Waubay Middle School - 03

Set in Waubay, South Dakota, Waubay Middle School - 03 is a micro-enrollment middle school, operated by Waubay School District 18-3. It enrolls 24 students across grades 7 through 8. Compared to the state average of about 187 students per school, that is 87% leaner than typical.

Within Waubay School District 18-3, which oversees 3 schools and 177 students, Waubay Middle School - 03 is one campus in the system.

Looking at the student body, Waubay Middle School - 03 reports that White students make up the majority at 67%. Beyond that, the school logs 25% Native American, 4% Hispanic, 4% multiracial. By comparison, Day County as a whole is about 84% White, so the school skews noticeably less White than its surroundings.

On the income-and-resources front, Waubay Middle School - 03 lists 3 full-time-equivalent teachers, putting the student-to-teacher ratio at about 8.6:1. That figure is tighter than the state norm's 13.4:1 average. An estimated 63% of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, often used as a Title I proxy. By comparison, Day County runs at roughly 48%, so the school's eligibility rate is higher than the surrounding baseline.

With demographic context factored in, Waubay Middle School - 03 tracks the demographic baseline. The model predicts 37.4% given the school's FRL share; actual proficiency is 31.5%.

In the broader community, census data for Day County shows median household income runs about $66,033, roughly 22% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and census figures put the poverty rate at about 8%. Waubay Middle School - 03 is one of 7 public schools in Day County (combined enrollment of about 881 students).

Nearest neighbor: Waubay Elementary - 02, around 0.0 miles off. Within five miles, there are 2 other public schools. Among the 5 schools in that immediate cluster with test data (this one included), Waubay Middle School - 03 ranks 4th on composite proficiency, behind the local average of 47.2%.

The school occupies a countryside site.

Trend over the last 7 years. Over the past 7-year window, the student count declined 14%: 28 students in 2018 compared to 24 in 2025. The White share of enrollment grew from 29% to 67% over that span.

Inside the community feed, posts here usually surface around open house dates, ride-share offers, and field-trip permission slips. Anyone with firsthand experience at this school can post or comment.