Is Southwest Middle School a good school? Here’s a look at its report card

February 7, 2023

NewsCenter1 Staff,

RAPID CITY, S.D. – There are many different public middle schools in the Rapid City area, and not all of them offer the same quality educational experience. South Dakota maintains a state Report Card system that grades each public school on a variety of metrics. Here’s how Southwest Middle School shapes up:

Southwest Middle School subject proficiency

Southwest outperforms both the Rapid City Area Schools and the statewide average in all three core subject areas: English-Language-Arts, Math, and Science. This chart shows what percentage of students at the school tested as proficient in each of the topic areas.

Southwest outperforms both the Rapid City Area Schools and the statewide average in all three core subject areas: English-Language-Arts, Math, and Science. This chart shows what percentage of students at the school tested as proficient in each of the topic areas.

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Attendance at Southwest Middle School

Chronic absenteeism proved to be a serious problem at Rapid City Area Schools in the 2021-2022 school year. Not so for Southwest, which boasts a very low 13% of students chronically absent, and an above-average attendance rate overall as well.

Chronic absenteeism proved to be a serious problem at Rapid City Area Schools in the 2021-2022 school year. Not so for Southwest, which boasts a very low 13% of students chronically absent, and an above-average attendance rate overall as well.

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Southwest Middle School teacher quality

Compared to other schools, Southwest has largely avoided the statewide teacher shortage. The school maintained an 18-1 student/teacher ratio in 2021-2022, and maintains a staff of highly-qualified teachers with many years of experience.

Compared to other schools, Southwest has largely avoided the statewide teacher shortage. The school maintained an 18-1 student/teacher ratio in 2021-2022, and maintains a staff of highly-qualified teachers with many years of experience.

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Southwest Middle School currently has an enrollment of 700 students.

Categories: Local News

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