Sioux Falls School District 49-5

201 E 38th St
Sioux Falls, SD 57105
(District boundaries shown in map)
4/
10
Bottom 50%

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 2025-26 school year, there are 16 public middle schools serving 5,681 students in Sioux Falls School District 49-5. This district's average middle testing ranking is 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public middle schools in South Dakota.
Public Middle Schools in Sioux Falls School District 49-5 have an average math proficiency score of 40% (versus the South Dakota public middle school average of 39%), and reading proficiency score of 46% (versus the 49% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 43% of the student body (majority Hispanic and Black), which is more than the South Dakota public middle school average of 42% (majority American Indian).

Overview

This School District
This State (SD)
# Schools
48 Schools
297 Schools
# Students
25,367 Students
40,141 Students
# Teachers
1,691 Teachers
2,999 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 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 86% has increased from 84% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (SD)
#92 out of 148 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
41%
42%
48%
51%
42%
42%
86%
82%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.64
0.59
% American Indian
5%
26%
% Asian
2%
1%
% Hispanic
16%
7%
% Black
13%
3%
% White
56%
58%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
8%
5%
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.
This School District
This State (SD)
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 Middle Schools (2025-26)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Patrick Henry Middle School - 07
(Math: 57% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
2200 S 5th Ave
Sioux Falls, SD 57105
(605) 367-7639
Gr: 6-8 | 953 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 29%
Rank: #22.
Memorial Middle School - 04
(Math: 54% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
1401 S Sertoma Ave
Sioux Falls, SD 57106
(605) 362-2785
Gr: 6-8 | 1,138 student Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 26%
Rank: #33.
Structured Teaching - 12
Special Education School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
201 N West Ave
Sioux Falls, SD 57104
(605) 367-7647
Gr: 6-12 | 23 students Student-teacher ratio: 6:1 Minority enrollment: 26%
Rank: #44.
Summit Oaks-residential - 48
Special Education School
(Math: <50% | Reading: ≥50% )
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
621 E Presentation Ave
Sioux Falls, SD 57104
(605) 367-7647
Gr: K-12 | 19 students Student-teacher ratio: 6:1 Minority enrollment: 11%
Rank: #5 - 75. - 7.
Flex - 45
Special Education School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
201 N West Ave
Sioux Falls, SD 57104
(605) 367-7647
Gr: 6-12 | 45 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 60%
Rank: #5 - 75. - 7.
Success - 39
Special Education School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
201 N West Ave
Sioux Falls, SD 57104
(605) 367-7647
Gr: 6-12 | 21 students Student-teacher ratio: 5:1 Minority enrollment: 29%
Rank: #5 - 75. - 7.
Summit Oaks-day - 40
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
621 E Presentation Ave
Sioux Falls, SD 57104
(605) 367-7647
Gr: K-12 | 22 students Student-teacher ratio: 7:1 Minority enrollment: 46%
Rank: #88.
Edison Middle School - 06
(Math: 42% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
2101 S West Ave
Sioux Falls, SD 57105
(605) 367-7643
Gr: 6-8 | 943 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 41%
Rank: #99.
Virtual - 90
(Math: 21-39% | Reading: 40-59% )
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
201 E 38th St
Sioux Falls, SD 57105
(605) 543-5273
Gr: 3-8 | 52 students Student-teacher ratio: 26:1 Minority enrollment: 33%
Rank: #1010.
Ben Reifel Middle School - 68
(Math: 38% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
6700 E 41st St
Sioux Falls, SD 57110
(605) 371-4155
Gr: 6-8 | 959 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 40%
Rank: #1111.
George Mcgovern Middle School -09
(Math: 19% | Reading: 24%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
6221 W Maple St
Sioux Falls, SD 57107
(605) 367-4440
Gr: 6-8 | 747 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 61%
Rank: #1212.
Whittier Middle School - 08
(Math: 15% | Reading: 21%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
930 E 6th St
Sioux Falls, SD 57103
(605) 367-7620
Gr: 6-8 | 716 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 76%
Rank: #1313.
Axtell Park Middle School - 47
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
201 N West Ave
Sioux Falls, SD 57104
(605) 367-4266
Gr: 6-8 | 30 students Student-teacher ratio: 3:1 Minority enrollment: 57%
Rank: n/an/a
Arise Shelter Care - 71
Alternative School
621 E Presentation St
Sioux Falls, SD 57104
(605) 367-7647
Gr: K-12 | 4 students Student-teacher ratio: 4:1 Minority enrollment: 50%
Rank: n/an/a
Avera Adolescent Addiction Care Program - 81
Alternative School
4400 W 69th St
Sioux Falls, SD 57104
(605) 367-7647
Gr: 6-12 | 1 student Student-teacher ratio: 1:1
Rank: n/an/a
Avera Behavioral Health Program - 82
Alternative School
4400 W 69th St
Sioux Falls, SD 57104
(605) 367-7647
Gr: K-12 | 8 students Student-teacher ratio: 2:1 Minority enrollment: 25%

Recent Articles

School Choice vs. Neighborhood Schools: Key Factors
School Choice vs. Neighborhood Schools: Key Factors
Explore school choice vs. neighborhood schools in 2025. Learn key factors parents should weigh when deciding the best fit for their child.
Best School Match 2025: Public vs Charter vs Magnet
Best School Match 2025: Public vs Charter vs Magnet
Compare 2025 public, charter, and magnet school options with updated data, trends, and strategies to find the best fit.
Public School Boundaries and Equity in 2025
Public School Boundaries and Equity in 2025
Explore how public school boundaries shape access, equity, and opportunity for students in 2025. Learn the impact on families and education policy.

Quick Facts (2025-26)

  • District size: 48 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 25,367 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 15:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 44%
  • : 86% (Top 20% in SD)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 41% (Btm 50%)
  • : 48% (Btm 50%)
  • : 42% (Top 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), SD Dept. of Education

Quick Links