Top Rankings
Sioux Falls School District 49-5 ranks among the top 20% of public school district in South Dakota for:
Category
Attribute
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 20%)
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 1%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 16 public preschools serving 8,830 students in Sioux Falls School District 49-5. This district's average pre testing ranking is 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public pre schools in South Dakota.
Public Preschools in Sioux Falls School District 49-5 have an average math proficiency score of 44% (versus the South Dakota public pre school average of 45%), and reading proficiency score of 45% (versus the 45% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 49% of the student body (majority Hispanic and Black), which is more than the South Dakota public preschool average of 34% (majority American Indian and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (SD)
# Schools
48 Schools
146 Schools
# Students
25,367 Students
30,673 Students
# Teachers
1,691 Teachers
2,365 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
15:1
15:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Sioux Falls School District 49-5, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 146 school districts in South Dakota (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 85% has increased from 84% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#99 out of 148 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
40%
42%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
48%
51%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
42%
42%
Graduation Rate
85%
82%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.64
0.54
% American Indian
5%
13%
% Asian
2%
1%
% Hispanic
16%
9%
% Black
13%
5%
% White
56%
66%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
8%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $12,241 in this school district is less than the state median of $13,121. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $12,988 is higher than the state median of $12,623. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$311 MM
$1,916 MM
Spending
$330 MM
$1,844 MM
Revenue / Student
$12,241
$13,121
Spending / Student
$12,988
$12,623
Best Sioux Falls School District 49-5 Public Preschools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Sonia Sotomayor Elementary - 65
(Math: 68% | Reading: 74%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
1510 S Lake Ave
Sioux Falls, SD 57105
(605) 367-4655
Sioux Falls, SD 57105
(605) 367-4655
Grades: PK-5
| 678 students
Rank: #22.
John Harris Elementary - 23
(Math: 67% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
3501 E 49th St
Sioux Falls, SD 57103
(605) 371-4111
Sioux Falls, SD 57103
(605) 371-4111
Grades: PK-5
| 686 students
Rank: #33.
Rf Pettigrew Elementary - 17
(Math: 60% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
7900 W 53rd St
Sioux Falls, SD 57106
(605) 362-3560
Sioux Falls, SD 57106
(605) 362-3560
Grades: PK-5
| 910 students
Rank: #44.
Discovery Elementary - 26
(Math: 61% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1506 S Discovery Ave
Sioux Falls, SD 57106
(605) 362-3530
Sioux Falls, SD 57106
(605) 362-3530
Grades: PK-5
| 867 students
Rank: #55.
Harvey Dunn Elementary - 54
(Math: 57% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
2400 S Bahnson Ave
Sioux Falls, SD 57103
(605) 371-4120
Sioux Falls, SD 57103
(605) 371-4120
Grades: PK-5
| 662 students
Rank: #66.
Robert Frost Elementary - 18
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
3101 S 4th Ave
Sioux Falls, SD 57105
(605) 367-6170
Sioux Falls, SD 57105
(605) 367-6170
Grades: PK-5
| 448 students
Rank: #77.
Susan B. Anthony Elementary - 66
(Math: 40% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
2000 S Dakota Ave
Sioux Falls, SD 57105
(605) 367-4560
Sioux Falls, SD 57105
(605) 367-4560
Grades: PK-5
| 491 students
Rank: #88.
Lowell Elementary - 28
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
710 W 18th St
Sioux Falls, SD 57104
(605) 367-8378
Sioux Falls, SD 57104
(605) 367-8378
Grades: PK-5
| 423 students
Rank: #99.
Anne Sullivan Elementary - 20
(Math: 25% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
3701 E 3rd St
Sioux Falls, SD 57103
(605) 367-6084
Sioux Falls, SD 57103
(605) 367-6084
Grades: PK-5
| 627 students
Rank: #1010.
Laura B. Anderson Elementary - 10
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
1600 N Wayland Ave
Sioux Falls, SD 57103
(605) 367-6130
Sioux Falls, SD 57103
(605) 367-6130
Grades: PK-5
| 330 students
Rank: #1111.
Terry Redlin Elementary - 11
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
1721 E Austin St
Sioux Falls, SD 57103
(605) 367-6140
Sioux Falls, SD 57103
(605) 367-6140
Grades: PK-5
| 437 students
Rank: #1212.
Garfield Elementary - 19
(Math: 20% | Reading: 29%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
705 S Roberts Dr
Sioux Falls, SD 57104
(605) 367-6180
Sioux Falls, SD 57104
(605) 367-6180
Grades: PK-5
| 591 students
Rank: #1313.
Cleveland Elementary - 14
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 15-19%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
1000 S Edward Dr
Sioux Falls, SD 57103
(605) 367-6150
Sioux Falls, SD 57103
(605) 367-6150
Grades: PK-5
| 479 students
Rank: #1414.
Hayward Elementary - 38
(Math: 21% | Reading: 19%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
400 N Valley View Rd
Sioux Falls, SD 57107
(605) 367-4590
Sioux Falls, SD 57107
(605) 367-4590
Grades: PK-5
| 676 students
Rank: #1515.
Hawthorne Elementary - 56
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 15-19%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
601 N Spring Ave
Sioux Falls, SD 57104
(605) 367-4580
Sioux Falls, SD 57104
(605) 367-4580
Grades: PK-5
| 458 students
Rank: n/an/a
2205 N Career Ave
Sioux Falls, SD 57107
(605) 367-7950
Sioux Falls, SD 57107
(605) 367-7950
Grades: PK
| 67 students
Recent Articles

Segregation in K-12 Education: Colonial Era
Explore the origins of educational segregation during the colonial era and the differential treatment of Native American, African American, and white students. This article delves into the historical context, policies, and societal attitudes that shaped early education in colonial America, highlighting the disparities and injustices that persisted within the schooling systems of that time.

2011 Classroom Size Update: Are Classes Still Growing Larger?
Since the recession, public school classrooms have seen major budget cuts - and many increases in class sizes. How is the situation in 2011? Read this article to find out.

Will Single Sex Classrooms Save Public Schools?
Learn about the benefits of single sex classrooms and why public schools are hoping this type of classroom will save the American school system.