% of students are Hispanic, 1% of students are American Indian, and 1% of students are Black.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Willow Lake School District 12-3?
Willow Lake School District 12-3 has a student/teacher ratio of 13:1, which is lower than the South Dakota state average of 14:1.
What is Willow Lake School District 12-3's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $10,657 is less than the state median of $12,623. The school district spending/student has declined by 13% over four school years.

Recent Articles

Parents’ Guide to Special Education
Parents’ Guide to Special Education
Special education law is not easy to decipher, with several regulations that govern special education services for disabled students. In this article, learn about the core components of the laws, rights, and individual education plans that can help create the best public school environment for your child.
Surveillance Cameras: Violation of Rights or Improved Security?
Surveillance Cameras: Violation of Rights or Improved Security?
A school district in Virginia has given the green light to schools that want to install surveillance cameras in common areas like cafeterias and hallways. We’ll look at whether this is a violation of student privacy or the best way to keep order in schools.
Teachers in 19 States Allowed to Physically Punish Students
Teachers in 19 States Allowed to Physically Punish Students
As of 2014, nineteen states still allow corporal punishment – spanking and paddling the most common choices – in their public schools. However, some argue that not only are these punishments physically harmful, they also are disproportionately administered to students of color. As a result, House democrats have taken up the issue in a new bill that would ban all forms of corporal punishment nationwide.

Quick Stats (2025)

  • District size: 6 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 338 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 13:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 4%
  • : ≥80% (Top 30% 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