Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Middle· 4 schools in district

Wagner Middle School - 03

101 Walnut Ave SW, Wagner, SD 57380Wagner Community School District 11-4 →
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades 05–08Non-Charter
264
Students
Total enrolled
$25,664
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
↑ 79% vs nat'l
12.5 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
↓ 19% vs nat'l
46/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
~avg
⇄ Compare with another school
Small public school
Serves 264 students in grades 05–08 in Wagner, South Dakota.
79% above average funding
District spends $25,664 per pupil, 79% more than the national average of $14,347.
Near-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 46th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

Wagner Middle School - 03 is a mid-sized middle in Wagner, South Dakota, serving grades 05–08 with 264 students. The district invests $25,664 per student — 79% above the national average of $14,347, and maintains a 12.5:1 student-teacher ratio — smaller than the national norm of 15.4:1. About 100% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting significant economic challenges in the surrounding community.

Student Body & Demographics at Wagner Middle School - 03

264
Total Students
12.5 : 1
Student:Teacher
100%
Free Lunch
21
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
PK
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Highlighted grades (05–08) are served by this school
Gender Distribution140 male · 124 female
53%
47%
Male 53%Female 47%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility100%
National avg 52% · 264 students
Student Composition
30%
9%
59%
White30%
Hispanic / Latino2%
Multiracial9%
Native American59%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 467542000942

Academic Outcomes at Wagner Middle School - 03

Neighborhood Opportunity Score
46
/ 100
Near-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 46th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 64th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 57380

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$25,664Above avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$25,664
State avg
$16,272
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$11,292
Student Support$4,876
Administration$3,080
Operations$3,850
Other$2,566
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $25,664 spent per student, an estimated $11,369 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
24%
State government
24.5%
Local (property tax)
11.4%
Federal programs
64.1%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • Above-average funding — $25,664/student vs $14,347 nationally
  • 12.5:1 student-teacher ratio — smaller classes than the national norm of 15.4:1
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Worth Considering
  • 100% of students on free or reduced lunch — a high share that can indicate resource pressure
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
K–12 Pathway in District
Elementary
Wagner Elementary - 02
↓
High School
Wagner High School - 01
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelMiddle
Grades05 – 08
Location—
CountyCharles Mix County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictWagner Community School District 11-4 →
Phone: (605)384-3913
NCES ID: 467542000942
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in Wagner seeking a public middle school, especially those prioritizing above-average resources and classroom investment. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

More in Wagner Community School District 11-4
Elem
Wagner Elementary - 02
345 students · KG–04
● 46 opp100% FRL
High
Wagner High School - 01
180 students · 09–12
● 46 opp100% FRL
Other
Early Learning Center - 04
116 students · PK–PK
● 46 opp100% FRL
District School Rankings
Location
101 Walnut Ave SW, Wagner, SD 57380
Data Sources & Transparency
Enrollment & Profile
NCES Common Core of Data. Grades, enrollment, demographics, school characteristics. Updated annually.
Funding & Spending
NCES F-33 Finance Survey. District-level spending data. School-level breakdowns are not publicly reported.
Graduation Rate
EDFacts Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR). High schools only. Small cohorts may be range-coded for privacy.
Opportunity Score
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census Bureau). Census tract outcomes for children born in the 1980s.
Fact-Based Rankings
Best-school rankings are computed from federal metrics only — enrollment, per-pupil spending, student-teacher ratio, opportunity score, and graduation rate. No editorial opinion or paid placements.
Equity Data (Coming Soon)
AP access, counselor ratios, and chronic absenteeism from the CRDC will be added in a future update.

Questions to Ask on Your School Visit

Research shows the most important factors are invisible in the data. Here is what to ask when you visit.

Middle
1
How does the school support the transition from elementary?
Orientation programs, peer mentoring
2
What electives and clubs are available?
Arts, STEM, sports, extracurriculars
3
How are students grouped for core subjects?
Tracking policies can affect equity
4
What is the school's homework and study policy?
Look for balance and academic support
5
How is bullying and social pressure addressed?
Anti-bullying policies, counselor availability
6
What advanced or enrichment options exist?
Honors courses, gifted programs
7
What does the school do with student performance data?
How data is used to personalize instruction
8
How would you describe teacher retention here?
High turnover can disrupt continuity of learning
9
What's the culture around student diversity and inclusion?
How differences are celebrated and managed

Frequently Asked Questions

About this school and the data on this page

About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.