Watertown School District Tops South Dakota Averages in Math, English and Science on 2025-26 Report Card
Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - The Watertown School District 14-4 surpassed South Dakota state averages across English language arts, mathematics, and science on the newly released 2025-26 State Report Card, Assistant Superintendent Derek Barrios reported to the School Board on Monday night, Nov. 9.
Barrios presented a comprehensive breakdown of student and teacher demographics, School Performance Index metrics, first-year mandatory junior ACT scores, chronic absenteeism data, and senior exit survey results following the South Dakota Department of Education's public release of the state report card on Friday, Nov. 6.
Watertown Surpasses State Averages in ELA, Math, and Science
In the district's blended assessment data—which combines spring 2026 Smarter Balanced testing in grades 3 through 8 with the 11th-grade ACT—Watertown students outperformed statewide proficiency and growth averages across every core subject:
· Mathematics Performance and Growth: Watertown recorded 53% student proficiency in math, beating the statewide average of 45% by eight percentage points. Nearly 60% of Watertown students also demonstrated year-over-year math growth, jumping roughly 13 percentage points from the prior year.
· English Language Arts (ELA): In ELA, 54% of Watertown students scored proficient (levels 3 and 4), compared to the 50% state average. For ELA student progress, the district reached 59%, four points ahead of the 55% state average.
· Science Performance: Tested in grades 3, 5, 8, and 11, Watertown students posted a 44% science proficiency rate, edging out the 43% state average.
Barrios noted that while elementary and middle school School Performance Index scores (measured on a 100-point scale) weigh student performance (40 points), three-year student progress and lowest-quartile gains (40 points), English Learner program exit progress (10 points), and attendance (10 points), district staff drill deep into individual assessment strands to target "bubble students" who are close to moving up a proficiency tier.
On the staffing side, Watertown teachers averaged 13 years of classroom experience last year—nearly matching the state average of 13.5 years—though the district currently has a slightly higher percentage of educators within their first three years of teaching.
High School Graduation Rates, College Readiness, and 21.0 ACT Score
Under the state's updated high school accountability index, 2025-26 marked the first year South Dakota used the ACT as its mandatory 11th-grade student achievement metric rather than Smarter Balanced.
Even with all high school juniors taking the exam rather than only college-bound students who self-select to test, Watertown High School posted a report card ACT average of 21.0 (down just one point from 22.0 the prior year, outperforming predictions of a steeper drop when testing expanded to all juniors).
Barrios explained that the state report card's 21.0 composite figure incorporates "superscores" from students who took the ACT multiple times during the year, while the standalone spring 2026 junior test-day average was 20.3. Comparing that same cohort to their spring 2025 sophomore Pre-ACT average of 18.5, Watertown students raised their average score by nearly two full points in a single year. To give high school departments a full academic year to analyze question-level data and target weaker subject strands, WHS Principal Patti McClemans shifted sophomore Pre-ACT testing from the spring to the fall semester this year.
Across other high school accountability metrics, Barrios reported:
· On-Time Graduation Rate: 90% of Watertown High School students graduated within four years with their entering freshman cohort.
· High School Completion Rate: 94% of students completed high school (including five-year graduates and students earning a GED).
· Coursework and Career Readiness: 87% of WHS students graduated coursework-ready by earning one or more state diploma endorsements, 57% met assessment-readiness benchmarks (such as an 18 in ACT English or 20 in ACT Math), and 56% met combined college- and career-readiness criteria. Barrios and Superintendent Dr. Jeff Danielsen noted that next year's state report card will transition to a new state readiness framework incorporating capstones and internships.
Chronic Absenteeism Grant Wraps Up
Barrios also updated the board on district attendance trends as Watertown wraps up its two-and-a-half-year state chronic absenteeism grant. Under state definitions, a student is considered chronically absent if they miss 10% or more of the school year—equating to 18 or more missed days out of a 175-day calendar.
Over the past three school years, Watertown's chronic absenteeism rate has hovered near 20%, dipping to roughly 18.5% during one year of the grant cycle. While Barrios acknowledged that moving the overall percentage below 20% remains challenging, he credited the grant-funded family support specialists with providing vital outreach and assistance to students and families across the community.
Senior Survey: Majority Stay in South Dakota; Healthcare Tops Career Fields
Closing the report, Barrios shared results from the spring senior exit survey, which collected responses from roughly 231 of 272 graduating seniors regarding their post-graduation plans:
· Post-Secondary Destinations: More than 120 graduating seniors chose to remain in South Dakota to attend either a state university or a South Dakota technical college. Entering the workforce directly ranked as the second-largest path, followed by out-of-state colleges, military service, and undecided students.
· Top Five Career Clusters: Healthcare and Human Services was overwhelmingly the top career field chosen by Watertown graduates, drawing nearly 80 seniors. Undecided majors, Construction, Financial Services, and Agriculture rounded out the top five career interests.
The public can view district- and building-level data from the 2025-26 South Dakota Report Card online at sdschools.sd.gov.
