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 50% (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
Student By Grade
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 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 86% has decreased from 87% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#43 out of 148 school districts
(Top 30%)
(Top 30%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
50%
42%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
59%
51%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
49%
42%
Graduation Rate
86%
82%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.32
0.53
% American Indian
4%
14%
% Asian
1%
2%
% Hispanic
7%
8%
% Black
n/a
3%
% White
82%
67%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
6%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
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: 75-79% | 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: 70-74% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%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: 50% | 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.
Jefferson Elementary - 09
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
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: #55.
Watertown High School - 01
(Math: 36% | 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.
Mellette Elementary - 07
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
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: #77.
Watertown Intermediate School - 13
(Math: 41% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 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 #34 out of 146 school districts in South Dakota (top 30%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2022-2023 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.
Recent Articles
The 15 Biggest Failures of the American Public Education System
The world is in a constant state of change and those who fail to adjust fall behind. Unfortunately, the American public education system has not kept up with the times and is currently facing a number of serious problems. Keep reading to learn about the biggest failures affecting the modern U.S. public education system as well as some of the trends that could spark change.
Florida Governor Calls for More Funding for State鈥檚 Public School System
Florida Governor Rick Scott has introduced a state budget for next year that pumps one billion more dollars into the public school system. We鈥檒l look at his reasons for the increase and the responses to the proposal.
Can Your Child鈥檚 School Meet the National Standards?
The article discusses the challenges public schools face in meeting national educational standards. It examines current performance trends, identifies key issues affecting student achievement, and explores potential solutions for improving academic outcomes across U.S. public schools.
