For the 2025 school year, there are 5 public elementary schools serving 282 students in Willow Lake School District 12-3. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 5/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public elementary schools in South Dakota.
Public Elementary Schools in Willow Lake School District 12-3 have an average math proficiency score of 40% (versus the South Dakota public elementary school average of 43%), and reading proficiency score of 50% (versus the 49% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 4% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the South Dakota public elementary school average of 36% (majority American Indian).
Overview
This School District
This State (SD)
# Schools
6 Schools
497 Schools
# Students
338 Students
101,009 Students
# Teachers
27 Teachers
7,507 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.
Overall District Rank
#118 out of 148 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
(22-23)41%
42%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
40-44%
51%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
20-24%
42%
Graduation Rate
≥80%
82%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.09
0.55
% American Indian
1%
17%
% Asian
n/a
2%
% Hispanic
2%
8%
% Black
1%
3%
% White
96%
64%
% 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.
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 Elementary Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #1 - 21. - 2.
Collins Colony Elementary - 06
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
19606 Collins Ave.
Willow Lake, SD 57278
(605) 625-5945
Willow Lake, SD 57278
(605) 625-5945
Grades: K-8
| 16 students
Rank: #1 - 21. - 2.
Shamrock Colony Elementary - 05
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
19087 413th Ave
Willow Lake, SD 57278
(605) 625-5945
Willow Lake, SD 57278
(605) 625-5945
Grades: K-8
| 21 students
Rank: #33.
Willow Lake Middle School - 03
(Math: 40-49% | Reading: 50-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
400 Garfield Ave
Willow Lake, SD 57278
(605) 625-5945
Willow Lake, SD 57278
(605) 625-5945
Grades: 6-8
| 63 students
Rank: #44.
Mayfield Colony Elementary - 04
(Math: 21-39% | Reading: 40-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
43188 Mayfield Rd
Willow Lake, SD 57278
(605) 625-5945
Willow Lake, SD 57278
(605) 625-5945
Grades: K-8
| 32 students
Rank: #55.
Willow Lake Elementary - 02
(Math: 30-39% | Reading: 40-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
400 Garfield Ave
Willow Lake, SD 57278
(605) 625-5945
Willow Lake, SD 57278
(605) 625-5945
Grades: PK-5
| 150 students
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