Welcome to Tea Area School District!
The Tea Area School District was founded in July 2003, built on the vision, determination, and generosity of our community. Families, neighbors, and volunteers came together - literally with their own hands and hearts - to prepare buildings, furnish classrooms, and create learning spaces for students. That same spirit of teamwork and commitment continues to define who we are today as we fast forward to 2025, celebrating the opening of an expansion to our high school, which provides additional learning spaces and a new Performing Arts Center.
In just over twenty years, Tea Area has grown into one of the fastest-growing districts in South Dakota and the region, with an average enrollment increase of more than five percent each year. Our first graduating class in 2004 had 11 students, and we opened our doors in August 2025 with a Grades 9-12 enrollment of 721. Our growth is both a celebration and a responsibility we take seriously.
We serve more than 2,500 students across Lincoln and Minnehaha counties, from southwest Sioux Falls through the City of Tea and beyond into our rural communities. Together, we are truly “Tea Area” School District. As Titans, we are united under our mission: “To educate and empower each student for success in a global society.”
Our work is guided by the School Board’s strategic plan, which focuses on four pillars:
Student Achievement
Community
Engaged Titans
Finance and Growth Management
As a district team, we hold ourselves to Standards of Excellence - Teamwork, Communication, Accountability, and Innovation. These values shape how we work with one another, how we serve our students, and how we partner with families and the community.
What makes Tea Area special is not only the opportunities we provide in academics, fine arts, and activities, but also the pride our students, staff, families, and community members carry in being Titans. Together, we are building trust, caring for one another, and preparing the leaders of tomorrow.
I am proud to serve as your superintendent and to join this community in writing the next chapter of our Titan story. Together, we continue and honor the legacy of those who built our district from the ground up. Together, we will shape its future.
With Titan Pride,
Dr. Tonia Warzecha
Superintendent, Tea Area School District