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Public School Review - Established 2003

Best Public Middle Schools in South Dakota (2026)

The top-ranked public middle schools in South Dakota are Arlington Jr.
High - 03, Warner Middle School - 03 and Cedar Grove Colony Elementary - 14. The cities and towns with the highest concentration of top-ranked public middle schools are Brandon, Warner and Ethan.
A school's overall testing rank is based on a it's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking. The average percentage of students achieving math proficiency in South Dakota is 43%. The percentage of students achieving reading proficiency is 51%.

Top-Ranked Public Middle Schools in South Dakota (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Student Proficiency
Grades
Location
Rank: #11.
Arlington Jr. High - 03
(Math: 80-89% | Reading: 70-79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: 80-89% (Top 1%)
Reading: 70-79% (Top 10%)
Grades: 7-8
306 S Main St
Arlington, SD 57212
(605) 983-5598
Rank: #22.
Warner Middle School - 03
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: 75-79% (Top 5%)
Reading: 75-79% (Top 5%)
Grades: 6-8
110 1st Ave Sw
Warner, SD 57479
(605) 225-6194
Rank: #33.
Cedar Grove Colony Elementary - 14
(Math: ≥80% | Reading: 60-79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: ≥80% (Top 5%)
Reading: 60-79% (Top 20%)
Grades: K-8
36926 266th St
Platte, SD 57369
(605) 337-2468
Rank: #4 - 54. - 5.
Big Stone City Middle School - 03
(Math: 60-79% | Reading: 60-79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: 60-79% (Top 5%)
Reading: 60-79% (Top 20%)
Grades: 6-8
655 Walnut St
Big Stone City, SD 57216
(605) 862-8108
Rank: #4 - 54. - 5.
Wolf Creek Colony Elementary - 04
(Math: 60-79% | Reading: 60-79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: 60-79% (Top 5%)
Reading: 60-79% (Top 20%)
Grades: K-8
42906 Colony Rd
Freeman, SD 57029
(605) 925-4216
Rank: #66.
Ethan Jr. High - 03
(Math: 60-69% | Reading: 70-79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
Math: 60-69% (Top 20%)
Reading: 70-79% (Top 10%)
Grades: 7-8
320 S 2nd St
Ethan, SD 57334
(605) 227-4211
Rank: #7 - 87. - 8.
Groton Area Middle School - 04
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
Math: 60-64% (Top 20%)
Reading: 70-74% (Top 10%)
Grades: 6-8
502 N 2nd St
Groton, SD 57445
(605) 397-8381
Rank: #7 - 87. - 8.
Hanson Middle School - 02
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
Math: 60-64% (Top 20%)
Reading: 70-74% (Top 10%)
Grades: 6-8
230 6th St
Alexandria, SD 57311
(605) 239-4387
Rank: #99.
Brandon Valley Middle School - 02
(Math: 57% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
Math: 57% (Top 20%)
Reading: 72% (Top 10%)
Grades: 7-8
700 Holly Blvd
Brandon, SD 57005
(605) 582-3214
Rank: #1010.
Southwest Middle School - 38
(Math: 59% | Reading: 70%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
Math: 59% (Top 20%)
Reading: 70% (Top 20%)
Grades: 6-8
4501 Park Dr
Rapid City, SD 57702
(605) 394-6792
Rank: #11 - 1211. - 12.
Faulkton Middle School - 08
(Math: 60-69% | Reading: 60-69%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
Math: 60-69% (Top 20%)
Reading: 60-69% (Top 20%)
Grades: 6-8
1114 Court St
Faulkton, SD 57438
(605) 598-6266
Rank: #11 - 1211. - 12.
Harding County Middle School - 03
(Math: 60-69% | Reading: 60-69%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
Math: 60-69% (Top 20%)
Reading: 60-69% (Top 20%)
Grades: 6-8
12474 Tipperary St
Buffalo, SD 57720
(605) 375-3241
Rank: #1313.
Timber Lake Middle School - 03
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Math: 60-64% (Top 20%)
Reading: 65-69% (Top 20%)
Grades: 6-8
500 Main St
Timber Lake, SD 57656
(605) 865-3654
Rank: #1414.
Herreid Middle School - 03
(Math: 50-59% | Reading: 60-79%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Math: 50-59% (Top 30%)
Reading: 60-79% (Top 20%)
Grades: 6-8
302 Main St N
Herreid, SD 57632
(605) 437-2263
Rank: #1515.
Howard Jr. High - 05
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 60-69%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Math: 60-64% (Top 20%)
Reading: 60-69% (Top 20%)
Grades: 6-8
500 N Section Line
Howard, SD 57349
(605) 772-5515
Rank: #1616.
Jones County Middle School - 04
(Math: 70-79% | Reading: 50-59%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Math: 70-79% (Top 5%)
Reading: 50-59% (Top 50%)
Grades: 5-8
404 Jackson Ave
Murdo, SD 57559
(605) 669-2258
Rank: #1717.
Dell Rapids Middle School - 03
(Math: 63% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Math: 63% (Top 20%)
Reading: 62% (Top 30%)
Grades: 5-8
1216 N Garfield Ave
Dell Rapids, SD 57022
(605) 428-5473
Rank: #1818.
Kadoka Middle School - 03
(Math: 50-59% | Reading: 60-69%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Math: 50-59% (Top 30%)
Reading: 60-69% (Top 20%)
Grades: 6-8
800 Bayberry St
Kadoka, SD 57543
(605) 837-2174
Rank: #1919.
Patrick Henry Middle School - 07
(Math: 57% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Math: 57% (Top 20%)
Reading: 63% (Top 30%)
Grades: 6-8
2200 S 5th Ave
Sioux Falls, SD 57105
(605) 367-7639
Rank: #20 - 2320. - 23.
Bon Homme Middle School - 02
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Math: 55-59% (Top 20%)
Reading: 60-64% (Top 30%)
Grades: 6-8
1404 Fir St
Tyndall, SD 57066
(605) 589-3387
Rank: #20 - 2320. - 23.
Centerville Middle School - 03
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Math: 55-59% (Top 20%)
Reading: 60-64% (Top 30%)
Grades: 6-8
610 Lincoln St
Centerville, SD 57014
(605) 563-2291
Rank: #20 - 2320. - 23.
Lennox Jr. High - 08
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Math: 55-59% (Top 20%)
Reading: 60-64% (Top 30%)
Grades: 7-8
1201 S Main St
Lennox, SD 57039
(605) 647-2203
Rank: #20 - 2320. - 23.
Platte - Geddes Jr. High - 03
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Math: 55-59% (Top 20%)
Reading: 60-64% (Top 30%)
Grades: 6-8
400 Illinois Ave
Platte, SD 57369
(605) 337-3391
Rank: #2424.
Deubrook Jr. High - 02
(Math: 50-59% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Math: 50-59% (Top 30%)
Reading: 60-64% (Top 30%)
Grades: 7-8
100 School Ave
White, SD 57276
(605) 629-1114
Rank: #2525.
Gettysburg Middle School - 03
(Math: 60-69% | Reading: 50-59%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Math: 60-69% (Top 20%)
Reading: 50-59% (Top 50%)
Grades: 6-8
100 E King Ave
Gettysburg, SD 57442
(605) 765-2436
Rank: #2626.
Sanborn Central Middle School - 02
(Math: 40-59% | Reading: 70-79%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Math: 40-59% (Top 50%)
Reading: 70-79% (Top 10%)
Grades: 6-8
40405 Sd Hwy 34
Artesian, SD 57314
(605) 495-4183
Rank: #27 - 2827. - 28.
Pembrook Colony Elementary - 06
(Math: 60-79% | Reading: ≥50%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Math: 60-79% (Top 5%)
Reading: ≥50% (Top 50%)
Grades: PK-8
35955 139th St
Ipswich, SD 57451
(605) 426-6832
Rank: #27 - 2827. - 28.
Thunderbird Colony Elementary - 10
(Math: 60-79% | Reading: ≥50%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Math: 60-79% (Top 5%)
Reading: ≥50% (Top 50%)
Grades: K-8
15185 346th Ave
Faulkton, SD 57438
(605) 598-6266
Rank: #2929.
Watertown Middle School - 02
(Math: 50% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Math: 50% (Top 30%)
Reading: 64% (Top 30%)
Grades: 7-8
1700 11th St Ne
Watertown, SD 57201
(605) 882-6370
Rank: #30 - 3230. - 32.
Frederick Area Middle School - 03
(Math: 40-59% | Reading: 60-79%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Math: 40-59% (Top 50%)
Reading: 60-79% (Top 20%)
Grades: 6-8
202 E Main St
Frederick, SD 57441
(605) 329-2145
Rank: #30 - 3230. - 32.
Glendale Colony Elementary - 04
(Math: 40-59% | Reading: 60-79%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Math: 40-59% (Top 50%)
Reading: 60-79% (Top 20%)
Grades: K-8
17866 Glendale Dr
Tulare, SD 57476
(605) 266-2151
Rank: #30 - 3230. - 32.
Lakeview Colony Elementary - 05
(Math: 40-59% | Reading: 60-79%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Math: 40-59% (Top 50%)
Reading: 60-79% (Top 20%)
Grades: K-8
28748 386th Ave
Lake Andes, SD 57356
(605) 487-7655
Rank: #3333.
Memorial Middle School - 04
(Math: 54% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Math: 54% (Top 30%)
Reading: 58% (Top 30%)
Grades: 6-8
1401 S Sertoma Ave
Sioux Falls, SD 57106
(605) 362-2785
Rank: #3434.
Mitchell Middle School - 02
(Math: 51% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Math: 51% (Top 30%)
Reading: 59% (Top 30%)
Grades: 6-8
800 W 10th Ave
Mitchell, SD 57301
(605) 995-3051
Rank: #35 - 3735. - 37.
Corsica-stickney Jr. High - 03
(Math: 50-59% | Reading: 50-59%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Math: 50-59% (Top 30%)
Reading: 50-59% (Top 50%)
Grades: 6-8
120 S Napoleon Ave
Corsica, SD 57328
(605) 946-5475
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